By the time MJ Lenderman slouched his way to the ACL stage, the Sun had calmed down enough for the indie boys of the world to come out in full force. Clad in his signature sunglasses and all-black fit, Lenderman picked up his guitar and got ready to mesmerize his way right to our hearts.
Backed by the talented, The Wind, Lenderman’s set was for people who love house party music, complete with that familiar jam band flair. One of the first tracks was Lenderman’s cover of This is Loreli’s “Dancing in the Club.” The singer-songwriter’s endearing whine was almost identical to his recorded vocals. His skill was on full display in the rightfully popular “Wristwatch.” Well-known for a reason, it took one look at the members of The Wind to feel the excitement pulsing through the crowd.
“Manning Fireworks” offered a mellow reprieve from the intense volume, however satisfying, of the set. A sunglasses-wearing member of The Wind whipped out the fiddle for the dismal track, reminding us of Lenderman’s familiar Appalachian twist.
The Guitar Hero legend pulled out a personal favorite with “Bark at the Moon.” Witty, mournful and deliciously long, the performance of this track brought Lenderman – and The Wind – to the top of many ACL favorites lists. After some chanting from the crowd, and a high-pitched “okay!” from Lenderman, we rocked right into the resigned “She’s Leaving You,” a frustratingly relatable break-up anthem.
Closing with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” Lenderman rounded out a loud and cathartic set. He closed with a cheeky “see you next weekend if you’re brave enough…or stupid enough,” and trust us when we say you’d better be stupid enough to see him again. Ever the people’s Guitar Hero, MJ Lenderman admirably kept his cool, and kept us cool for his lively ACL performance.
