Maren Morris Lights Up The Shepherd’s Bush Empire

by | Nov 16, 2017

Country Music’s latest rising star Maren Morris brought her Nashville sound to London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire last night, the third date on a six-show UK and Ireland tour following on from her appearance at London’s O2 Arena in March as part of the 2017 edition of C2C, the UK’s Country to Country music festival which is growing year on year as demand for Country acts both from the U.S. and home-grown continues to rise.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

The night opened with Morris’ fiancé, Country songwriter-turned-singer Ryan Hurd, playing the Shepherd’s Bush Empire a few of his own tunes including the massive You Look Good, a recent hit for Country trio Lady Antebellum and the name of their recent tour. The statuesque singer went on to allude to Morris, detailing how song Love In A Bar was written about how the two of them fell in love.

Ryan Hurd (Kalpesh Patel)

Ryan Hurd (Kalpesh Patel)

Before too long it was time for Hurd’s better half to take over the West London stage. Kicking off the night with Hero opener Sugar, the mood was set for the night, Morris donning a trench coat and thigh-high blue boots (sourced from Harrods the day before we’re later told), beaming at her London audience who sang along with the hook-laden ditty that surprisingly hasn’t been released as a single yet.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

“How are we feeling London?” she asked of her adoring audience. “You sold this place out, we could not be happier to be here, welcome to the Hero tour” she continued, a neon sign emblazoned with the word ‘Hero’ hung behind her shifting hues as her four-piece band comprised of Bennett Lewis on guitars, Annie Clements on bass, Eric Montgomery playing guitars and keys and backed by drummer Christian Paschall, kicked off Just Another Thing.

Annie Clements (Kalpesh Patel)

Annie Clements (Kalpesh Patel)

How It’s Done slowed down proceedings next, the R&B-infused Hero cut encouraging the audience to slowly nod along before the 27-year-old aired her rendition of John Prine’s Country classic Angel From Montgomery. “We’re about to get 1970’s soulful in here if that’s all right.”

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Thanking the London crowd for their support she said “one of the first conversations with my label before I got signed – I want to put huge importance of touring over in the UK.”  “It’s always been a dream of mine and you guys just care so much about the songs, there are just no fans like you” she gushed before continuing the slow pace with downtempo single I Could Use A Love Song.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Describing how she progressed from being a songwriter to a singer and the associated relentless touring, the Texas native described how she finally embraced writing while on tour before trialling new song Flavor with the London crowd, the instantly catchy upbeat Country candy tune will no doubt make it to radio before too long.

Bennett Lewis (Kalpesh Patel)

Bennett Lewis (Kalpesh Patel)

Bringing fiancé Ryan Hurd back to the stage, Morris described next song I Wish I Was as one the two wrote together and led to the title of her album, the Hero cut’s classic Country instrumentation and funky beat encouraging the Empire crowd to nod and sing along with its chorus: “I’m not the hero in the story”.

Ryan Hurd (Kalpesh Patel)

Ryan Hurd (Kalpesh Patel)

Guitars and keys kick off Company You Keep, Morris rapping style vocals placing the Hero tune firmly into the pop side of her Country Pop market ahead of tear-jerking ballad Once. Upbeat pop Country took over next with a one-two punch of massive single 80s Mercedes followed by the P. Diddy-referencing Rich, Morris handing vocal duties over to her audience not once but twice for the latter’s chorus.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

A soulful rendition of recent Kesha single Hymn was up next, demonstrating Morris’ vocal diversity, the song completely out of Country Music territory, a style revisited for a segue into Beyoncé hit Halo from Morris’ own song Second Wind. Biggest hit My Church was sandwiched in-between and had the crowd not only singing along at the top of their lungs but swaying arms along too.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

But the night was closed out not with cheer but mournful reflection, Morris choosing to round off with an outing of quite acoustic number Dear Hate a song, she tells us, was penned some time ago after a shooting in the U.S. but which she chose to record and release following the recent Las Vegas Harvest Festival shooting which specifically targeted Country Music fans.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

In this new generation of Country stars, with the likes of Kacey Musgraves surely carving her own path, Morris’ style and pop flare seems a likely fit for the huge void left by Taylor Swift, following the latter’s firm departure from the genre, but that’s where any comparisons should end. Nominated in not one but three categories at last week’s 51st CMA awards and making Forbes recent Top 30 Musicians Under 30 list, tonight continues to prove she has what it takes to drive modern Country forward.

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Maren Morris (Kalpesh Patel)

Morris plays Birmingham’s Institute on Friday and Bristol’s Anson Rooms on Saturday before winding up her Hero tour at Manchester’s Ritz on Monday.

Live review and photos of Maren Morris @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire by Kalpesh Patel on 15th November 2017.

Kalpesh has more music photography up on his flickr stream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingforkate

 

https://rockshotmagazine.com/29407/lady-antebellum-the-o2/

Lacuna Coil Drop New Single ‘I Wish You Were Dead’ Ahead Of Tenth LP

As the band prepares to release their brand new studio album Sleepless Empire, Italian metal titans Lacuna Coil have...
Toby Sebastian (Mike Palmer)

Toby Sebastian Announces New Album ‘Eyes Light Up’

Acclaimed British musician and actor Toby Sebastian has announced his new album Eyes Light Up for release on 4th April...
Johnny Marr @ Gibson Garage London (Press)

Gibson Partners With Johnny Marr To Create Gibson ‘84 Les Paul Standard With Bigsby Guitars

For over 130 years, Gibson the iconic and leading instrument brand, has shaped sound across generations and genres of...
Somebody's Child (Jim Fuller)

Somebody’s Child Share ‘Irish Goodbye’ Ahead Of Sophomore LP

Irish rockers Somebody’s Child have dropped their third single Irish Goodbye from their forthcoming second record When Youth Fades Away, set for release on March 28th via Frenchkiss Records. The new tune follows the singles Time Of My Life and Last Night I Held Your Hand. There’s a palpably growing excitement for March 28th’s When Youth Fades Away!

Frank Black @ The Palladium (Louise Phillips)

Frank Black Celebrates 30 Years Of ‘Teenager Of The Year’ At The London Palladium

Tonight was the final night of Pixies frontman Frank Black’s tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his classic solo album Teenager Of The Year, a tour that saw him performing the LP in full alongside most of the band that recorded the album originally.

Ocean Alley (Press)

Ocean Alley Return With Jangly Rock ‘N’ Roll Single ‘Left Of The Dealer’

Globally renowned Australian rockers Ocean Alley have unveiled their first single of 2025 – the jangly rock’n’roller Left Of The Dealer, out independently via Community Music. Accompanied by a surreal, technicolour video, the track is an ode to youthful recklessness and the inevitable consequences that follow.

Everyone Says Hi (Stewart Baxter)

Everyone Says Hi Are On The Same Side At Banquet Records

Four days after releasing their debut album, Everyone Says Hi dropped into the Kingston record shop to perform a short...
Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Smashing Pumpkins Return To London For Massive Outdoor Show Alongside Skunk Anansie And White Lies

The Smashing Pumpkins have announced a huge open-air show taking place this summer at London’s Gunnersbury Park on Sunday 10th August 2025 alongside special guests Skunk Anansie and White Lies with more acts for the day still to be announced!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing