On a freezing night in Dallas, the iconic Texas Theatre hosted a screening of Wes Anderson’s debut feature film Bottle Rocket, followed by a performance from DFW rocker Brody Price and indie folk singer Maddy Kirgo. Movies and live music are my two favorite things, so I knew I was in for a special night.
Brody Price and his band aren’t just great musicians—they’re great people. I caught up with them right before they took the stage, excited to hear what they had been up to around Texas. Price started with a few acoustic songs but quickly shifted into an electric-guitar-driven set that drew the crowd in. At one point, he broke his guitar strings mid-performance and casually called out to Maddy Kirgo in the audience to borrow her guitar. It was a testament to the close-knit nature of these musicians, where they take care of each other in a genuine way. Watching Price and his band push their sound in new directions left me eager to see where they take their music next, and to spend more time with a wonderful group of people.
Maddy Kirgo, an indie folk artist from New Orleans, Louisiana, shared the Texas Theatre stage. Last year, she released her label debut Shadow on My Light on Gar Hole Records, seven years after independently dropping Another Love Song. Her music immediately caught my attention while I was curating new music for our station. With a blend of Americana, country, and dream pop influences, Kirgo’s sound is rich and versatile. Performing with a full band behind the same theatre screen that had just shown Bottle Rocket, the room was awash in psychedelic visuals, making everything feel even more laid-back and immersive.
Kirgo’s live vocals effortlessly showcase her impressive range. Between songs, she cracked jokes, making the intimate setting feel even more personal and inviting. Her set featured tracks from her latest album, including “Crush,” a song about the emotional weight of lust versus truly liking someone, and “Try Harder,” which explores the tension between self-improvement and exhaustion, because “Who’s a loser when we’re all losing it?” Her songwriting is witty and deeply relatable, and she brings that same authenticity to her live performances. Watching an artist so comfortable and free on stage was a privilege. Kirgo is undoubtedly on the rise, and I feel lucky to have caught her in this setting before she inevitably reaches a larger audience.
This night at the Texas Theatre was a perfect blend of film, music, and artistic community. Seeing these two talented artists in such an intimate setting, surrounded by like-minded creatives, made for an unforgettable experience—one that reaffirmed why I love spaces like this in the first place.
