Big Thief Teases "Horsepower" Album During Tour
- Louise Geri
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Excitement emanated through downtown Nashville as fans entered Big Thief’s second Nashville show of the Somersault Slide 360 Tour on Aug. 23, taking place at the Ryman Auditorium.
Word had spread over the 24 hours between this show and the last one, held on Aug. 22, about the brand-new album being debuted at these shows.
This was more than just a debut; it was the filming of a movie.
A film crew interviewed fans outside the Ryman entrance. Ryman employees held signs reading, “no cell phones, no photos, no videos.”
Chatter emerged among crowd members, with people informing each other how it would be a three hour show with an intermission and no openers.
This was unusual for a concert, considering most concerts don’t have intermissions. Even the Eras Tour, which was about the same length, didn't have an intermission.
Big Thief’s lead singer, Adrianne Lenker, made a cozy and casual stage entrance after the lights dimmed.
Lenker explained the concept for the night; performing 29 of the 30 songs on the band’s upcoming album “Horsepower.”
When Lenker invited a fiddle trio onstage, it became clear the album would lean more towards the country realm than Big Thief’s earlier work.
Lenker opened with the title track, one of few songs she revealed the title of.
It was a fitting intro to the new album, carrying a similar sound to that of their latest album “Double Infinity.”
Lenker introduced a few songs by telling stories about writing them with Alexander Buckley “Buck” Meek. For instance, “21” was the first song Lenker and Meek wrote together that made it on “Horsepower.”
Throughout the first half of the show, some songs leaned on floatier strings, like “Space and Time.”
A different song had a similar rhythm to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.”
Another was sadder, with Lenker crooning, “I wanted you to stay.”
Iris DeMent, known for her songs “Our Town” and “Let the Mystery Be,” joined Lenker onstage. The singers harmonized throughout the pre-intermission segment of the set.
Then, Gillian Welch, an established Americana-folk artist, joined. She sang vocals while playing guitar as the set continued.
The energy onstage was palpable from the audience.
Lenker referred to everyone performing as a “dear friend” and often expressed speechlessness. The most she could muster was, “I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun singing, and I’ve had a lot of fun singing!”
The song following this statement showed Lenker’s voice in a clearer state than her typical breathy, nearly slurred vocal style.
The final song before intermission opened with scraping strings, bringing a coming-of-age feel.
Lenker headbanged.
DeMent clapped.
Welch banged on a tambourine.
Girls by the front stage barricade danced.
A man raised his MillerLite in the air.
The audience gave a standing ovation as the show broke for intermission.
As the show returned, fans were encouraged to stand and have fun as Lenker acknowledged her bandmates.
She shouted out fiddler Hannah Read’s part in “Beautiful World,” a song played earlier in the show.
Later, she shifted herself to a piano for “Loneliest Boy.”
Lenker described her next song, “Faker”, as a “funny little song”. A big fiddle solo drove it deeper into the country realm.
After “Faker” ended, Rodney Crowell was unveiled. The Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee played for Emmylou Harris’s backing band in the 1970s and has written songs recorded by the likes of Bob Seger.
He and Lenker leaned their heads together as they closed their first song which was unnamed.
The second and final song Lenker and Crowell did together, “Bright Future,” was slower, and many audience members gave a standing ovation as it closed.
DeMent and Welch were welcomed back onstage and harmonized as they sang the chorus lyric, “I missed you, so happy I could cry,” of another unnamed song.
Welch switched to banjo and Meek sang a solo for their next song.
The crowd screamed as Lenker sang the lyric “making love till the very next day,” followed by a loud drum bang.
As they joked about how they were “taking submissions for dances,” Lenker launched into an upbeat song, presumably titled “Somersault Slide 360.” The song was rooted in fiddle, harmonica, clapping, drums and light strings.
When Lucinda Williams came onstage near the end of the show, the entire audience gave a standing ovation.
She and Lenker performed “I Was Born for Loving You” with country-sounding verses reminiscent of Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours.”
“This has been great fun,” Williams said.
Lenker stood up and danced onstage as the crowd rejoiced for the closing number, “Gift Pleasure Joy.” The song expressed gratitude to everyone in the room – from band members to special guests to fans.
As fans filed out, many had looks of shock, wide-eyed and smiling.
Big Thief anticipates a spring 2027 release for “Horsepower.”
Written by Louise Geri
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