One of the Year’s Best: MJ Lenderman & The Wind Bring Their Alt-Country Vibes to a Sold-Out Lee’s Palace
Photo: Steve St. Jean
Five stars and five shots of Cazadores Blanco Tequila go to MJ Lenderman & The Wind for their incredible sold-out show at Lee's Palace in Toronto on October 19th, 2024. The alt-country indie rockers from Asheville, North Carolina, delivered the best show of the year (so far).
MJ and the band are on tour supporting Lenderman's latest full-length LP, Manning Fireworks via Anti- after a delayed start to the tour due to Hurricane Helene storming through their hometown of Asheville. Lucky for us, only a few dates were affected, and in turn, MJ & The Wind flipped the cards and took Toronto by storm.
Louisville, Kentucky's Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band kicked things off with an eclectic six-piece performance that blended alt-country and jam band vibes. Their set was memorable, captivating the Toronto audience with their country-tinged rhythms and frontman Ryan Davis' on-stage antics. It was their first time in Toronto, and it is worth checking out their music if you've never heard of them. Listen to "Free From The Guillotine" from their 2023 debut LP Dancing on the Edge via. Sophomore Lounge.
Shortly after the first set, Lenderman and his band, The Wind, graced the stage to a roaring Toronto crowd and went straight to it performing "Wristwatch," one of the best songs off his new album. Without losing momentum, the song transitioned swiftly into "SUV," sending the crowd into a mosh-like frenzy, with smiles gleaming on the faces of everyone in the venue. The quick shot of adrenaline from "SUV" moved on to "She's Loving You," another banger from Manning Fireworks. The band was all business, making the odd comment here and there, sipping Miller Lite, and delivering impeccable performances as they cruised through the first half of the set playing tracks off the latest LP, 2021's Ghost of Your Guitar Solo, and 2022's Boat Songs.
The show's halfway point hit with "Pianos," Lenderman's newest track recorded for Cardinals At The Window, a benefit record for the Flood Relief in Western North Carolina caused by the Hurricane. You can buy Cardinals At The Window HERE. He spoke about their hometown tragedy and said that fans could donate at the merch booth, along with donating all proceeds from their "basketball tour shirt" towards the relief (which was great to hear).
Beyond "Pianos," the band loosened up and busted out a bottle of Cazadores Blanco Tequila, taking the odd swig straight out of the bottle and returning to business to rip through memorable tracks such as "Bard at the Moon," "Hangover Game," "You Are Every Girl to Me," and closing out their set with an incredible performance of "Knockin," their golf-themed version of Bob Dylan's "Knockin on Heaven's Door."
From the second the band stepped off stage, the crowd roared with passionate cheers, whistles, and the odd "we love you" yell as the crowd muscled the band back out to perform a few more tracks. The band closed out the night with "Manning Fireworks," "Tastes Just Like It Costs," and a joint cover of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" with Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band.
Shows like these make going-to-live shows so memorable and inspiring. You can't beat a sold-out show at Lee's Palace in Toronto. If you missed the sold-out show at Lee's, don't stress. MJ and the band are already returning to perform at Danforth Music Hall for two nights on May 8th and 9th in 2025. Don't sleep on these tickets. Details and tickets can be found HERE via Collective Concerts.
MJ LENDERMAN & THE WIND SETLIST
Wristwatch
SUV
She's Loving You
Rudolph
Inappropriate
Joker Lips
You Have Bought Yourself a Boat
TLC Cage Match
Pianos
Basketball #2
Rip Torn
On My Knees
Bark at the Moon
I Ate Too Much At The Fair
Hangover Game
You Don't Know The Shape I'm In
You Are Every Girl to Me
Catholic Priest
Knockin'
ENCORE
Manning Fireworks
Tastes Just Like It Costs
Werewolves of London (w/ Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band)
