Alexander Buckley “Buck” Meek arrived at The Sinclair in early July to showcase his new solo album “The Mirror.” Taking a break from his day job as acclaimed lead guitarist and background vocalist for the indie folk band Big Thief, Meek drew his own fans, more than a few of them decked out in Big Thief t-shirts.
Meek’s music career outside of Big Thief has been a stop-and-go affair in the shadow of the successful band he formed with founding members Adrianne Lenker and James Krivchenia in 2015. Solo efforts arrived in dribs and drabs, producing a few memorable turns but no breakthrough singles or albums. “The Mirror,” the second solo Meek album released via Big Thief’s major indie label, 4AD, might be looking to change that.
Kisser, Meek’s new side project, formed with his wife Germaine Dunes, opened the show. Afterwards, Meek came right back out with a beaming smile and began his own set. His unique, twangy guitar shined with a blend of folk, country, and indie rock.
The Sinclair lighting — full of dark reds, oranges, burnt siennas – dappled the performance on stage. The colors backlit the band with fiery autumnal hues and animated Meek’s Orphic form. Buck Meek’s warm, country folk voice blended with the stage effects to create an intimate atmosphere and mood.
The performance counted as a hometown show, in a way, for the artist. Between songs, Meek told stories about his time spent all over the Boston area, from Kendall to Central Square, to Braintree and more. The notes of familiarity and recognition triggered some cheers, a little laughter, and a welcome sense that the performers on stage and the fans in the crowd shared more in common than they suspected.
By night’s end, Meek had played every song off the new album, “The Mirror.” Solo performance or not, he couldn’t help himself, though, and added one Big Thief song,“Certainty,” for the super fans. Meek knows on which side his bread is buttered. And what’s wrong with that, when the biscuit tastes so good?
To view the full gallery, visit: https://carsonparadis.com/buck-meek-07082026
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