An immersive musical fueled by dozens of country music hits set at a near-perfect replica of a Nashville dive bar? On paper, Music City simply sounds like a show that would not be my cup of tea. Country is one of the very last music genres I would ever gravitate towards, and thus, I did not see a path for this Off-Broadway show to win me over. And yet, despite my reservations, the sheer intimacy, vocal prowess, and feeling of authenticity are impossible to resist. A twangy delight, Music City bottles the rollicking energy of live performance and injects it with country-fried heart.
In Music City, two brothers in a band together make a living performing at dive bar The Wicked Tickle. How can they mainstream their brand? They get the opportunity of a lifetime when a talent scout notices their musical ability, suggesting their tunes for a major country music star. There’s just one problem: they don’t have a demo. In order to afford the costs of their studio recordings, Drew (Jonathan Judge-Russo) and T.J. (Stephen Michael Spencer) agree to peddle hard drugs for a baker. This leads the duo down a dangerous path, until a budding young woman with an incredible voice named 23 (Lauren Lolo Pritchard) upends it all. The way 23 integrates into their lives makes her a standout role in the musical.
The tertiary characters are just as interesting. The baker and the country music star are both played by Andy Rothenberg in a stellar showing of complete opposite dual roles. He makes the most of every second he’s on the stage, and constantly steals scenes, especially when wearing a durag. He’s not the only one, either: Leenya Rideout seamlessly strums the violin while flipping between a struggling addict and a music manager, and Drew Bastian plays Newt but also a member of the performing band in lieu of an orchestra. The unique staging of Music City certainly stands out from other shows. Immersion begins from the second you enter, as each person is assigned seats with a sticky note. When you step into the main area, the stage is integrated with the seats in a perfect encapsulation of the Nashville music scene. That element particularly impresses given the way the story plays out feels incredibly intimate and personal.
While the staging is certainly original and creative, that also stands as one of the weaker elements. Regardless of seating location, you will inevitably constantly have to swivel your head in different directions, or turn your entire body around to really soak in the full scope of the scenes as they play out. Act one is full of more up-tempo songs, while act two is far more emotional and filled with ballads. There are still plenty of music-driven sequences to be found, but it definitely comes off rather unbalanced. In particular, there is a pivot of the plot in act two that seems almost to have come out of nowhere. However, the writing is so strong that by the end, it completely justifies its insertion into the narrative.
The characters are also extremely compelling, with 23 and T.J. emerging as the standout pair. I wanted more of this coupling, and each time they share the stage is simply magical. Their duets are among the best moments, and their love story might be predictable, but special indeed. The darker elements of act two are only as effective because of their excellent chemistry. The show ends up a total delight, with a riotous energy that almost never slows down the electric pacing. I was fully hooked by the time the setup had clicked each major player into place, and stayed locked in through the duration. Covering hits such as Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” only adds to the emotional impact. Stephen Michael Spencer shoulders the darker moments with an incredible range (and some undeniable eye candy).
Music City is special and unique enough to stand out on Broadway, where movie adaptations and old plays and revivals are the name of the game. Free from pretension, the fun and vitality stands out. The immersion is so great at times that I forgot I wasn’t in a fully functioning bar. It’s really that good! Don’t miss the compelling drama and the stunning musicality of Music City: a show that makes me want to immediately book a trip to Nashville.
Book a visit to Music City and take a load off at the Wicked Tickle. For ticketing information, check out the official website.
