Kacey Musgraves Concert Review

Kacey Musgraves began the American leg of her Deeper Well World Tour on Sept. 4 at the Bryce Jordan Center following a several-month break after the ending of the European leg.

Musgraves, an American singer-songwriter from Texas, released her sixth studio album “Deeper Well” on March 15. A deluxe version of the album was released on Aug. 2.

Before Musgraves took the stage around 9:30 p.m., there were two opening acts.

The first, Nickel Creek, is an American bluegrass band formed in 1989. The band did about a half-hour-long set consisting of some calmer, folksy music that showcased the different talents of each band member.

The second opener was Father John Misty, an American musician who began his career in Seattle in the early 2000s. This set featured some popular songs and was much more upbeat.

When Musgraves took the stage, she started with the opening track of the “Deeper Well” album, “Cardinal.” After the first few songs, she stopped to tell everyone that this was the first time anyone was ever going to hear this new version of the tour, as this was the first stop.

During the first few songs it was apparent that when Musgraves performs live, she sounds just as good as she does in her studio albums. Her voice is clear and strong, and she moves across the stage effortlessly.

The stage in the Bryce Jordan Center utilized some different sets and background visuals that went along with the themes of each song, with some even including certain lyrics.

The set list was a mix of songs from different albums that Musgraves has released, including her 2018 album “Golden Hour” and 2021’s “star-crossed.” It included some of her most popular songs such as “Slow Burn,” “Space Cowboy” and “justified.”

After a few opening songs, Musgraves and some of the members of her band moved to the middle of the arena where there was a smaller, circular stage made up to look like a grassy knoll. A model of the planet Saturn lowered down above the stage.

When they moved to this stage, Musgraves told the crowd a story about the European leg of the tour and garnered some laughs. These moments where she told stories about her life made the night feel more intimate, as though the people in the crowd were those she’d share everything in her life with.

Musgraves then said she was going to perform a song that she hadn’t performed live in ten years.

“Your internet bullying has worked,” Musgraves said before she started to sing her 2012 song, “Follow Your Arrow.”

The concert continued with more of Musgraves’ hits, and then she launched into a cover of singer-songwriter Chappel Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”

This rendition of the 2023 song energized the crowd, and when Musgraves finished the first chorus and launched right into her own song, “High Horses,” people were screaming and clapping.

After this, Musgraves slowed it down and sang “Deeper Well,” the song the tour named after. She then thanked everyone for coming and ended the night with “Rainbow,” a song that Musgraves has said holds a lot of significance in her life.

While the night started out slowly, Musgraves got the crowd to engage with her in a special way.

Isabelle Charboneau is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ijc5186@psu.edu.