Mitski Played The Saint with Secret Mountain and Algebra II, 6/13/16

Photo: Emily Bornemann

[CoolDad Note: After four straight nights back and forth to Brooklyn, away from the CoolFamily, including an 11:30pm, Sunday night change of a flat tire on the Garden State Parkway, I had to rest my old bones and stay in. The dream team of Allyson Dwyer and Dentist's Emily Bornemann have you covered when it comes to Mitski, though. Allyson gives us her review and Emily documented the entire evening with all of the pictures in this post. They're two of my absolute best buds and great at what they do. I can't thank them enough.]

Or Screw You Garfield. My Monday  Was Awesome.

by Allyson Dwyer

A Monday show at The Saint? Could I do it? For this line up -- Algebra II, Secret Mountain, and headliner Mitski -- there was never really an option. I bought a ticket the day the show was announced.

CoolDad couldn’t make it to the show because he had partied so hard at Northside all weekend, so it was up to me and Dentist’s Emily (with CDM’s camera diaper bag) to pick up his slack.

And I think he missed a pretty damn good show. The place was jam packed, thankfully with mostly short people like me, making it an extra good occasion. The energy was high. Maybe it’s because I was up front, but something just felt special about the show. Like all eyes in the room were on the stage. I think because every single person in that room wanted to be there. And not just for one band, but for the entire bill.

The first opening band was Asbury Park’s Algebra II, a three-piece fronted by Asbury Park Feminist Collective’s Maggie Pakutka (Maggie had also toured with Mitski back when Mitski played the Lanes). Although having existed for three years, Algebra II joked onstage this was like their "tenth show” ever. You would have never known because they played so perfectly together. Self described on Facebook as "friendship rock/quiet grrl," their music was a gorgeous mixture of soft sounding melodies and rock-pop tunes infused with even a bit of country. The band was also collecting money to help those affected by the tragedy in Orlando, and I believe they've since raised over $200. A beautiful way to open the night, and I hope to see more and more of them.

Algebra II

Secret Mountain followed. I cannot tell you how unprepared, and then blown away, I was by this band, beginning with their first song, "Shift Happens." The one thing I kept thinking the whole time I watched them was that they were like a punk-lo-fi-indie jam band. The entire room, if not bouncing along, either knew the words or knew the right moments to dance to songs. Lots of freaking out and laughing and in-jokes between the band and audience. There was a lot of love in the room for this band, and it was hard not to feel that.

Secret Mountain

Time seemed to fly watching both bands, and it was time for Mitski. Taking the stage at around 9:30, Mitski and her band came right out and opened with "Townie." They followed that up with my favorite song of hers, "First Love/Late Spring." I didn't think the set could get any better just two songs in, but she and her band also played "Thursday Girl," an early favorite of mine from listening to Puberty 2 on NPR. It's incredible how, with just three musicians on stage, Mitski is able to reinterpret the production of her songs in new and interesting ways that give them even more depth.

Of course, she also played "Your Best American Girl," a track that has been talked about quite a lot and played just as much on SiriusXMU and other stations. To be honest, I was sad to not hear a live version of "Happy" because of how intuitive and new sounding the live versions of these songs were. But we were spoiled with so many other songs that I didn't even realize I missed it until writing this.

Mitski closed out the show solo, switching from bass to guitar, and singing the closing tracks to Bury Me at Makeout Creek and Puberty 2, "Last Words of a Shooting Star" and "A Burning Hill." These solemn songs are just as captivating -- if not more so -- than the songs she played with her full band. Just a moment between a really gifted lyricist and an audience dying to hear her sing those lines out loud.

One of the best times I ever had at Asbury Lanes, at any show, was the night Mitski opened for Screaming Females. The place was packed; and, when Mitski took the stage, I realized it was possible maybe most of the audience was there to see her.  Even though I had to stand off to the side far away, her material immediately clicked with me. And now, not much later, I was right in the front, mouthing along and finding myself getting emotional at certain lyrics.

After that Lanes show, we talked a little bit -- mostly about Sailor Moon -- and she signed my copy of Bury Me at Makeout Creek.  It's probably one of my most played and treasured records. And I can't wait to listen to Puberty 2 on vinyl over and over. And hopefully the next album around, Mitski will be back in Asbury Park.

You can see all of Emily's photos from the evening in CoolDad's Flickr galleries.