MJ Lenderman and The Wind are coming to the end of their first tour of Australia, with a performance at Golden Plains to cap it off after their gig at Melbourne's Howler.
Late last year, MJ Lenderman released the 'And The Wind (Live And Loose!)' album. Buzz is building around the band, and last night (5 March) proved that this is obviously warranted. When a live album from a band early on their trajectory is held in such high regard, so too are the expectations. Safe to say the band delivered on these expectations and more.
MJ Lenderman - image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
Well paired in terms of sound was local alt. country jangle favourites from the thriving Naarm/ Melbourne gig circuit, Quality Used Cars who opened proceedings.
Frontman Francis Tait began sans guitar, but with harmonica and voice on 'Since The World's Been Turning Upside Down'. It was clear things would build from here, the band lifting for the occasion of supporting an overseas act for the first time.
Quality Used Cars - image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
Takeaways from an excellent set were two things they do really well, which stood out. Firstly, using dynamics in terms of creating songs that build to a crescendo. Secondly is clever wordplay; MJ Lenderman in thanking the band noted their skill in being able to fit so many words in a song.
Although it's Francis Tait's project, there's a sense of commune within the band, with shared vocals between Hannah McKittrick and Isobel Caldwell, and a warm sense of camaraderie.
'Ripoff Merchant', which has been a part of their set since the beginning (as the first single released by the band), was the first of many moments throughout both sets that filled me with a sense of gratitude as Tait sang with all that was in him: "There will be good days and bad days, but it's the music that keeps you hanging on."
I felt that deep within me, which would be a feeling I would feel later on during MJ Lenderman's set with the words and instrumentation of 'TLC Cage Match' and 'Under Control'. The common thread being their ability to take mundane things and turn them into poignant moments.
MJ Lenderman - image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
The Wind began the set pretty similarly with how 'Live And Loose!' begins, 'Hangover Game' and 'Knockin'', but the set went in its own direction after that leading to 'Rudolph' then 'Toontown'.
It was at this point that the loose element of 'Live And Loose!' came to the fore, with some pretty epic psych-freakout jams during 'Toontown' that would reappear later in the set, akin to Grateful Dead or even King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. 'SUV' was perhaps the best example of a psych-freakout jam on the night.
MJ Lenderman - image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
For a band that is so tight, there is a sense of spontaneity that can only come from being so cohesive. They genuinely seem to be having fun onstage and only pull off the rough-around-the-edges sound by being extremely good musicians and knowing each other's playing style.
The crowd were very responsive to what was happening onstage, with rowdy sing-alongs for favourites including 'You Have Bought Yourself A Boat' and 'Someone Get The Grill Out Of The Rain'.
MJ Lenderman - image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
While the new, unreleased songs saw the crowd calm down, as they were quiet, standing still taking in the opportunity to hear some of these songs before being put to record.
A band who have so many influences but are still able to distill it into a particular sound is no mean feat.
More photos from the concert.
