BY: Ava Shumway
MJ Lenderman has put his TV dinners on hold to tour for his fourth solo studio album Manning Fireworks. On Saturday, October 12th, MJ Lenderman and the Wind brought their blend of alt-country and indie rock at First Ave in Minneapolis. As a key figure in the resurgence of alt-country—both as a solo artist and through his work with the band Wednesday—Lenderman is proving himself to be a standout in the genre's new wave.
The opener Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band played from their sophomore album Dancing on The Edge, which provided high-energy songs with pedal-steel and electric synths, crafting expansive 10-minute songs that looped like the soundtrack to a long drive through nowhere. The absurdist undertones of their lyrics fit snugly within the folk and country traditions of poking fun at life's absurdities, reminding us not to take things too seriously
The second song played, and my favorite, “Wristwatch”, was supplied by MJ's twangy guitar, somewhere between raw lo-fi and alt-country. Throughout most of the concert, MJ sings with a flat expression, adding a layer of sarcasm to his clever lyrics. I loved how the guitar solo fades into the outro, which exemplifies MJ's capabilities as a solo artist. Another of my favorites is “Joker Lips”, a song about spiraling and the struggle to do the right thing. The rambling voice and slower melody were something reminiscent of Kurt Vile.
One of the more narrative-driven moments came with the song “Rudolph”, where MJ Lenderman unveiled a narrative of a lonesome person reflecting on their regretted choices and the impact of these decisions. The imagery of someone walking down a cold road with dew dripping off their nose, symbolizes someone feeling isolated, much like the sad reindeer Rudolph from the Christmas Story. In the second verse, MJ Lenderman also references Minnesota icon Bob Dylan's “Blowin' in The Wind”: “How many roads must a man walk down ‘til he learns he's just a jerk who flirts with the clergy nurse ‘til it burns” could imply consequences of impulsive decision making in relationships, though this is up to interpretation.
The crowd was fully invested, singing along with “She's Leaving You,” a track that perfectly captures MJ Lenderman's growing fanbase over the past year. It's no surprise that at just twenty-five, he's already touring with his fourth studio album and solidifying himself as a rising voice in indie and alt-country music.
The concert felt like a culmination of everything that MJ Lenderman has been working towards, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next! I hope that First Ave will be on his tour schedule again soon.
