It's been quite a run for Asheville's MJ Lenderman over the past few years whether it's been in his main gig as the lead guitarist for alt-country rockers Wednesday or on his own leading his backing band The Wind and this weekend he proved to several sold-out crowds in Brooklyn that his hype has been well earned. Playing with the scorching heat of Crazy Horse during Neil Young's epic ditch trilogy or the reunion-era crunch of Dinosaur Jr., Lenderman has found his groove and pays tribute to these legendary acts with his virtuoso playing and rust loaded bangers. Easing into the night with his latest album's title track and opening number, "Manning Fireworks" helped set the scene with its subtle twang and MJ's witty word play before cruising right along into a romping "Joker's Lips" that got the crowd stomping along with its fervent beat and "Wristwatch" took things up even further as the blown-out fuzz really began to wrap itself around the night. Punching in hard with more country-fried twang, "She's Leaving You" was another pumping number that was ripped with distortion and the roar of a fighter jet that gave the song muscle and allowed the band to flex with steel pedal and keyboard only adding to the layers of golden-hued sound. Blending the deep shoegaze tones of squalling walls of guitar and the cast iron blaze of southern-tinged indie rock, Lendermand looked almost bashful onstage while his tunes offered a direct contrast of bonafide confidence that showcased him as a generational voice and talent and one of the leading guitarists of his time. This tour may be in support of his new record (and he played every song from it before the night was over), but there was plenty of love for his back catalogue as well and it was clear that many in attendance have been along for the ride for quite some time and weren't there just to hear the latest hits. After hitting us hard with new songs, the band dipped back to 2022's excellent Boat Songs for the one-two punch of "You Have Bought Yourself A Boat" and a jammed-out "TLC Cage Match" that hit a solid groove and let the band drone before reaching further back in his career for the middle portion of his set. Things picked back up with a driving "Rudolph" that was tight and full of fury with the vibrant guitars casting even more of their power over the worshiping crowd. The lyrical composition of "Rip Torn" was a real highlight of the night as the crowd shouted back at the stage with esteemed joy and the grin on Lenderman's face assured the room that he was just as excited and in the moment as all of us watching along with radiant bliss. Like he does on the album, Lenderman brought the finish of "Bark at the Moon" to its knees as the group stretched out the final notes like My Bloody Valentine's epic noise blasts, letting the ringing tones wash over the audience like blanket of sound. Perfectly segueing between tunes, the band seemed like their grooves have been wonderfully established, their melodies well worn-in and ready to move with the crowd. To blow-out the main set, the band tore into a bruising version of "Knockin'" which allowed MJ to give some of his most viseral yells of the night. At the heat of the encore, the group blazed into a smoldering "Tastes Just Like it Costs" that had the room sweltering under the tune's sizzling riffs. It was a bold and brazen track that helped bring the night to a rocking finish as the whole building hummed along with vigor and a righteous emphasis. To bring things to a close, Lenderman invited the openers Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band back to the stage for a rousing cover of Warren Zevon's classic "Werewolves of London" to get us all in the Halloween spirit. For just about two hours, Lenderman led the packed crowd through a barrage of striking guitar tunes that demonstrated why he's earned his status as part of the new vanguard of indie rock guitarists and to see him in a venue of this size isn't something to take for granted. When he returns in the spring, he'll play a string of shows at the neighborhood's larger club Brooklyn Steel which will mark a new chapter in this rising career. It's exciting to have been able to see this one come to a triumphant end and the watch along as the future looks even more promising.
Set list:
01 "Manning Fireworks"
02 "Joker Lips"
03 "Wristwatch"
04 "She's Leaving You"
05 "You Have Bought Yourself A Boat"
06 "TLC Cage Match"
07 "Basketball #2"
08 "Pianos"
09 "SUV"
10 "Catholic Priest"
11 "Rudolph"
12 "Inappropriate"
13 "Hangover Game"
14 "Rip Torn"
15 "On My Knees"
16 "Bark at the Moon"
17 "No Mercy"
18 "You Are Every Girl to Me"
19 "You Don't Know The Shape I'm In"
20 "Knockin'"
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21 "Someone Get the Grill Out of the Rain"
22 "Tastes Just Like It Costs"
23 "Werewolves of London" [Warren Zevon cover]
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