Plains @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA 11-06-22

Jess Williamson and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield brought their one time collaborative project Plains to Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse on Sunday night alongside tour opener MJ Lenderman for a look into the duo’s friendship and love of country music.

On October 15th, Plains released their highly anticipated album I Walked With You A Ways via ANTI- Records, billing it as one time only project. Both Williamson and Crutchfield have found success in the indie music world separately; existing in a little bit different spectrums: Williamson in the folk/country spheres already, while Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee project has been more in the indie rock side with folk leanings. You could certainly see a little more return to Crutchfield’s Birmingham, Alabama roots with the last Waxahatchee album, 2020’s Saint Cloud. WIth Crutchfield looking to do something a little different from Waxahatchee though, she found a perfect partner in Williamson and their shared admiration of each other’s music, and love of some country classics.

Plains band (JESS WILLIAMSON & WAXAHATCHEE’S KATIE CRUTCHFIELD one time collab) performing live in Atlanta at Variety Playhouse on November 6th, 2022

That admiration, love, and friendship were on display in Atlanta. With both dressed in bright pink dresses, an ode to some of the old school greats like Loretta Lynn, flowers surrounding their mics, and a lot of pink and purple lights, making for a bright and sunny stage that matched the music and good vibes of the night. Joined by 4 more talented band mates, there was no one star of the show, the star was the full band, playing like a band who’s been together for years, not just this one time only 2 month tour.

Williamson and Crutchfield switched vocal leads by song, during songs, and intertwined their vocals like they’ve been singing together since Sunday school, perfect harmonies. There was standouts from the one time only album, certainly one of the best albums of 2022: “Problem With It”, “Abilene”, “Line of Sight”, “Hurricane” and more. They also played a few from each other’s main catalog: Jess Williamson’s “Wind of Tin” and “Hunter”; Waxahatchee’s “Can’t Do Much” and “Lilacs”. And for good measure there was a few covers of classics “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” (Waylon Jennings), and ending the night with “Amarillo Highway” (Robert Earl Keen) and “Goodbye Earl” (The Chicks). It was an absolutely beautiful evening and performance by Plains, though it’s a little sad thinking that this is a one time only thing, one time tour, and more won’t be able to see these specials talents play together as Plains. The chemistry was clear between Jess Williamson and Katie Crutchfield, so never say never to future collabs because the sparks were obvious.

MJ Lenderman @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA 11-06-22

If you are lucky enough to get to see Plains on the few tour dates left, make sure to get their early and not miss Asheville songwriter and guitarist MJ Lenderman. Surrounding himself with a stellar band, Lenderman’s 2022 album Boat Songs (Dear Life Records) has been a breakthrough of sorts, showing off his songwriting chops that range anywhere from alt-country to fuzzed out slacker rock. The band quickly worked their way into the Atlanta audience’s hearts with slow zoned out grooves that was both calming and loud. Hearing these songs live brought even more light to how good of an album Boat Songs is. Great set, MJ Lenderman is definitely one to watch.

Check out photos below from Plains and MJ Lenderman performing live at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA on Sunday, November 6th, all photos by Mike Gerry:

MJ LENDERMAN