MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee: Acoustic and Together Live Review

There are a few long-lasting rules to college radio. Play local, don’t rearrange the vinyl library, and read the legal ID. In recent years, two new rules arrived. One is, when MJ Lenderman is in the area, you go. Another is, when Waxahatchee is in the area, you go. So, when MJ and Waxahatchee announced a joint tour, Jake and I knew we had to be there. We had both seen MJ & The Wind on our own, but never Waxahatchee, so their set at the Brooklyn Paramount was a necessity. Following the show, Jake and I shared our immediate thoughts on the set, which you can read below!

Sam:

It’s hard to get tired of Manning Fireworks. In the studio, the lyrics are personal, humorous, and comforting, and the instrumentals support every direction MJ uncovers. The record feels alive when played with The Wind, but in Brooklyn, alongside Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and their two acoustic guitars, the sound felt right at home. The stripped-back arrangements invited the crowd to a listening party of demos of indie publication’s favorite songs—familiar songs in an unfamiliar setting. In the unfamiliarity, MJ and Katie thrived. Alongside released material, the duo covered Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, and Gillian Welch, to name a few. MJ also played a few unreleased songs. A pretty sweet deal altogether. In a moment when MJ and Waxahatchee could sell out every venue on this tour on their own, they came together for an intimate, unique experience that most artists wouldn’t think of trying.

Jake:

Entering this show as a big fan of both MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee, I was very excited to see how the two singer-songwriter talents complement each other in a stripped-down acoustic setting. Needless to say, I was not surprised at all to find the pair fit together like puzzle pieces. Lenderman’s guitar skill added another layer of depth to Crutchfield’s ballads, just as her vocals enhanced Lenderman’s melancholy tone. It’s a treat to see two performers synergize as well as this duo, especially seated in a beautiful venue like the Brooklyn Paramount. Not every contemporary needs to be compared to the greats, but to me, the show was reminiscent of collaborations between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Two performers on the same page, locked in complete synergy. To put it simply, it felt like I was sitting in on a recording session with two of my favorite artists. 

Catch MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee on tour now!