Damn, it honestly hasn’t felt that long – but the last time I shot a show at the MGM Music Hall – Fenway in Boston was for Sum 41 on their final tour. Now nearly a FULL 6 months later – the mosh pit was replaced by people standing, enjoying the music, and giving each other space. Shooting from the GA pit wasn’t a scramble to try and stay on my feet, and I wasn’t silently pleading that a stick of deodorant would fall from the heavens and uh…spare the sorry souls who happen to catch a whiff haha. Instead, I was met with a fascinating change of pace, an albeit a welcome one, as a sort of “throughline” permeated through every act from Vincent Neil Emerson, Nikki Lane, and especially Mr. Orville Peck. The MGM Music Hall wasn’t a 5,000 cap venue that night, but more an intimate collective built on acceptance as the man said it himself, “There’s only one rule to this show tonight, and it’s that if you feel a wave of emotion come on – don’t you dare try to hold them back.” A sentiment it seems that many followed suit.

The evening kicked off with Vincent Neil Emerson, who, although not my style per say, delivered a soulful set full of heartwarming country ballads. His rich, twangy voice had this certain, gritty cinematic quality about it that dug it’s hooks in with the incredibly vivid storytelling from especially with tracks like Willie Nelson’s Wall. I challenge even the greatest country skeptic to throw this on and try to not bop your head along with it – you literally CAN’T.

As someone who didn’t know either of these two openers beforehand, I was curious but hesitant to see what Nikki Lane was going to bring. Especially if it was the same kind of vibe/style of Vincent – how wrong I was haha. From the moment they started playing on stage, she cranked the energy up a notch with her signature blend of outlaw country and rock. I mean…she had an electric violin up there with her. That says it all! From tracks like Highway Queen to Born Tough though, Nikki commanded the stage with her fierce vocals and honky-tonk charm, drawing cheers and yelps from the crowd. Her gritty, rebellious energy was a nice contrast to Vincent's more subdued vibe, setting the tone for the man of the hour who somehow is able to blend these two tones together in efficient beauty.

Then, the lights dimmed, and the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived giving way to the sole thought by me of: OMG…I want that suit.

Now, I’ll admit: I didn’t know much about Orville Peck going into this, outside of a couple clips of social media and saying, “Oh, that’s a sick mask.” So I can’t even lie to ya, I was a little bummed out when he walked onto the stage when it wasn’t in one of those iconic, ornate mask. That being said tho, that disappointment quickly evaporated when he launched into "Big Sky" – A song that I now can’t stop playing. My god the sheer power of his voice hits you IMMEDATELY. His vocal range? Unbelievable. The energy? Infectious. Even with his quieter, more contemplative songs like "Kalahari Down," Orville held the crowd in the palm of his hand. And I mean, again—do you see that green suit?!

Orville Peck's performance was an exhilarating mix of powerful vocals, captivating stage presence, and unexpected energy culminating in what I would truly rank near the top of the shows I’ve both shot/one’s without the camera. Although I didn’t get the insane mask and specific pictures I had in my head, he proved that his voice and persona were more than enough to command the stage – one that felt like it belonged to us, just as much as him.