PHOTOS: Big Thief @ The Eastern – Atlanta, GA 02-24-23

Last February, Big Thief released one of the year’s best albums, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD), and on Friday night they finally got to bring the new material to Atlanta along with 4 other albums worth of highly praised discography that has made this one of the best band’s going these days.

Buck Meek @ The Eastern – Atlanta, GA 02-24-23

Opening up the show at The Eastern in Atlanta was Big Thief’s own guitarist Buck Meek. Not only is Meek a key component in Big Thief, but he’s also released a number of great solo albums including 2021’s Two Saviors (Keeled Scales), showing himself as a standout songwriter in his own right. Joined by an uber talented cast of musicians including Twain’s own Mat Davidson, an amazing songwriter in his own right, Buck Meek and band showed off his own folk rock which included a few new songs he’s been working on. If the new songs he played were any indication, his next solo album should be one of his best. Buck Meek and band were one great start to the evening.

By the time Big Thief finally took the stage, the sold out crowd was ready for a night of beautiful, piercing songwriting, musicianship and of course some dancing. Starting their set off with a few beloved songs from their old albums, including “Masterpiece”, “Shark Smile”, and “Cattails”, before going into “Certainty” off the new album, Big Thief played 16 songs across their set that included plenty “classics” and a few of the hits off their latest double album. There was “Dried Roses”, “Flower of Blood”, the title track, “Simulation Swarm”, before the encore that closed the show with “Change” and “Spud Infinity”. I’ve got to say, “Spud Infinity” was one of the best set closers I’ve seen in a while, a backyard hoedown song that had the crowd lit and dancing into the night.

Big Thief @ The Eastern – Atlanta, GA 02-24-23

I’ve seen Big Thief now a number of times live over the years, and every time I’m reminded why this is one of the best bands in the world right now. From their more experimental folk songs with screeching guitars, to their more traditional folk tunes, Big Thief has always been a critical darling with albums you want to listen to over and over, but don’t let the term “folk music” fool you. Live and in person, Big Thief is loud, big, and bold, from their more quiet heart wrenching songs, to the more upbeat numbers, this is a band that brings it all, bringing new life to their songs in a concert setting. Catch Big Thief live in 2023 in both Europe and more US dates coming up over the year.

Check out photos below from Big Thief and Buck Meek performing live at The Eastern in Atlanta, GA on Friday, February 24th, 2023, all photos by Mike Gerry:

BUCK MEEK