Caution, 18+ content: Peaches dons genitalia in Nashville

Throughout history, there have always been innovators in the creative spaces… people tired of the way things are going and shake up the status quo. Music has long been a battleground for these disruptors, with artists using shock, spectacle, and off-the-wall self-expression to challenge what audiences expect from a live show.

Few performers embody that spirit as fully as Canadian electro musician Peaches.

In addition to being a feminist and queer icon, Peaches has made a career out of being not only a musician and fashionista, but an outspoken advocate for various minority groups. I have spent many years listening to her music, yet this would be the first time in her 20-plus-year career that Peaches had ever played a show in the Music City — a fact that seems insane to me, considering how long she has been around. 

This past Friday at Nashville’s legendary Blue Room, I had the opportunity to witness Peaches perform one of the craziest sets of music I have ever seen. Her setlist had all her hits and, while that was amazing in and of itself, she also had choreographed art performances for almost every single song.

Peaches walked onstage in an outfit made entirely of fake penises.

This wouldn’t be the last time her set included a costume of human genitalia. There was one part in the set where Peaches faked a neck injury and had to leave the stage. A few moments later, a giant vagina wearing a suit came back out, holding the head of Peaches. She then returned to the stage,  took her own severed head, and started giving herself CPR. The entire thing was chaos, with flashing lights and carefully placed tape on all the performers… if you know what I mean. 

For being almost 60-years-old, Peaches has the energy and stage presence of someone half her age. I felt thrilled from start to finish and I would definitely go out of my way to see this amazing artist another time if she comes anywhere near Nashville again. If you like your shows with a lot of excitement and visual elements, please go see Peaches.

Photography by Derek Jones

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