[ATTENDED: May 4, 2022] Margaret Glaspy [rescheduled from April 15, 2022]
This was possibly the shortest time between a postponed show and a rescheduled show. Nineteen days! It’s pretty remarkable that the venues were able to accommodate Spoon with such short notice. It also worked out really well for me because that week in April was really chaotic.
But here we were in May.
I had been wanting to see Margaret Glaspy for a pretty long time. She last played Philadelphia in 2016, about two months before I heard her album. (Well, actually, she played Philly when opening for Ruston Kelly, but there was no freaking way I was going to see that country music hack). She was supposed to headline a tour back in 2020, but that show was postponed, so it’s not all her fault that it took six years for me to see her.
I really enjoyed her album Emotions and Math. I loved the guitar and kind of weirdly lurching and aggressive sound and vocal style (Margaret clearly was taking no shit). Her newer album departed from that style a bit–there’s a bit more synth, but it’s still solid.
Regardless, this was a double bill I was really looking forward to. And I was pleased that the audience was reasonably respectful to Margaret. And if they weren’t, she just sang over them.
Glaspy seems delicate. She seems petite and was wearing a sleeveless sweater. But she wore leather pants and rocked her guitar and she snarled (some) of her vocals. She will not be trifled with. It’s a captivating performance.
She opened with three new songs. “I Didn’t Think So” opened quietly but mid-verse, the guitar bass and drum thumped out and as the chorus moved along I watched as people began to move along with the rhythm. “Act Natural” has the great line “I tried to speak my mind until I lost my voice” wit a chorus with a big classic rock riff that tells someone to stop acting like a fool.
I love the construct of “Get Back” which had Glaspy singing a long held note over a series of punched heavy chords–another great contrast.
Then she moved to her most recent album with the catchy “Stay with Me” (the repeated Me, You, Me, You, Me You is a great hook). Her band Chris Morrissey on bass and Tim Cool on drums really filled the room. Her new album is a little softer and synthy, but that didn’t come across at all live. The whole band rocked and sounds great.
After only one more song from Devotion (the terrific “Vicious”), she jumped back to her debut.
“Emotions and Math” was one of my favorite songs of 2016 and I was thrilled she played it live. I love the riff. I love the snarl in her voice. I love everything about it and it sounded great.
“Memory Street” is a slow burner of a song that she turned into a moody, bluesy song and stretched it out, really allowing her growl to come out. She also played a ripping solo (which I didn’t know she did). There’s a great part n the song where she sings about a record skipping and the band plays “times I, times I, times I” a few times.
And then she played “You and I” and I remembered how much I loved this song too. Another great guitar riff propels this bouncy song along.
“Situation” opens with a defiant lurching riff and a defiant lyric
Take your hands off of me
There’s nothing wrong with me
I don’t like sympathy
Don’t you dare pity me
‘Cause you don’t know my situation
We’ve had at most one conversation
Don’t come out of the blue
And tell me what to do
She ended the night with a song that seemed like she may have written it that very night as the Supreme Court was planning on overturning Roe v Wade any day. But I see she’d played it all the way back in October. Because the concern is (sadly) timeless.
The lyrics are straight forward. The melody simple. This song should be sung and played often. I don’t know if she’s released it as a single, but it needs to get on the radio.
I pierce my ears and paint my nailsI wear my hair down in two pigtailsI make all my money raising my voiceIt’s my body, so it’s my choiceOh, my friend Jim felt like JaneShe changed her clothes and her nameShe starts hormones on Monday, so I’m watching her boysIt’s her body, so it’s her choiceGo on, girlSweet, sweet Laura is just nineteenAnd she finds out she’s pregnant during school orientationRadio silence from her fatherSweet Laura says “I’m not ready for a son or a daughter”Oh, sweet Laura rejoiceIt’s your body, so it’s your choiceIt’s okay, girlIt’s your body, so it’s your choice
If there was anyone in the crowd that Margaret hadn’t won over yet, this song did it for everyone–a huge round of applause and, no doubt, some new fans.
It was also really cool that she was hanging out at the merch table after the show. I chatted with her for a couple of minutes and she signed my vinyl! My friend Kaylo also saw this tour (in Minnesota) and she was similarly impressed by Margaret!
Her set was so good I would absolutely love to see her again. Even if I have to wait another six years.
SETLIST
- I Didn’t Think So [new]
- Act Natural [new]
- Get Back [new]
- Stay With Me Ð
- Vicious Ð
- Emotions and Math €
- Memory Street €
- You and I €
- Situation €
- My Body My Choice [new]
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