They’ve got a beach house up in Buffalo…
Indie rock group MJ Lenderman and the Wind played to a sold out Babeville on Saturday night, May 10th. They are touring the U.S. and Europe in support of their new album Manning Fireworks, which was released in September of last year. This album has earned Lenderman heaps of critical acclaim and produced the breakout singles “Wristwatch” and “She’s Leaving You”.
The six-piece band was joined by prolific songwriter Nate Amos’ jangle pop project This is Lorelei. The majority of their set were tracks from their latest release Box for Buddy, Box for Star, in which influences from early 2000s pop to bluegrass can be heard. Their quirky lyrics and rock steady rhythm section were a joy to hear.
Lenderman and his bandmates displayed their breadth and outstanding dynamism in their 23-song setlist and brief intermissions of impromptu jams and Lenderman’s screaming guitar tone, which had concertgoers snapping photos of his pedalboard on their way out. Guitarist Jon Samuels set the tone by leaving an incense stick burning in a seltzer can for the entirety of the show, and bassist/fiddle player Landon George entertained us with what can only be described as a spontaneous stand-up set right before the encore.
Fans were pleased to hear not only material from Manning Fireworks, but also older gems like “Someone Get the Grill Out of the Rain” and “Knockin”. Nate Amos of This Is Lorelei joined Lenderman during the encore for a cover of one of Nate’s songs “Dancing in the Club”, and the final song of the set was a reprise of “Wristwatch” that had the audience going wild.
MJ Lenderman and the Wind have refined their slide guitar heavy, indie country sound into something very distinctive and widely appealing. The release of Manning Fireworks and this tour are shaping up to be a big turning point for Lenderman, and many are waiting in anticipation for what comes next.
