She may not be pageant material but Kacey Musgraves was certainly the star of her “Country & Western Rhinestone Review” when it hit Starland Ballroom in New Jersey over the weekend.   The show sparkled from start to finish.  The shimmery pink curtains decorating the stage, her band’s light-up pink suits, and Kacey’s silvery dress certainly helped set the scene.  Kacey played most of the tracks from her new album, “Pageant Material,” to a sold out crowd.  She thanked everyone for coming out, noting that despite her lack of radio airplay (which she hopes will change), fans still managed to pack Starland Ballroom through word of mouth and finding music on their own.

The energetic crowd knew every word to Kacey’s song and sang along throughout the night.   Kacey explained how she came up with the song “Dime Store Cowgirl” – before a performance when she was 12 or so, a woman told her that her cowboy hat made her look like a “dime store cowgirl.”  She told the crowd she had no idea what it meant at the time but thought it was pretty awesome that years later she wrote a song about it and had a sold out crowd that knew all the words.

We love Kacey’s band, who play everything from steel guitar to the upright bass.  When introducing them affectionately as the “runner ups,” Kacey started the “talent portion” of the evening and each member got to show off their skills, from juggling to balloon animal making.

Kacey threw a few covers into her set, including “Mama’s Broken Heart,” which Kacey co-wrote but ended up being recorded by Miranda Lambert.  She told the crowd she “fangirled out hard” when Disney asked her to do a version of a song of her choice for an album.  She chose “A Spoonful of Sugar,” which she performed in the most delightful way.

Opening act The Cactus Blossoms made us feel like we were back at a concert in the 1950s – from their vintage country sound to their throwback look – perfectly set against Kacey’s pink stage.

Setlist:
Pageant Material
Biscuits
Silver Lining
This Town
Step Off
I Miss You
Fine
Dime Store Cowgirl
Family is Family
The Trailer Song
A Spoonful of Sugar
It Is What It Is
Merry Go Round
High Time
Mama’s Broken Heart
No Scrubs
Late To The Party
Die Fun
Follow Your Arrow
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
Happy Trails

Check out all of Kacey’s upcoming tour dates here and pickup a copy of “Pageant Material” on iTunes now!

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