What You Missed: Orville Peck at The Sylvee

Orville Peck has three rules at his shows: you have to sing along, even if you don't know the words; you have to dance; and if you feel the urge, you have to cry.

I can't imagine there were too many tears flowing in the sold out room, but I did spot plenty of singing and dancing. While there wasn't much wiggle room in the main pit, one couple found enough space in the back to do some condensed swing dance while the masked Orville sung the tales of a lovesick outlaw.

The man under the mask is Daniel Pitout, a 36-year-old who grew up in South Africa. Although people are well-aware of his identity (or could find it with a quick Google search), he's not Orville Peck until he puts on the garb--mask and hat included. When asked why he wears the mask, Orville has never given a direct reason: "I want people to have their own take on it. I don't want to lay it out and pin it down." Whether it's a separation of Orville and Daniel, or a way to keep his image recognizable, you won't catch any interviews, photoshoots or performances from Orville Peck maskless. Funnily enough, he just hopped onto the cover of Paper Magazine, baring it all, save for a pair of gloves, a hat and his mask. Tonight he wears a matching vest, pants and cowboy hat adorned in flames and rhinestones with a simple black mask.

While Orville doesn't have American Southern roots, he carries himself with the confidence and charm of a southern gentleman. He's humble and grateful, and he even hands out roses to some of the fans in the front row throughout the night, commending their outfits and attitudes. It's an ode to his song, "Roses Are Falling." His first rose of the night went to a fan meticulously dressed in color-coordinated cowboy gear. After receiving his rose, he grinned and blushed all night. I ended up running into him after the show, and he was still giggly over it hours later.

Orville brings along rising star, Debbii Dawson, for his first opener. The solo act feels simultaneously brand new to the stage (this is her first tour ever), but she sounds like a well-oiled machine. Her songs mix the best parts of country and pop, and I can only assume that she has a lot of Dolly Parton and ABBA in her background. She's definitely one to keep your eye on.

Durand Jones is a stark contrast from Debbii--he brings a full band to the stage but makes sure that all eyes stay on him. His band precedes him, and after a minute or two, he walks out with a saxophone in one hand while blowing kisses with the other. His outfit could allow him to blend in with the crowd, minus the velvet green durag decked out with glittering gem broaches. He remains a ball of energy for his entire performance, belting out soul and funk while swinging the microphone around. Where Debbii was a quieter opener that brought out pure talent, Durand is an absolute performer who nearly outshines Orville in energy.

Despite his debut album, Pony, dropping in 2019, it feels like Peck has had a quick start to his career. Pony was written and recorded completely by Peck while living with his parents and working at a coffee shop. That same album would earn him a Juno Award nomination, a Jimmy Kimmel performance, invitations to Coachella and Stagecoach, and an inclusion in the Euphoria season two soundtrack. He's surely comfortable in today's music scene where country songs are scattered into the top 40 and artists like Beyonce, Post Malone and Sabrina Carpenter are swapping 808s for twangy slide guitar.

But Orville has never truly been a part of the country music crowd. His songs sound like modern-day Willie Nelson or Highwaymen tracks, but because of his slight hints at shoegaze and slowcore music and especially his status as an openly gay man, he doesn't quite make sense next to Morgan Wallen on a lineup. Orville instead takes a new look at American outlaw music where the cowboys are queer and the night swelters regardless.

Before singing "Drive Me, Crazy," he asks if anyone in the audience is a trucker. One fan jumps up, but they admit that it's their father--named Greg--who's the trucker. Orville laughs and intros the song with, "I have a song about truckers in love. You can tell your father Greg that this song goes out to him." Orville pulls out his best bravado and his deepest drawls to sing about star-crossed lovers and 18-wheelers.

There are moments of high energy, but for the most part, Orville's discography is a bit darker and mellow. Even with the fiery attire, there are moments like during "Dead of Night" where he's pulling us into a two-in-the-morning drowsy escapade, and the only dancing that makes sense is a quiet sway.

Even with a sold out crowd, there's something intimate about being in a room led by Orville Peck. There's a strong sense of community and closeness, especially as several members in the crowd show off their back pocket hankies and pride pins, signaling that this is a safe space for their communities. Although Madison doesn't have our own dedicated Pride celebration or parade, we do have an Orville Peck show, conveniently booked in the middle of Pride Month.