An eager and overcrowded Royale roared into excitement as MJ Lenderman and the Wind timidly took the stage in Boston last Tuesday night. Jake “MJ” Lenderman released his fourth album, Manning Fireworks, in early September to an unprecedented level of critical acclaim. The songwriter, known for his contributions in the indie-folk band Wednesday, finally hit the sweet spot with his record, earning him a “Best New Music” badge from Pitchfork and a primetime performance on The Tonight Show. Lenderman started the set with the incredible three-song intro to the new album, his vocals nearly drowned out by the crowd singing right back at him. After a few songs to warm the crowd up, Lenderman took a moment to acknowledge the difficult decision he and his band made to continue their tour amidst the toll of hurricane Helene, which ravaged parts of western North Carolina, including the band’s hometown of Asheville. They performed a new song, “Pianos,” that was recently put out on a compilation to aid those affected by Helene. Following a few interruptions, the band closed out the night with a fun and goofy cover of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” accompanied by their support, Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band. 

MJ Lenderman and the Wind continue the Manning Fireworks tour through next year, but don’t hesitate to catch a show – you probably won’t get another chance to see Lenderman playing smaller rooms at this rate.

See the all of Cam’s photos from the show below.