These past few years have been a blur for Priscilla Block. From blowing up on TikTok with songs like ‘Thick Thighs’, PMS’ and ‘Just About Over You’ to signing a record deal to guest-hosting on the ACM awards to playing festivals in the UK, Block has rapidly become a well recognised and beloved member of Nashville’s Country music community. She calls her socials a ‘train wreck’ but there is no doubt that Block has added an injection of verve, spirit and fun into a genre not best none for self-deprecation and so it’s no surprise her inclusion on the bill at this year’s C2C festival was uniformly welcomed.
The Block Party began in some style on a wave of guitars and flashing lights as Priscilla Block took the stage to ‘Off the Deep End.’ ‘You can find me at the bar….shutting down Broadway,’ she sang, all strong vocals and smiles. The last time we saw Priscilla was in the packed, hot, sweaty Interstate tent at the Long Road festival which really did feel like an intimate honky tonk bar but here this was a more polished, slick, arena-friendly version of a Block Party.
‘My Bar’ and ‘Hey Jack’ followed, expertly delivered with smooth, commercial prowess. ‘Let the night do what it does best,’ Block implored in the latter with all the charm, fire and sass we have come to expect from her. She introduced herself to the parts of the audience that maybe weren’t aware of her yet by talking about moving to Nashville at 17 years old to write songs before launching into the cheeky inspiration behind ‘Me, Pt.2,’ a tasteful, atmopsheric ballad that showcased Block’s arena credentials as she begins to transition from a club and bar room artist to someone accustomed to arenas and stadiums.
An atmospheric cover of Keith Urban’s ‘You’ll Think of Me,’ saw Block all alone in the spotlights with just an acoustic guitar before the second half of the set began to ramp up the energy as ‘Fake Names,’ ‘Good on You,’ ‘Thick Thighs’ and ‘Just About Over You’ brought the set to a more energetic and impactful climax.
‘Fake Names’ is Priscilla Block’s best live song and it rocked the O2 arena in fine style as Block criss-crossed the stage, red solo cup in hand, amidst guitar histrionics and honky tonk feels whilst ‘Thick Thighs’, the song that started it all for her, brought a smile to everyone’s faces and won hearts and minds throughout the various parts of the arena. ‘Just About Over You’ brought Block’s set to a close in anthemic, melodic fashion with it’s Lady A feels and lyrics about big hoops and hair.
Priscilla Block won a lot of new friends in London with this slick, assured performance. I think she held a little of her more fiery side back in favour of a slicker, more polished performance but this version of Block was more than well at home on an arena stage and it’s going to be fun watching her grow and evolve as a writer and a performer over the years to come.
Tracklist: 1. Off the Deep End 2. My Bar 3. Hey Jack 4. Me Pt. 2 5. You’ll Think of Me 6. Fake Names 7. Good on You 8. Thick Thighs 9. Just About Over You Venue: O2 Arena, London Date: March 9th 2024
