Concert Review: Elle King at The Tabernacle

Elle King's return to Atlanta marked her biggest headline show in the city ever, and the singer was not going to hold back. After a long year of touring in 2022, including an opening run with Chris Stapleton, King is back on top of the world. This tour comes right on the heels of her latest album, Come Get Your Wife, which was released late last month and marks King's first full dive into the world of country music.

Mobile, Alabama natives The Red Clay Strays hit the stage ahead of King. These soulful southern-rockers bring rowdy, country-tinge tunes with them, combining some electrifying drumming, skilled guitar playing, and jaw dropping vocal ability. "Ghosts" is a groovy, slow burning track, filled with frolicking keys and sharp guitars. Lead singer Brandon Coleman brings out his lower register on this cut, adding a versatility to the composition, almost as if it was a part of the instrumentation. "Wondering Why" sees a bit more pep infused into their set, with higher notes and balladry. The quintet released their debut album, Moment of Truth, just over a year ago and have been on a staggering rise ever since. They'll be on two dozen more shows with Elle King, only to later hop on a handful of shows with Eric Church this summer. 

Elle King knows how to bring a party. Rambunctious, wild, and eager for a good time, Elle King is in her element on stage. Performance seems to come naturally, as King takes full control of the stage and keeps the spotlight fixated on herself throughout the night. Elle's bold, in-your-face personality is impossible to hide, from the look of awe on her face as she walked out on stage dual-wielding drinks to her candid comments on self-love and pursuing the moment. King stays fierce, her music carries a level of bombast with it that keeps the momentum high and the party rolling. This is absolutely a show to grab a drink at, hit the dance floor, and forget about the world around you too. King's energy is infectious.

While her larger than life performance is what sets the hook, it is Elle's musicianship that reels the audience in. King makes it clear she is more than just a front woman, tackling banjo, mandolin, guitar, and more throughout her set. "Good for Nothin' Woman" was the first taste of her playing, seeing King effortlessly pluck away at the banjo (even after forgetting the file down her nails). King's backing band, The Brethren, brought the might behind her voice. Electric strings and fuzzy riffs gave way to tight drums and rib-rattling bass. The band felt like an extension of King's powerful voice, amplifying her loudest swells while complimenting her more subdued moments.

King seems content not being cornered into one genre. "Ex's & Oh's" is the song most prominently connected to Elle King, with its bluesy pop-rock chorus skyrocketing the song to be Certified 4x Platinum. Recently, King has dived heavily into the country realm, with collaborations with Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on her latest album, alongside a cover of Tyler Childers "Jersey Giant" (which also found its way into her setlist). "America's Sweetheart" combines the huge swells and choruses of a pop anthem with the strumming strings of a country tune, creating a catchy, fun track with plenty of warmth.

The vast majority of King's setlist came from her latest album, Come Get Your Wife. She did however make sure to cover all of her bases, with cuts like "Good Thing Gone" and "The Let Go" from other projects making the cut. 

          Setlist:

          1. Tulsa

          2. Good for Nothin' Woman

          3. Out Yonder

          4. Chain Smokin, Hard Drinkin, Woman

          5. Before you Met Me

          6. Ex's & Oh's

          7. The Let Go

          8. Good Thing Gone

          9. Worth a Shot

          10. Ohio

          11. Bonafide

          12. Jersey Giant (Tyler Childers cover)

          13. It's Different for Girls

          14. Lucky

          15. Try Jesus

          16. The Compromise

          17. Down the Mountain

          18. Long Haired Country Boy (The Charlie Daniels Band cover)

          19. Love Go By

          20. Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)

          -

          21. America's Sweetheart

          22. Little Bit of Lovin'

Atlanta was just the second stop on Elle King's 27-night headline run, so there is still a long leg of touring ahead of her and The Strays. After the "A-Freakin-Men Tour" wraps up King will be hitting the summer festival circuit, including an opening slot for Eric Church at Summerfest. All of Elle King's upcoming shows can be found below.

          2/17 Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel* (SOLD OUT)

          2/18 Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel* (SOLD OUT)

          2/19 Lexington, KY — Manchester Music Hall* (SOLD OUT)

          2/21 Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore*

          2/22 Huntington, NY — The Paramount*

          2/24 Boston, MA — Roadrunner*

          2/25 Harrisburg, PA — XL Live* (SOLD OUT)

          2/27 Cleveland, OH — Masonic Auditorium*

          2/28 Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center*

          3/01 Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room*

          3/03 Detroit, MI — The Fillmore*

          3/04 Chicago, IL — The Salt Shed*

          3/05 Saint Paul, MN — The Palace*

          3/07 St. Louis, MO — The Pageant*

          3/08 Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater*

          3/10 Denver, CO — Summit*

          3/11 Salt Lake City, UT — Union Event Center*

          3/14 Portland, OR — Revolution Hall* (SOLD OUT)

          3/15 Portland, OR — Revolution Hall* (SOLD OUT)

          3/17 Stateline, NY — Harrah's Lake Tahoe South Shore Room*

          3/18 Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades* (SOLD OUT)

          3/20 Tempe, AZ — Marquee Theater*

          3/23 Austin, TX — The Moody Theater*

          3/24 Tulsa, OK — Cain's Ballroom*

          3/25 Bossier City, LA — Margaritaville Resort Casino

          4/01 Jackson, WY — Jackson Hole Rendezvous Fest 2023

          4/20 Miramar Beach, FL — Moon Crush Music Festival 2023

          4/28 Indio, CA — Stagecoach Music Festival 2023

          4/29 Las Vegas, NV — International Theater

          5/19 Bentonville, AR — Freshgrass 2023

          6/22 Milwaukee, WI — Summerfest 2023=

          6/24 Boise, ID — Boise Music Festival 2023

          7/07 Fort Loramie, OH — Country Concert 2023

          7/08 Decatur, IL — Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater

          7/15 Whitefish, MT — Under ThE Big Sky Music & Arts Festival 2023

          7/21 Goddard, KS — The Dam Jam Music Festival 2023

          7/28 Ranson, WV — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

          7/30 Floyd, VA — Floyd Fest 2023

          8/02 New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall^ (SOLD OUT)

          8/02 New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall^ (SOLD OUT)

          9/15 WesT Fargo, ND — Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights~

          9/16 Mankato, MN — Bend of The River Fall Festival 2023

          10/15 Sacramento, CA — Golden Sky Festival 2023

          * with The Red Clay Strays

          = supporting Eric Church

          ^ supporting Tyler Childers

          ~ supporting 38 Special

Elle King's shows are just a blast. I caught King back in Chattanooga playing Riverbend Music Festival, so when I saw she would be touring with one of my favorite Alabama acts I knew this show would be a must-see. King brings a performance that is hard to match, with her stage presence and personality keeping you constantly hooked. King brings enough talent to the table that even those who aren't fans of her music would find it hard not to have a good time at one of her shows.