MJ Lenderman & The Wind

MJ Lenderman & The Wind at The Rialto Theatre (2/11/2025)

By Justin Gallardo

On Tuesday, February 11th, MJ Lenderman and his band, The Wind, carried their magic to the historic Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona, where a captivated, laser-focused crowd awaited their every note, lost in the promise of something extraordinary. 

At just 26, Lenderman seems to have inherited the collective history of indie rock—his stage presence is a careful, unhurried declaration that he’s not merely part of the next wave, but a curator of its legacy. His body of work stands as a tribute to the emotional breadth that arises when a creative mind meets the electric pulse of a guitar. With each release, he dives deeper into the complexities of human experience. His latest album, Manning Fireworks, is his most raw and vulnerable one yet, marking a shift towards an intensely introspective honesty. The songs are laced with self-deprecating humor, dripping with sarcastic wit, and navigating the rocky terrain of male insecurity. It’s music that reflects the chaos and beauty of growing up in real-time, not polished or romanticized, but as it truly is.

Opening for Lenderman was a fitting choice—Wild Pink, a band from New York whose sound immediately settles in your bones like the comforting hum of an old TV set. I wasn’t familiar with their work before, but once they began, their presence felt like something strangely familiar, like stepping into the warmth of an old friend’s living room. Their music is layered with a fuzzy, almost dreamy haze—a sound that feels like the collective noise of the world softened into something comforting and bittersweet. It’s rock with the edges a little blurred, like trying to remember a dream the morning after. Wild Pink’s set set the tone perfectly for what was to come.

As I made my way through the venue I could hear excited whispers from the crowd trying to predict what Lenderman and company would start with. To everyone’s delight, it was no surprise when he opened with Manning Fireworks, the title track from his latest album, setting the perfect tone for the evening ahead. The minute the strings from his guitar were plucked the entire room was quiet, laser focused and in love with the magic that was slowly filling the historic venue. One band member, with a violin in hand, wove a new, haunting layer into the sound—an energy that seemed to lift the entire room. It was as if the spirits of every artist who had ever graced the Rialto’s stage were there with us, watching in quiet admiration as this breathtaking display of music unfolded. Lenderman and his band moved through the first four tracks of Manning Fireworks, each one seamlessly flowing into the next, and by now, it was clear we were in for a full journey through the album. But before immersing us entirely, he sprinkled in a few beloved classics, offering us just enough respite before diving back into the new, raw heart of his music.

The night was filled with the comforting hum of fuzzy guitar classics, like his track “Inappropriate,” a playful, almost mischievous song about the awkwardness of accidentally watching someone’s mother sleeping and the uneasy feeling that follows. It was the kind of witty, irreverent songwriting that made us smile, a moment of lightness to keep us grounded before we were gently swept away by the more somber, introspective depths of his music.

There was a poignant moment of vulnerability when MJ Lenderman introduced his next song, “Pianos,” an unreleased track available only on Bandcamp as part of a 136-song album supporting flood relief efforts in North Carolina, following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. In that moment, the weight of the song carried more than just its lyrics—it became a quiet reminder that while life continues on in different corners of the country, the tragedy that tore through Asheville and its surrounding areas is still a living nightmare for so many. Lenderman’s personal connection to the region and its pain was palpable, and in that fleeting pause before the song began, the audience shared in a deep, collective empathy.

A true highlight came when he played the fan favorite “She’s Leaving You,” a raw exploration of love and loss. The song began with tender strumming, rhythmic drums, and lyrics so brutally honest they felt like a revelation, offering a new way to channel sorrow. Then, as the chorus erupted with blistering guitars, there was an unexpected lift—a rush of energy that gently pulled us from the depths. It was here that the crowd, fully mesmerized, seemed to swell with the presence of Lenderman’s growing fanbase, as if every word and note was an intimate connection shared between artist and audience. 

After a mesmerizing set that seemed to stretch time, Lenderman, with a smile, marveled at how the crowd had stayed so engaged throughout the night. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, MJ and The Wind returned for an encore that swept us off our feet. They began with a cover of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love,” a choice Lenderman explained was a way to cope with the aftermath of the most recent American election. In a time when the world feels especially heavy, he shared that his friends from Canada had sent him the song as a form of solidarity, reminding him that love and connection can help us navigate the messiness of the world. It was a moment of shared healing, a gentle reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, we are stronger together. 

If there’s ever been a love letter to the evolution of guitar music, one that captures both the depth and struggle of modern life, it’s found in the work of MJ Lenderman and his band. His live performance is a testament to what can unfold when a true artist, one destined to be a legend, opens their mind and creativity to us, allowing us a glimpse into their world and sharing the beauty that arises from it.

Originally published on hearitmedia.com