Concert Review: Mitski
Written by Coog Radio on July 8, 2016
Photo by Emma Moore
Currently on tour for her newest album, Puberty 2, Mitski is taking us along her journey dealing with anxiety, love, and heartbreak. Although the journey is sad and not the most upbeat, she instills a sense of confidence and the ability to overcome all the obstacles we endure.
Photo by Emma Moore
The evening began at The Sidewinder on Red River street in Austin, TX. The heat was prevalent, anticipation buzzed in the air as people arrived, and the venue felt like we were in someone’s backyard. There was a common feeling of pride and excitement flowing through the audience for Mitski’s success and down to earth attitude. The night kicked off with opener, Jay Som, whose deadpan humor and melancholic songs set the tone for what the evening show had in store. Japanese Breakfast came on soon after Jay Som with a much more upbeat sound full of strong guitar tones and mixed with dream pop vocals. Song after song, Japanese Breakfast did not disappoint and it showed in the excitement of the audience.
Photo by Emma Moore
Mitski arrives on stage, immediately capturing the crowd’s attention. Mitski dares to dabble in all forms of music genres, making it difficult to identify her as an indie rock artist but for this very same reason she can only be identified as an indie rock artist. Her comfort level on stage was beyond me, she was able to converse with audience members and bare her soul to complete strangers. She spoke her mind and made us feel as though we were her friends, this sense of community only enhancing my experience. The crowd swayed and everyone seemed to be making eye contact with the indie artist as they sang every word. She joked and had a very dry sense of humor that we all understood, even stopping at the beginning of a song when someone shouted “Happy” to respond in a distressed voice, “But I was in the middle of a song”, quickly adding “Just kidding, I’m glad you like the song”. This back and forth combined with the complexly influenced indie rock was unlike any other show I’d been to and I didn’t want it to end.
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By Emma Moore
