Baby's First Rodeo

Baby's First Rodeo
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia
May 16, 2026

If there’s one thing you must know about me, it’s that I love a theme. My friend Ava once threw a Sopranos-themed birthday party and I spent the entire night in-character as an ex-mobster in witness protection by the name of Richie Walnuts. When it comes to committing to a theme, I take it very seriously, and as I entered the second floor of Johnny Brenda’s for Baby’s First Rodeo, which is marketed as "Philly's cosmic country party," it was clear that I was not alone. The amount of denim, fringe, cowboy boots, and hats ranging from trucker to Stetson only seemed to increase as DJ Prettygood warmed up the crowd by spinning vinyl of country classics. But Baby's First Rodeo, organized by Allie P and Donkey D, isn't just a theme or a bit; it's an immersive celebration of country music and country music culture.

The first band of the evening, Philadelphia locals Roberta Faceplant, kicked things off with a bang as their set sent a jolt of energy through the room so powerful that people were pairing off to dance before their first song was even halfway done. Playing a set of mostly new songs from an upcoming untitled project that I’ll for sure be on the look out for, Roberta Faceplant’s performance was filled with life, vibrancy, and as they themselves might say, that "yee-haw stuff!"

During the intermission between bands, the audience was treated to two-step lessons courtesy of Brendan Calling. As guests found their leads and follows, Calling guided us through some of the basics of two-stepping. First there were a few short practice runs to get people comfortable — then we put those moves into action as Patsy Cline serenaded us through the speakers. This was probably my favorite aspect of the night and most certainly my favorite way I’ve seen a show utilize the time in between bands. Instead of staring at their phones or awkwardly drinking a beer in the corner, people were actively engaging with each other, learning something new, and most importantly, enjoying themselves.

Mandy Valentine, a six-piece ensemble also from Philly, graced the stage second. Folksy, dreamy, with a little bit of punk mixed in, the music of Mandy Valentine has a little bit of everything from all corners of country. There were too many great covers of country classics throughout the night to talk about each one, but Mandy Valentine’s cover of Loretta Lynn’s “Fist City” was by far my favorite of the night.

Headlining Baby’s First Rodeo was Agalisiga Mackey, a Cherokee singer-songwriter hailing from Kenwood, Oklahoma, who was backed by members of Mandy Valentine. Aside from a few Hank Williams covers, most of Mackey’s songs were in the Cherokee language. Although the majority of the crowd couldn’t understand the exact words being sung, the power of Mackey’s voice and stage presence made sure those words were felt. The supporting members of Mandy Valentine left the stage to Mackey and his guitar for an encore solo performance.