The booming baritone’s sold-out performance Wednesday night kicked off a busy, 33-show season at Meijer Gardens’ amphitheater replete with cowboy hats, glitter and a little bit of giddy-up.
Conquering Hearts: Orville Peck on stage Wednesday at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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Orville Peck may count “Turn to Hate” among his signature oeuvre, but the enigmatic musician — and a sea of his adoring fans — exuded love and affection Wednesday evening during his sold-out performance at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
The singular country singer kicked off the 2024 edition of the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series, a 33-show season that features lots of familiar favorites plus a few new and interesting names (Peck high among them).
Peck — who first appeared in Grand Rapids in October 2019 at the Pyramid Scheme — had planned to make his Meijer Gardens’ stage debut last August, but canceled the date when he shuttered the entire tour to focus on his mental health and well-being.
Introducing “Hexie Mountains,” Peck thanked the tasseled, fringed and exuberant crowd for giving him the space and time he needed to heal, and assured his fans (to much cheering and applause) that he’s now feeling “better than ever.”
Passion for Peck: Many fans were dressed to impress. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
It’s always the right call to choose one’s health over work (and just because music is fun doesn’t mean it isn’t work), but Peck’s 95-minute rodeo of a show seemed particularly destined to fit the phrase, “It was well worth the wait.”
Clad in his trademark mask and an air of mystery, Peck delivered 20 songs representative of his key recordings, including beloved tracks from 2019’s “Pony” to 2022’s “Bronco” to this spring’s “Stampede: Vol. 1” and points in between.
Skillfully backed by a tight five-piece band, Peck (who has never publicly confirmed his identity despite speculation) had no trouble holding the rapt attention of 1,900 stylish, bedazzled attendees who turned out in campy cowboy hats, denim, chaps and boots a-plenty under sunny skies.
The singer’s rich baritone can move a rollicking number along at a raucous pace (“Daytona Sand” or encore number “Bronco” are good examples), but Peck really shone when embracing the darkness of the likes of “Kalahari Down,” “Dead of Night” and “No Glory in the West.”
As West Michigan joins the globe in celebrating Pride Month, Peck — an out gay man — provided LGBTQIA+ Grand Rapidians and their allies a mainstream venue in which to party proudly and embrace the full rainbow of the human experience.
And yes, the festivities did include a playful rendition of Peck’s latest single, a cover/duet of “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other.” While Peck recorded that song with (and at the behest of) legendary singer Willie Nelson, Peck had to get by Wednesday without Nelson–though he did settle for handing out a rose to a “Willie look-a-like” from the audience, whose braids drew Peck’s admiration.
On the topic of Pride, opening act Durand Jones shared with the audience that this June marks the second year for the soul singer to openly celebrate the holiday since publicly addressing his sexuality last year.
The Southern artist said the experience helped influence his 2023 release, “Wait Til I Get Over,” including the gorgeously vulnerable, “That Feeling.” Jones’ velvety voice and smooth dance moves were an ideal accompaniment to the breezy, picture-perfect weather and easy-going atmosphere of the evening.
Multi-genre singer Debbii Dawson opened the event with a brief, but beautiful, performance.
Up next at Meijer Gardens: Greensky Bluegrass perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The concert is sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: Orville Peck, Durand Jones, Debbii Dawson at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
