Molly Tuttle Goes to The Fillmore
Words by Dan Rozman
Photos by Mark Raker

Grammy Award-winning Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway recently brought an incredible night of music to The Fillmore Silver Spring — and it was her first time ever playing at a Fillmore venue! At just 31 years old, Tuttle is proving herself to be one of the most exciting musicians in any genre.

“I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area going to the Fillmore in San Francisco,” she told the crowd, “so I’ve always dreamed of playing a Fillmore stage.”

At The Fillmore Silver Spring on Nov. 16, the band rocked through songs from their Grammy-winning album “City of Gold,” including awesome tracks like “Down Home Dispensary” and “El Dorado.” They mixed in some fun covers too, like a bluegrass version of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” and a cool take on the Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow.”

One of the many memorable moments came during their old-school bluegrass tribute, with the band gathered around a single microphone, performing John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” With this traditional bluegrass technique — where musicians have to carefully coordinate their movements and volumes to be heard — the band created an incredibly intimate and energetic performance that had the entire crowd cheering and singing along.

During the second set, Tuttle talked about her struggles with alopecia and shared the story behind her song “Crooked Tree.” She pulled off her long black wig on stage and spoke honestly about growing up bald. “I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb,” she said. “I wasn’t naturally a big, boisterous person, and didn’t want to stand out in a crowd, but it just so happened that way.” She explained how she came to see her difference as a “secret superpower” — a chance to “let her freak flag fly and be who you are.”

Watch Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway perform “Crooked Tree” live on YouTube:

Tuttle also showed off her new Martin guitar during the show, playing a song in a special claw hammer style that she’d even recorded for The Sims video game, even accidentally slipping into Simlish. Her bandmates — Shelby Means on bass, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on fiddle, Kyle Tuttle on banjo, and Casey Campbell on mandolin — are absolute superstars. Each had moments to shine, making it clear why this band is so special.

The opening act, Two Runner, came back onstage to join Tuttle and the band for the encore, playing a killer cover of “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” and closing the night with “Big Backyard.” Tuttle joked about being in the “DMV” area, saying it was the “first time I’ve ever felt happy about being in a DMV.”

With just a few tour dates left on their Down the Rabbit Hole Tour, fans who get to see Golden Highway are in for an amazing musical journey.

Certain research and/or drafting aspects for this piece may have had AI assistance.

Setlist

Intro Fiddle Tune
Over the Line ›
She’s A Rainbow >
She’ll Change
Down Home Dispensary
Side Saddle >
El Dorado
The River Knows
Stranger Things >
Alice in the Bluegrass >
Good 4 U
Into the Wild
ONE MIC SOLO Take the Journey
ONE MIC Thank God I’m a Country Boy
Wild Things
Open Water
Dooley’s Farm
Crooked Tree
San Joaquin

ENCORE W/ TWO RUNNER Vincent D
ENCORE W/ TWO RUNNER Big Backyard

Here are some photos of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway — and opening act Two Runner — performing at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Nov. 16, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Mark Raker.