Waldon stands on her own

It would be enough for people take notice of Kelsey Waldon "merely" because she is on Oh Boy Records, the label started by the late, great John Prine. Could that have led to a nearly full house?

Hey whatever works.

The reality is that Prine's support could only go so far. Yet, over the course of more than 95 minutes, Waldon's brand of classic country would have made Prine proud of his decision.

Waldon's got the voice that matches her music, not to mention a bunch of songs that are easy to sink one's ears into. Waldon deservedly placed a lot of faith in her most recent record, "Every Ghost," which came out in June. Decked out in a cowboy hat and two braids, she made that clear by starting with "Ghost of Myself" and "Let It Lie" from the new record.

Waldon later would pay tribute to Hazel Dickens by covering – quite well – her nearly five-decade-old song, "Ramblin' Woman." The song spoke to Waldon as portraying women in a different light.

The stage was crowded by a quintet backing Waldon. The ace in the hole was pedal steel player Cooper Dickerson, who made song after song come alive. Justin Tutwiler sprinkled the songs with his twangy guitar ("Old Man Barton"). Fiddle player Blakeley Burger also made her presence felt – more and more as the show wore on and perhaps never more so than on her lengthy intro to the galloping "Sweet Little Girl." Burger also had a few turns on Waldon's cover of the Bill Monroe chestnut, "Uncle Pen."

If only considering Prine's imprimatur, that would sell Waldon short. Based on shows like this along with records like "Every Ghost," Waldon made it clear she can stand on her own.

Early on, Waldon revealed a vulnerability, recalling at one point that she asked herself "Do you really want to do this?" Good thing that she answered in the affirmative.

The opening act, She Returns Home From War, is Hunter Park, a big-voiced singer with some well-penned songs. Park appeared solo acoustic with an over-the-top presence on the stage patter front, but surely made her story and music felt.