It’s been a minute since Margo Price has graced a Portland, Oregon stage, what with the lost years of COVID, etc. From the “anarchist jurisdiction” out here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve watched through a social media lens as Price has released albums and videos, written books, become a board member of Farm Aid, and graced the cover of seemingly every arts and entertainment magazine known to man. What would it be like when Price reunited with the Rose City? Would it be the same Margo people fell in love with back in the before-times, say at Pickathon 2016?
Everyone I talked to who ventured out on Monday, February 13th to see Price at Portland, Oregon’s Crystal Ballroom thought it was well worth the wait. Price wasted no time in letting the audience know what she’s been up to, romping out of the gate with “Been To The Mountain,” the opening track from her new album, Strays. She pulled heavily from the new release, and also included selections from her previous three albums.
Including Price’s husband, guitarist, and songwriting partner Jeremy Ivey, Margo’s band, the Pricetags, is six members strong. The sound was full, tight, and as subtle or ferocious as it needed to be to serve a given song. Drive-by Truckers front man and local resident Patterson Hood was invited out to add even more guitar for a run through Grace Slick’s “White Rabbit,” and he came back out, along with opening artist Lola Kirke, for the “Let Me Roll It” encore.
Although a telephone was used as a prop during the show, Price was in no way phoning in this Monday night performance. She let loose with a rock n’ roll show that provided evidence that all of the things she does to promote herself and further her musical career resonate outward from the love she has of performing onstage, with her band, for her fans.
Margo Price, Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon, 2023.2.13
Been To The Mountain, Letting Me Down, Four Years of Chances, Hell In The Heartland, White Rabbit (Grace Slick), Change of Heart, County Road, Light Me Up, Tennessee Song, All American Made, Landfill, That’s How Rumors Get Started, Twinkle Twinkle, Don’t Say It, Radio, Pump It Up (Elvis Costello), Heartless Mind
Encore: Let Me Roll It (Paul McCartney)
