America’s favorite gay cowboy blazed a trail across the Hollywood Bowl stage Friday night, proving he has the swagger and the singing chops to take Los Angeles by storm.
Dressed in an all-white outfit and his iconic mask, Orville Peck sauntered onstage to an explosion of cheers from a crowd of devoted fans and newcomers alike. To be fair, I’m one of those newbies. It wasn’t until about a month ago that I finally sat down and listened to Peck’s entire discography, and within minutes, I was a fan.
While he is firmly rooted in country, Peck’s standout vocals echo a rocking Elvis Presley, a crooning Chris Isaak, and the nostalgic trill of Roy Orbison. But he’s also very much his own thing. From vulnerable lyrics and sexy swagger to high-energy, get-on-your-feet tunes, Peck has a little something for everyone—which probably explains why his appeal reaches well beyond the traditional country crowd.
Through a 21-song set, Peck kept the evening emotional and alive with favorites like “Already Gone,” “C’mon Baby, Cry,” and “Bronco.” He brought out Noah Cyrus, one of his favorite singers to duet with, for “Archafalaya,” and covered Ned Sublette’s “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” the wonderfully winking queer-country anthem Peck previously recorded with Willie Nelson.
But Peck’s brand-new album, Mule, seemed to have his heart, and he was eager to share it with his fans. Born out of a difficult year and his journey to sobriety, the album is an emotional exploration of addiction, pain and the difficult but cathartic journey to the other side.
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Among the new material, Peck performed his personal favorite, “The Breeze, the Grass, the Mourning Dove and Me,” a melancholy reflection on loneliness and longing that beautifully showcases the vulnerability underneath that cowboy exterior.
Other standouts included “Hexie Mountains,” “The Fall,” and “Outta Time,” before Peck wrapped up the evening with an encore of “Daytona Sand,” sending the crowd out on a high as they boot-scootin’ boogied their way back to their cars on an Orville high.
Of course, about halfway through the evening, the undeniably sexy Peck tossed aside his button-down shirt to reveal a white tank top, exposing his tattoos and toned chest and arms. The gays and the ladies were thrilled.
But something about Peck’s sex appeal feels refreshing. While he is clearly an attractive man (and certainly isn’t hiding it), he never seems to try too hard to sell you on it. He simply is sexy. The music and his immensely likable persona remain center stage, rather than his body or even that famous swagger.
One of the loveliest moments of the night came when Peck returned to the stage and quietly began singing Dolly Parton’s iconic “I Will Always Love You.” There was no elaborate setup or fanfare, just a beautiful song sung as a sweet tribute to a beautiful soul.
“We love you, Dolly,” he said as the final notes faded away.
Orville Peck’s journey to country-pop stardom has a lot of story behind it. He’s openly gay, an unabashed cowboy, sober after struggling with addiction, a new Playgirl cover star, and unapologetically himself.
The fringed mask may seem like a gimmick to someone unfamiliar with him, but for Peck, it lets him be vulnerable without feeling completely exposed. Sure, it makes him stand out, but even the most confident performers have their insecurities. Peck doesn’t run from his. He leans into them, turning that vulnerability into part of what makes him so accessible and beloved.
And if Friday night at the Hollywood Bowl was any indication, plenty of people will be riding alongside him for years to come.
