Concert Review: Waxahatchee shines at the Ryman Auditorium

By: Dylan Basden

Out in support of her sixth studio album under the Waxahatchee name, Tigers Blood, Katie Crutchfield has managed to not only define her sound, but also redefine it simultaneously.

Waxahatchee’s combination of musical elements from across her past produces a symphonic mixture of Americana, country, and indie rock. Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama (and taking her stage name from nearby Waxahatchee Creek), Crutchfield grew up in the heart of the south surrounded by country and roots music. Prior to Waxahatchee, Crutchfield was a member of P.S. Eliot, a pop punk band that she had formed with her twin sister Allison. It is pretty easy to see where the influence lies, with folky instrumentation layered around dynamic and intricate storytelling that simultaneously calls back to both her country and rock tendencies.

The night appropriately opened with “3 Sisters,” the opening track from Tigers Blood. The melodic brightness of this track was stunning, a theme that carried throughout the night. Waxahatchee is so skilled at this; from the light acoustic guitar, subtle wailing of the lap steel, and Crutchfield’s harrowing vocal range. The music is exceptionally vivid and warm. Katie’s backing band really adds so much to her live set, I touched on the lap steel, but a combination of twangy banjo, multiple sets of keys, and some delicate and intricate percussion created an astonishing sound in The Mother Church. Additionally, much of Waxahatchee’s backing band also joins her on her other project, Plains (alongside Jess Williamson), making their transition into included Plains’ songs like “Problem With It” and “Hurricane” that much more seamless. 

This album cycle has seen Katie double down on her rootsier sounds, but it also saw her work more closely with longtime friend MJ Lenderman. Songs like “Burns Out at Midnight” and “Bored” jump dangerously close into true indie-rock territory, with their rhythmic electric guitars and added umph in the bass and percussion. This feels like such a natural progression for Crutchfield and it translates effortlessly into the live performance.

This tour featured a noticeable bump in both production and performance. My past experiences seeing Waxahatchee were noteworthy because of Katie’s vocal ability and her band’s playing, and while those elements still linger, this tour sees larger set pieces and a more energetic performance from Katie. One thing that immediately jumped out was the curtained pedestal Katie performed on, an oddity considering how scaled back previous tours had been, with past shows even shying away from casting too much light on her and the band. This literal step-up in production seemed to add confidence to Katie’s performance, Crutchfield effortless commanded the stage, cruising across the entire length of the Ryman and even casting her guitar aside in favor of a wireless mic for select songs. This was not only exciting solely in the context of this show, but lends a small glimpse into what is to come for Waxahatchee.

Tour stops in Nashville, particularly at The Ryman, twice so for country-leaning acts, often find a cast of special guests joining the headliner on stage and this night was no different. Following along for a couple of nights, MJ Lenderman joined Waxahatchee on stage for several songs, including their collab “Right Back to It.” Lenderman not only adds a fuller sound to the track on guitar, but adds a beautiful contrast vocally with his much lower singing tone. The end of the set saw Waxahatchee bring out opening act Good Morning, an Australia folk-rock outfit, for “Tigers Blood.” Continuing this trend into her encore, Waxahatchee was joined by country music icons Wynonna Judd and Lucinda Williams for “Love Is Alive” and “Abandoned,” covers of each respective artist. It was a truly wonderful moment getting to see Waxahatchee perform with such staples.

There is really nothing bad I can say about Katie Crutchfield and her band. Having seen them four times now, I can confidently say they only get better as time goes on. For fans of country, Americana, indie rock, or anything adjacent or mixed between, this show is a must. Waxahatchee is masterful in the live setting and should not be overlooked. I anticipate her next stop in Nashville will only be better.

You can find the rest of Waxahatchee’s upcoming show dates here.

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