Last night, Delmar Hall in St. Louis pulsed with the kind of raw, unfiltered energy that only a tour opener can deliver. Margo Price, the Nashville renegade who’s been carving her path through country’s fringes for years, launched her “Wild at Heart Tour” here, and it felt like a homecoming for outcasts and die-hards alike. The venue—a mid-sized gem on Delmar Boulevard with its exposed brick and balcony overlooking the stage—was packed to the rafters, the air thick with anticipation and the faint scent of BBQ wafting in from nearby spots on the Loop.
Kicking things off was opener Eliza Thorn, a rising Nashville singer-songwriter whose 35-minute set blended folk-tinged introspection with a voice that cut through the chatter like a switchblade. Fans trickled in steadily during her performance, drawn by the warm-up glow of her guitar-driven tunes, but it was clear eyes were on the headliner. Thorn’s set built a cozy foundation, easing the crowd into the night’s themes of resilience and rebellion—perfect priming for Price’s brand of insurgent country.
When Margo Price took the stage around 8:30 p.m., clad in a fringe jacket and boots that screamed road warrior, the room erupted. Backed by her tight-knit band (including fiddle, pedal steel, and drums that thundered like a heartbeat), she dove straight into “Hands of Time,” a swirling opener from her latest album Hard Headed Woman that had everyone swaying. Price’s voice—smoky, soaring, and laced with that Loretta Lynn grit—filled every corner of the hall, proving once again why critics call her country’s next big thing. Her energy was electric; she swapped guitars mid-song, banged on a cowbell during breakdowns, and even hopped behind the drum kit for a raucous solo on “Hurtin’ (on the Bottle).” It was dynamic, unpretentious showmanship that turned the concert into a communal catharsis.
The setlist leaned heavily on new material from Hard Headed Woman, with standouts like the tour namesake “Wild at Heart” (a fist-pumping anthem about chasing freedom) and the wistful “Don’t Wake Me Up,” a Bob Dylan-inspired tribute that hushed the crowd before exploding into applause. She wove in classics too—”Four Years of Chances” from her debut Midwest Farmer’s Daughter had longtime fans belting along, while “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down” became a rowdy sing-along, fists raised against whatever demons we all carry. Drawing from recent shows on the tour, the full list likely included “Tennessee Song,” “Losing Streak” (a raw nod to her early Nashville struggles), and a fiery closer in “Been to the Mountain.” Clocking in at about 90 minutes, it was paced perfectly: high-octane romps balanced by vulnerable ballads, all delivered with Price’s trademark wit and zero pretension.
The crowd—a mix of tattooed twenty-somethings, silver-haired country purists, and everyone in between—was rapt. Delmar Hall’s acoustics shone, amplifying the intimacy without muddling the volume, though a few balked at the hard seats (a venue quirk that’s been griped about before). By the encore—a blistering cover of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” twisted into feminist fire—strangers were hugging, beers clinking in toast. Price chatted up the room like old friends, sharing stories of her “losing streak” days and dedicating a song to St. Louis’s resilient spirit. It wasn’t just a show; it was a reminder that country can still bite back.
If Hard Headed Woman hinted at Price’s evolution—polished production meeting unyielding heart—this live rendition confirmed it: she’s not just surviving the industry, she’s torching it on her terms. Catch her on this tour before it sells out; Margo Price doesn’t just perform, she ignites.
