By Lisa Hagen Glynn

A neon ORVILLE PECK rattlesnake sign flashed during the lighting check, foreshadowing the alt-country artist’s arrival. Soaking rain subsided just as Orville Peck took the stage at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. The stepwise bass line for “Big Sky” started up, and Peck’s velvety baritone sang a doleful ballad about relationship loss. He paused between tunes to invite the audience to “sing along, dance, and even cry.”

The South African native has maintained a secretive identity, only recently revealed as punk drummer Daniel Pitout. He famously performs in sharp western wear and a face mask covered with long fringe—although this time it was just a short leather eye mask.

Backing Peck was a five-piece band that included guitar, vocals/guitar/keys, bass, drums, and pedal steel. A vocalist announced as Emily Rose supplied beautiful harmonies, accompanying Peck on several tunes.

Peck’s set included tunes across his discography, including his August 2024 album Stampede, a series of cross-genre duets with notable partners. An audience favorite from that album was “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” a Ned Sublette cover that Peck recently recorded with 91-year-old country great Willie Nelson. Peck announced, “Willie Nelson wanted to do a song with me, but about gay cowboys. I’m gay!” In just half a decade, Peck has become a queer and a country icon.

Peck also played his favorite song from Bronco, “Hexie Mountains,” about his struggles with depression. Peck later moved to an upright piano, and asked if there were any truckers in the audience. He dedicated his song about gay truckers, “Drive Me, Crazy,” to trucker “Aaron” (whose name we could have sworn was actually “Kevin,” but he took it in stride).

A great showman, Peck swung and shimmied, dueled with each band member, and pulled off some daring high kicks in cowboy boots atop a damp stage. He returned for a one-song encore of “Bronco,” met by restarting drizzle and enthusiastic applause.

Opening were Nashville artists Nikki Lane and Emily Nenni. Unfortunately this writer arrived too late to hear Nenni due to a traffic snarl on I-405. Lane fronted a six-piece group that played a twangy, catchy set. Peck’s tour continues through October.