Words by Jackie Grimson
It’s been long-rumored that Julien Baker and Torres (Mackenzie Scott) were working on a country album. But that was almost five years ago. Fans caught a glimpse of the project through a few behind-the-scenes photos, but nothing more ever surfaced. Last week, that all changed, as the two announced their long-rumored musical collaboration with a surprise show at Mercury Lounge. The duo debuted several songs from their upcoming country collaboration ahead of their live television debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. As the intimate 250-cap venue began to fill, a quiet buzz of excitement permeated the space. The audience was unsure what to expect next.
Suddenly the pre-show playlist switched from The Chick’s “Wide Open Spaces” to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” and from the back of the room rushed Baker, in a denim western shirt, and Scott, in cowboy boots and a bolo tie. The crowd’s anticipation culminated in brilliant applause and cheers as the pair kicked off the set with the single they debuted at their Webster Hall show in October “Sugar in the Tank.” The group’s bright and warm vocals shined with the backing of a fiddle and pedal steel, and listeners knew their gay country hearts were about to be broken.
Staying true to the genre and their own solo music, Baker and Torres did not shy away from dealing with difficult topics such as addiction and religion. Standout songs are “Dirt,” a slow melancholy song about dealing with relapsing while in a relationship (“Spend your whole life getting clean/Just to wind up in the dirt”), “Tuesday,” a tune about dating a closeted religious woman as a teenager, and “Sylvia” a bittersweet song about Scott’s dog’s mortality. In addition to twelve originals, they also played covers of George Strait’s “Carrying Your Love with Me” and Tim McGraw’s “Something Like That.”
In between songs, Baker and Torres expressed their nervousness about playing new music and their gratitude that fans came to a gig without knowing any songs. The pair cracked jokes and shared stories about the creation of the album over the pandemic, sharing songs virtually and eventually traveling to Marfa, Texas to record together in the studio. In one sweet moment, Julien recalled playing Mercury Lounge in 2016 and running from her set to catch Torres’s show just down a few blocks at Bowery Ballroom.
The set ended with “Goodbye Baby,” a farewell to a lover as well as the audience. Though they kept the date a secret, it seems like an album release is imminent. Baker and Torres are set to perform at several music festivals across the country in early 2025, and who knows, maybe a tour is to follow?
Photos by Katherine Cardinale
Loudspeaker Collective 