KACEY BRINGS THE SPARKLE TO L.A.

On Friday night, I did something unheard of. I went country.

Mercury Nashville's Kacey Musgraves sold out L.A.'s Wiltern. This sparkly spitfire is nothing less than a star, if that wasn't made clear enough by her success at last year's Grammy Awards; the country newcomer sauntered away with Best Country Album for her debut LP, Same Trailer, Different Park, and Best Country Song for "Merry Go 'Round," but was nominated in four categories total, tying with Taylor Swift and Lorde for most noms received by a female that year.

Friday's set spanned that breakout release and her sophomore album, Pageant Material—which dropped in June—along with covers of Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart," Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking," Roy Rogers' "Happy Trails" and, in a bold move, TLC's "No Scrubs."

Signature stand-outs included the insanely catchy "Biscuits," "Merry Go 'Round," the cheeky "Dime Store Cowgirl," "Blowin' Smoke," "Die Fun" and, of course, the controversial anthem and absolute smash that is "Follow Your Arrow."

In the chorus of the latter she sings, "roll up a joint... or don't. Just follow your arrow." At this particular show, she made sure to pause and shout, "Hey! Wait a second. It's California! Does anyone have a joint?" Girl after my own heart...

The video for that one, by the way, has nearly 11m YouTube views. That being said, it's quite unfortunate to note that it only peaked at #49 at Country radio. Apparently, the format doesn't appreciate modernization or references to smoking marijuana, kissing girls and not wanting to go to church. Yee-fuckin'-haw.

All in all, she was totally charming and simultaneously sassy, delivering well-crafted country songs with clear pop influences and (quite frankly) a punk attitude. Consider this alt/rock snob won over.

Mind you, I was definitely the only person in the joint wearing an over-sized men's Queens of the Stone Age shirt, but I got down with the best of them. Hey, I was just "following my arrow" after all.

The gig was Musgraves' first time headlining the renowned local hot spot, and she made sure to announce her gratitude and awe during the set. She thanked the crowd and shared, "We played here two years ago and opened for Little Big Town. I'd never thought we'd sell this place out."

If Musgraves stays true to her methods, there's really no doubt that the capacity of her sold-out venues will only continue to skyrocket.