Pride month went out with a “Stampede” in Washington, DC Sunday as country singer Orville Peck made a stop at The Anthem on his current tour. Goldie Boutilier and The War and Treaty round out the bill on the Stampede tour.
Goldie Boutilier kicked off the night, taking the Anthem stage before a still-gathering crowd on a very hot DC night. Boutilier hails from Nova Scotia and began singing as a child. Her first performance was at age five in her hometown of Reserve Mines; she sang with The Men of the Deeps Choir—North America’s only coal miners’ choir. Her family’s junkyard business was used as rehearsal space.
Boutilier’s music is notable for her themes of romance and glamour and she’s also a successful model, having appeared in campaigns for the likes of John Galliano and H&M. Sunday night, her 30-minute set included songs pulled from across her collection of EPs and LPs. While she may be labeled as “alt-country,” the sound generated by Boutilier and her all-female backing band has a distinctly rock edge. Boutilier’s latest EP is “Emerald Year,” released in 2023.
The night swung from alt-country to soul with The War and Treaty. The War and Treaty are a husband-and-wife duo—singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. Their first album was 2018’s Healing Tide—the lead single from that album was acclaimed by Rolling Stone as a “joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul.”
The pair hit some significant milestones in 2023, as The War and Treaty became the first black duo nominated for Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association. If that weren’t enough, they were the first black duo nominated for Duo of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. They have received two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist.
The War and Treaty’s mix of Southern soul, gospel, country and rock was on full display Sunday night. The set drew from across their catalog and included a cover of the Zach Bryan tune “Hey Driver.” They even had a violinist—Dr. Chelsea Green—join for a few songs. Finally, it was a bit of a homecoming for the pair, as both husband and wife originally hail from Washington, DC, a fact that drew supportive cheers from the crowd.
Known for always wearing a mask in public, Canadian-South African country singer Orville Peck’s mystery is a cornerstone of his persona. At 9PM, Peck (born Daniel Pitout in Johannesburg, South Africa) ambled onto the stage; crowd roared its welcome. His talented backing band wore flashy Western garb—think Western Barbie and Ken—while Peck wore a black outfit adorned with embroidered scorpions and a matching hat. While in the past his mask had tassels that obscured his lower face, his current more “Lone Ranger” style mask reveals his big, charming smile, which he flashed often at the crowd.
Orville Peck, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, performed for an Anthem crowd that seemed to include everyone—even a lot of fans who came in from outside the DC area. From the first notes of “Big Sky,” the ecstatic audience embraced Peck and his band.
His massive, 21-song setlist featured tracks from all his albums, including Bronco and his latest release, Stampede, which is an entire album of duets. Before launching into “Hexie Mountain,” Orville also spoke honestly about his struggles with mental health, expressing thanks to his fans for their support. As is his standard practice, Peck tossed roses to members in the audience, starting with “Roses Are Falling,” saying he gives out roses for lots of reasons. Maybe he likes someone’s hat, maybe someone’s singing their heart out, and so on. He’s always watching the crowd, Peck says, so “watch out.” It comes across as a sweet and charming gesture but underscores his understanding of the need to connect with his audience. Peck does it well.
As a metalhead who was intrigued by Orville Peck but had no real familiarity with his music before Sunday night, I walked away a new fan. He’s a charismatic performer, yes, but lots of artists are charismatic. What Peck also brings to the table is incredible talent and authenticity. While “Orville Peck” is thought to be something of a persona, the man behind the mask appears to bring his whole, true self to the stage and it’s a delight to behold. As someone who is decidedly not into modern country music, I love how Peck honors classic country while subverting the tropes of its modern form. He does all this with a glorious voice that is reminiscent of Roy Orbison (who passed away in 1988, the year Peck was born).
I look forward to seeing Orville Peck again soon. The Stampede Tour continues through October in the U.S.
THE WAR AND TREATY
GOLDIE BOUTILIER
