Big Thief Unveils New Album ‘Horsepower’ at Epic Ryman Auditorium Performance

On August 23, in Nashville, fans attended Big Thief’s Ryman Auditorium show expecting a standard concert. Instead, they witnessed an unprecedented event: the band performed their upcoming triple album, Horsepower, in full, alongside a star-studded lineup of collaborators including Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch, and Lucinda Williams, as well as a distinguished ensemble of session musicians.

The evening began with unusual preparations: no opening act, a fully-seated stage setup resembling a chamber configuration, and fiddles arranged on stands. As Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, and touring bassist Joshua Crumbly settled around a wooden table—remaining seated almost the entire performance—the audience sensed they were witnessing something extraordinary.

Lenker, dressed in jeans and a patterned shirt, revealed Horsepower was recorded in Nashville the previous May, though she didn’t specify the studio. She explained the album would be performed non-chronologically, with some songs rearranged from their live versions since 2023. “If you were hoping to hear familiar tracks like ‘Simulation Swarm,’ those expectations should be set aside,” she noted, describing two distinct sets separated by intermission. “But if you’re open to something unique, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.”

The performance indeed delivered something remarkable. Starting with Lenker’s solo acoustic intro, additional musicians gradually joined, transforming the intimate setting into a richly layered folk-orchestration. This culminated in what many consider among Big Thief’s richest and most adventurous arrangements—a blend of Americana, country, and indie rock that showcased their evolution while honoring their roots.

Several tracks had circulated among fans for years. The title track, “Happiness,” “Baby Honey Sweet Darlin,” “Spatchcock Chickenshit Bingo,” and “Muscle Memory” had all been performed live previously, while “Sadness Is a Gift” originated from Lenker’s solo work Bright Future. Nearly two-thirds of the 29-track album had already been road-tested, often in dramatically different forms. One song, initially titled “Bloom” before becoming “21,” was described by Lenker as the first composition she and Meek wrote together.

Harmonic depth came primarily from vocal collaborations. DeMent opened the guest appearances, her presence resonating with the band’s shared admiration for her work. Welch followed on acoustic guitar and banjo, while Williams joined for the finale. The four voices blended seamlessly into folk-perfect harmonies, with DeMent visibly energized—periodically comforting a nervous Lenker with backrubs between songs.

The arrangements marked some of their most sophisticated country-influenced work, incorporating steel guitar, layered fiddle sections, and nostalgic echoes of Gram Parsons, Joni Mitchell, and John Prine. Yet the album embraced diverse influences from Paul Simon to Radiohead, all unified by narrative storytelling. Many songs reflected on contemporary travel, capturing both heartbreak and beauty in equal measure.

Lyrically, the album grappled with finding joy amid global uncertainty. On “Beautiful World,” Lenker questioned, “This fucked up world, why must everything be conquered?” Yet she rejected despair as a coping mechanism, instead celebrating happiness, love, and whimsy. “6-7-8-9 She’s Fine” honored her partner, while “Spatchcock Chickenshit Bingo” offered surreal silliness through absurd walking suggestions. The closing “Gift Pleasure Joy” emerged from studio conversations about the recording process itself, providing a triumphant finale that prompted Lenker to finally rise from her chair.

A documentary crew filmed the entire performance for a future release, though release details remain unannounced. The band plans to recreate the set on Sunday night, potentially with some guest variations. For those unable to attend both shows, the event stands as a landmark moment in Big Thief’s career—one that redefined their sound while reinforcing their commitment to communal, storytelling-driven music.

Source link