Orville Peck Plays 21 Songs in Denver
The masked country star performed a 21-song set on Nov. 1, dedicating a track to a local truck driver named Jorge.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Denver audiences have long sought out theatrical country performances, but the Mission Ballroom on Nov. 1 offered a particularly distinct visual and sonic experience.
Orville Peck delivered a 21-song set at the venue, opening with the track "Big Ol' House" from his 2026 album "Mule."
The stage design featured a barroom backdrop and a drum riser constructed from wooden boards, creating an aesthetic that recalled the 1976 Tom Waits album "Small Change."
Peck appeared without his signature fringe, wearing a face mask and introducing himself to the crowd before launching into his set.
The performance style blended music theater elements with a high-energy rock and roll delivery.
Peck acknowledged the melancholic nature of several lyrics by noting he had just played a few sad songs before shifting the mood.
He performed "Rehab Blues" with particular vigor, a song addressing his time in rehabilitation.
Peck marked his third anniversary of sobriety during the show, telling the audience he felt sorry for those who had to endure his previous behavior.
Mid-set, guitarist and vocalist Emily Rose joined him for a duet on "Legends Never Die."
Afterwards, Peck asked the crowd if anyone was a long-haul truck driver.
A man named Jorge raised his hand, prompting Peck to dedicate the song "Drive Me Crazy" to him.
The track explores the romantic relationships between truck drivers, and Peck delivered it with a playful energy that contrasted with the song's subject matter, which included lines about hating the environment and wanting to die, according to the review's notes on the lyrics' applicability to various workplaces, though the source specifically notes the rehab context, so I will stick to the source's specific attribution of the lyrics to the rehab context and the general workplace comparison mentioned in the text. Wait, the source says: "Lines like 'I hate it here, I don't care and I wanna die' could apply to many places of work, not simply to the rehab that Peck admitted wasn’t working for him at the time." So I can mention the lines and the rehab context. Let's refine that paragraph. He performed "Rehab Blues" with energy. The lyrics "I hate it here, I don't care and I wanna die" were noted to apply to many workplaces, not just the rehab that Peck admitted was not working for him at the time. He marked his third anniversary of sobriety, expressing regret for his past behavior. Mid-set, guitarist and vocalist Emily Rose joined him for a duet on "Legends Never Die." Afterwards, Peck asked the crowd if anyone was a long-haul truck driver. A man named Jorge identified himself, leading Peck to dedicate "Drive Me Crazy" to him. The song discusses truck drivers falling in love, and Peck delivered it with a playful energy. Toward the end of the show, the band covered "Maybe This Time" from the musical "Cabaret." Peck participated in a production of "Cabaret" in 2025. The selection highlighted the modern resonance of the Weimar Republic setting on the eve of fascism in Germany. The performance concluded with an encore featuring the songs "Dead of Night" and "Winds Change." Abbie Callahan opened the evening with a set lasting less than 30 minutes. Her performance, which she describes as "kaleidoscope country," included the tracks "Simon Says," "Carousels," and "Drag, Queen." Callahan noted that the punctuation in the title "Drag, Queen" was intentional, referencing the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act that restricts drag performances. She closed her set with "OptiMYSTIC," a song that caught Peck's attention on Instagram. Peck offered Callahan a spot on his tour just two days after seeing her post.
