Big Thief at the Hollywood Bowl last September (photo by Stevo Rood)

On Saturday in Nashville, Big Thief’s performance at the Ryman Auditorium took a surprising and satisfying turn. Early on, Adrianne Lenker informed the audience in a welcoming manner, “If you had some hopes of hearing some songs you might know those can be discarded.” She then added, “If you’re all open to it, it could be a really unique night of music.” The trio, which also consists of Buck Meek and James Krivchenia (along with touring bassist Joshua Crumbly) then delivered the 29 songs from the group’s forthcoming album Horsepower.

Lenker noted that Horsepower was recorded in Nashville last May. She also explained to the audience that the performance would not follow the sequencing of the record, although it did feature a number of the musicians who joined Big Thief in the studio. This included an expanded version of their core band with pedal steel players Greg Leisz and Russ Pahl, along with violinists Richard Bowden, Hannah Read and Zosha Warpeha.

The performance extended over two sets and included some notable additional singers as well. Iris DeMent appeared late in the first frame for “Highway” and “Stay,” then she was joined by Gillian Welch for “Carry.” The two of the remained for “Sadness as a Gift,” “True Love” and “Where Will We Go.” Dement and Welch also returned for the final six songs in the second set. Later, during the encore, Lucinda Williams appeared on “Born For Loving You.”

Big Thief Setlist:

Set 1:

Horsepower

Baby Honey Sweetheart Darlin’

Wait a While

Space and Time

21

Casual Touch

Muscle Memory

Highway (with Iris DeMent)

Stay (with DeMent)

Carry (with Gillian Welch, DeMent))

Sadness as a Gift (with Welch, DeMent)

True Love (with Welch, DeMent)

Where Will We Go (with Welch, DeMent)

Set 2:

Beautiful World

Faker

Loneliest Boy

Happiness

Oldest

Bright Future

Beautiful Powerful

Avalanche, Hurricane (with Welch, DeMent)

Snail (with Welch, DeMent)

Spatchcock Chickenshit Bingo (with Welch, DeMent)

Trade Tomorrow (with Welch, DeMent)

6-7-8-9 She’s Fine (with Welch, DeMent)

These Are the Days (with Welch, DeMent)

Encore:

No Matter What

Born For Loving You (with Lucinda Williams)

Gift Pleasure Joy (with all)

Setlist via setlist.fm