Willow Avalon performs at Off Broadway in St. Louis. (Sara Gelrud | Junior Scene Editor)

A sold-out show. Dozens of cowboy hats creating a canopy over a crowd of all ages. Girls in white cotton dresses with hair bows to match. Guys sporting denim and flannel. The ground is buried beneath pairs of cowboy boots. Who would’ve thought this was St. Louis? The intimate venue (Off Broadway in St. Louis) is packed when five men –– all dressed dapperly in their Sunday’s best black suits –– come out and take their places on stage with their instruments. Finally, the star of the show, Willow Avalon, takes the stage and the quiet suspense of the crowd turns into a burst of applause.

Willow Avalon is a rising artist whose on-stage charisma made people in the crowd yell, “Willow, I love you!” No, really, it happened multiple times. Avalon’s music oscillates between a blend of country, folk, and the kinds of tunes you’d be likely to hear in a saloon during a bar fight. Last year, she opened for Cage the Elephant on their “Neon Pill” tour. Now, Avalon is a quarter-way through her headline tour to support the release of her debut album, “Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell.” Last week, she performed in St. Louis, exciting the crowd with her cheery playfulness and joy on stage.

Avalon opened with “Something We Regret,” the second track on her debut album. Her uptempo songs –– most notably, “Something We Regret” and “Homewrecker,” which had the audience singing at their loudest –– kept crowd energy high. This was a stark difference from some of her slower, singer-songwriter folksy songs that weren’t as memorable. Another notable track performed was “Baby Blue,” which filled the room with applause as it ended, a dramatic change from the subtle melodies and delicate softness of the song.

What stole the show, though? The pedal steel guitar featured in nearly every song. Famously used in Alan Jackson’s “Remember When” and in Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,”  the pedal steel guitar is arguably one of the most magical instruments out there with its volume-swelling, weeping reverb quality. Avalon uses it generously, adding a depth to her sound and melody. Jack McLoughlin is the musician on stage behind the live steel pedal guitar riffs on Avalon’s songs like “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke” and “Yodelayheewho” that make her music more interesting to listen to. Unfortunately, while the pedal steel guitar shines at Avalon’s live shows, it is considerably less noticeable when streaming her music causing it to lose much of its charm when not performed live.

It was obvious to anyone standing in the crowd that Avalon and her band had a great time on stage. Their energy was infectious, making the audience feel like they were being invited to be a part of their family. It was warm, friendly, and welcoming. Avalon pranced around the stage as if she were dancing in a field of wildflowers. 

Avalon’s TikTok presence has helped her reach a considerable number of her audience. At least that was the case for many of her fans standing around me in the crowd. One girl told me that she has been a fan for two years, ever since she saw a TikTok of Avalon singing on the grass. Another girl mentioned that she bought a ticket only a couple weeks before the show after hearing “Tequila or Whiskey” featured in the background of a TikTok.

With many more dates left in Avalon’s tour, folk and country fans who live in a city on her route shouldn’t think twice before buying a ticket, even if it’s just to hear McLoughlin’s awesome playing.