By Dave Parsons
The line to get in the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 20, stretched 3 city blocks in both directions. The headliner for the night was Priscilla Block, a relatively still newcomer to country music, she has a legion of fans that come ready to show their faithfulness.
They came prepared with either neon safety work vests, an ode to a last second fashion decision Block made last summer, or with the same hair, makeup and bling outfits to compete with whatever Block might come out on stage in that evening.
Having saw Block’s set at the Tortuga Festival 2 weeks earlier, and 2 other festival appearances the last few summers, I wasn’t sure what the crowd was in for exactly. Most of her songs are about heartbreak, and the alcohol party of recovery that follows. Her shows become a Block Party, with her being the leader, but doing a 75-minute set in a small intimate theater is a lot different of a setting than a 30 minute show at an outdoor festival, especially for an artist who only has 4 officially charted singles.
So, it was little surprise that she entered in an almost all black shorts outfit singing about Off The Deep End and professing her love for My Bar. The crowd sang along with every word, being into the performance from the first note. She noted how many faces she recognized in the crowd from previous trips to the Steel City area, and how much she appreciated everyone coming out. After leading the crowd through Hey, Jack, one of her recent single releases, she settled down on a stool with her guitar, and started telling the story of running into a former lover, with his new date on his arm. Noting the similarities with her, Block related she went home and wrote, Me, Pt. 2. The rush of the party atmosphere took a pause, and Block settled in to a portion of the setlist that contained songs that were more to be celebrated sober, than in a party atmosphere.
It became apparent there was more to this artist as she told the story of the girls who mocked her in high school, and now try to score free tickets by calling her old cell phone number. Peaked In High School is an anthem for anyone who didn’t peak in high school, and the song Apartment reflected the time a decade ago when Block moved to Nashville right after getting her diploma. In relating the story that she still worries some nights that no one is going to show up to see her show, she showed vulnerability as an artist, as well as gratitude for her career. The covers of I Wish Grandpas Never Died and Live Like You Were Dying were throwbacks to songs she covered while playing bars the last decade or so, but also suggested a maturity that doesn’t come out on a much shorter show.
Block’s band came back on stage after the solo portion to solidify her pop influenced song backing. Even covering rock songs from bands like Paramore, Block’s style is pure country. I would love to see her rip into a couple of female country standards by artists like Tammy Wynette or Loretta Lynn just once, as she would do them justice.
Opening act Ryan Larkins took Justin Moore’s part on You, Me & Whiskey, which Block proudly announced was her first radio number one. Block headed for the finish line of the party, before a rousing version of Thick Thighs, sending the crowd into a massive sing along before her encores of Fake Names and the single that went from TikTok hit to getting her a record deal called Just About Over You.
Overall, Block is developing into an artist that can move away from just another party leading female singer, into an artist that can connect with her audience and takes them to different levels in her set, when she is given enough time to do so. No matter the venue, I can tell you if you catch her at an upcoming show on her schedule, to steal one of her song titles, Good On You. You will not be disappointed.
I have to also mention the opening act, Ryan Larkins. It is a tough gig to get the crowd going, who did not come to see you. Larkins did enough covers, from Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks to John Denver to give the crowd a chance to get their sing along in gear, but he also has a song that should become a classic called “King Of Country Music”. He closed his set with The Painter, a song Cody Johnson recorded and the crowd recognized. In my opinion, he won’t be an opening act much longer.
Ryan Larkins Setlist:
- Ring Of Fire
- Man That Holds The Beer
- Friends In Low Places/Wagon Wheel
- Country Roads
- She’s The Tough One
- Meet In The Middle
- Chattahoochee
- Hold On To It
- Dream Baby
- I Love This Bar
- King Of Country Music
- The Painter
Priscilla Block Setlist:
1. Off the Deep End
2. My Bar
3. Ever Since You Left
4. Hey, Jack
5. Too Little Too Late
6. Me Pt. 2
7. Peaked In High School
8. Apartment
9. I Wish Grandpas Never Died/Live Like You Were Dying
10. I Bet You Wanna Know
11. Good On You
12. You, Me, And Whiskey (with Ryan Larkins)
13. Still Into You
14. Wish You Were The Whiskey
15. Like A Boy
16. Thick Thighs
Encores:
17. Fake Names
18. Just About Over You
Photo Gallery : Priscilla Block – Roxian Theater (04.20.2024)
