Waxahatchee sells out the Majestic Theatre on a beautiful evening in Detroit

The storms cleared and the clouds mostly disappeared over Detroit as sun warmed things up just in time for the Majestic Theatre to open its doors in anticipation of Waxahatchee’s SOLD OUT stop on the Tigers Blood Tour.

A little aside before we get into the review. The last time I was fortunate enough to photograph the talented Katie Crutchfield, who performs under the moniker of Waxahatchee, was also the first show I had ever covered for Concert Crap all the way back in August of 2017 and she was playing a much, much smaller venue. Although I’d had seen Waxahatchee perform since then having the opportunity to cover her set again was truly an honor and I will be forever grateful for her (and CC) for taking a chance and granting me the access. Now back to the show…

As stage lights slowly brightened the set began with “3 Sisters,” the lead track off the March release of Waxahatchee’s sixth album, Tigers Blood. The song builds slowly with vocals backed with just a piano before the guitars carry us to the halfway point before the drums are brought in with the full band bringing up the tempo, a bit of a precursor for the emotional journey the set list will eventually take us on throughout the rest of what was a gorgeous evening.

Talking to the crowd after the first song Katie makes sure to thank everyone and say a little something special about Detroit as she has worked closely and toured with Bonny Doon, a homegrown indie rock band. She also slyly lets the crowd know that they will be playing Tigers Blood in its entirety tonight in addition to tracks off 2020’s huge success Saint Cloud and more from the now decade plus long catalog.

Easing back into the music and treating us some of the aforementioned Saint Cloud with the likes of “Can’t Do Much, “The Eye,” and a personal favorite, “Hell.” This led perfectly into another strong group of songs on the set list exclusively off Tigers Blood, the first of which also happened to have been the lead single, a collaboration with MJ Lenderman, “Right Back To It.”

This was followed up with “Burns Out at Midnight,” “Bored,” and “Lone Star Lake” before slowing things back down a bit. The lights dimmed way down low as Katie made her way off the stage and sat down on one of the 5-foot-tall speakers just in front of the barricade with the impeccable timing of the backing instruments starting into “Crimes of the Heart,” a song you can undoubtedly feel the emotion coming from in the near tear inducing vocals. This one cut us deep, Shrek.

The set wrapped up with “Lilacs” from the previously mentioned 2020 album release. A fun, upbeat, happy-go-lucky track that saw the whole venue swaying in as much unison you could collectively expect. The last track of the night was the title track of not only the tour, but also the album, “Tigers Blood.” Just like the night began with a slow build, this song takes us the other way bringing a lovely evening to a close with the instruments playing to a slow fade out with smiles and waves abounds.

Well, that was the last track before the encore, obviously. Waxahatchee took to the stage once again and delighted us with three more songs. The first being “Oxbow” with the next track being perhaps my personal favorite off of the latest album, “365.” The highs and lows of this one both lyrically and vocally are a ride that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed on repeat since its release.

Officially bringing our evening to a close was the breakout hit off of that Saint Cloud album I keep bringing up (I mean, it’s really really good!), and that song was none other than “Fire.” A song Katie herself said in an interview on the Song Exploder podcast she had written while going through “a lot of dark stuff” and “wanted to find a way to poetically say ‘I can love myself through this darkness that’s happening”. That is a powerful way to end any show, let alone one that felt as emotionally charged as this night did.

There are still more chances to see Waxahatchee throughout the rest of this month and then overseas before coming back stateside for another run of dates all over the US in the fall!

Who: Waxahatchee [ Web | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify ]

Where: The Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI

When: April 21, 2024

Photos and article by David Painter [ Web | Instagram | Threads | Facebook ]

Did you attend this tour? Comment below.