Case Oats Plays an Intimate Show Her First Time in DC

Written and Photo by Maggz

| Indie folk artist Casey Walker and her band deliver raw talent and emotional lyrics from her Last Missouri Exit album

Photo Maggz

Tucked above Pie Shop in Washington DC is a perfectly sized music venue for indie artists to connect with audiences over delicious snacks and great happy hour specials. This independent and woman owned venue was the perfect place for Casey Walker to play her first show in Washington DC with her four piece band, touring as Case Oats on the East Coast leg of their tour.

A reflective Henry True took the stage a little past show time, accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar with just the soft stage lighting around him. As Henry played on, more of a crowd filtered into the space, ordering draft beers from the bartender behind the long bar that stretched all the way back to a large outdoor patio where a few members of the crew were gathered. The sun set slowly as a cool breeze picked up outside while the opening act played through his set.

As Case Oats took the stage, Casey’s personality shone through not only her song lyrics but also through her interactions with the crowd. “I always think I can wear jackets on stage, but it’s never in the cards,” she laughed out as she peeled off her jacket right after finishing up her first song, “Hallelujah.”

Photo Maggz

“Seventeen” was a standout song during the set, with a repeating chorus of “Aren’t you glad you didn’t kill yourself?” reflecting on adolescent years and Casey’s complicated feelings of growing up in a conservative town as an indie kid searching for meaning on Tumblr and in niche bands none of her classmates had heard of. The juxtaposition of Case Oats’ alt-country sound with unique and often surprising lyrics is refreshing, humorous lines such as “And when we call it a date, I’ll make a joke about getting laid” accented by fiddle and pedal steel guitar.

“I got to tour the Capitol today…kinda weird!” Casey shared in between two of the songs. This drew a knowing chuckle from the crowd of DMV residents, all too aware how challenging it is to live in the Washington DC area in today’s political climate. With tracks such as “Tennessee” and “Kentucky Cave,” Case Oats is carving out a unique and niche space that crosses genres and feels transcendental in a time where so much of our society is trying to force tradition and place people and art into boxes.

Photo Maggz

“Bluff” was the first song Casey ever wrote, with raw honesty and openness in the confessional first like “Sorry I talked about hockey too much.” Fiancé and bandmate Spencer Tweedy has shared that an early version of the song is what drew him into Casey’s rich bubble of storytelling. Towards the end of the set, Casey admitted on stage that she never knew her life would end up this way, getting to write music and tour the world sharing her art. “I didn’t think I could make music until I met these guys like Henry True and the artists on stage with me. I spent all this money on a creative writing degree and now I get to use it for this.”

Case Oats continues to have the opportunity to share their music and storytelling through live performances, with an upcoming notable appearance on the Lollapalooza Chicago lineup on August 2. Fans who missed the DC show can catch the band appearing as a special guest at S.G. Goodman’s show in Baltimore, MD on June 21. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Case Oats

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