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MUNA project pride and solidarity at First Avenue

August 09, 2022

MUNA and Jensen McRae performed at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Monday, August 8, 2022.Sara Fish for MPR

According to MUNA’s song “Silk Chiffon,” life’s so fun. At First Avenue last night, that assertion felt true, even if only for a couple hours. The Los-Angeles based trio consisting of Josette Maskin, Katie Gavin, and Naomi McPherson arrived to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and care on stage and off. No details were spared in efforts to form a safe space for everyone. Stuck to the restroom walls, signs read, “At MUNA’s request tonight restrooms have been made gender neutral.”

The Monday show sold out; First Avenue can only hold 1,550 people ready to dance to anthems detailing queer love and self-discovery. Queerness is a genuine part of MUNA’s musical and personal brand, and it’s an association they revel in. At one point in the set, Gavin half-joked, “It’s the lesbian show.” Later on, McPherson said, “We’re here for the joyful queer revolution.” In Minneapolis, there aren’t a large number of gay bars, especially places specifically for queer women, but the group turned the venue into a party for that community.

On tracks like, “What I Want,” danceable electro-pop was the scaffolding for explicitly empowered lyrics: “I want the full effects, I wanna hit it hard/ I wanna dance in the middle of a gay bar” and “I want the fireworks, I want the chemistry/ I want that girl right over there to wanna date me.” Putting a modern twist on alt-pop, a Robyn-esque vibe arose as Gavin sang, “She's dancing to the song with all her leather on/ I think we'll get along.”

Later, when the vocalist said, “We’re going to do the country songs now,” the group eased into the more bare-bones acoustic, “Kind of Girl,” a ballad reminiscent of the Chicks in the early 2000s. Gavin said that the song was “dedicated to any queer person learning to talk about themselves and their identity. We know how vulnerable that can be.” Then the bouncy “Anything But Me” had Gavin subtly line dancing while Maskin donned a cowboy hat.

These hints of pastiche only added to the performance. Even with distinct inspiration from icons before them, MUNA never sank into simple replication, rather giving a modern twist to the genres they gracefully emulated.

On top of the diversity of sound, the set bore arena-level production quality. One crowd member called it a “well-oiled machine.” From the lights to the instrumental equipment, from the vocals to the backing audio, every minute was polished. While flawless delivery isn't necessary for an enjoyable show, the team’s production was simply impressive.

Even more impressive was a stand-out cover track, the Killers’ banger “Mr. Brightside.” Gavin said, “We got some babies in here, so let’s see who knows this song.” By the number of people jumping and singing, most of them seemed to recognize it. The scene felt much like someone at a get-together sneakily stealing the aux to queue up the 2004 song. And what a smooth set progression to position the anthem after “Anything But Me,” a song about having the courage to leave a tumultuous relationship that ends with the words, “You can have everything but me.” That followed by the jubilant hook of “Mr. Brightside” with the lyrics, “Coming out of my cage/ And I’ve been doing just fine” speaks to the group’s inventiveness.

But just like the Killers track, much of MUNA’s set was filled with tear-jerking words hiding beneath joyful music. The swaying in the room was a form of emotional processing on songs such as “If U Love Me Now,” which Gavin introduced as a song about feeling anxiously overwhelmed by happy moments. It’s as if a small voice appears to tell you that you’ll mess it up somehow.

The three members function as a unit on stage, so it’s fortunate that they could play the melancholic tunes in the company of friends. At some shows, the lead vocalist appears as a centerpiece of a band, but that wasn’t MUNA’s dynamic. With wide, powerful stances, each member held equal strength in the performance. Maskin’s sultry moments were a particular allure. With irrepressible chemistry, she and Gavin danced between each other's thighs, and Gavin placed a hand on McPherson’s chest, all while making steady eye contact.

Continuous smiles, high kicks, and head bobbing made each member appear very present — not like it was just another day on the road. It’s easy to see how playing the same setlist every night could make artists dissociate during a performance, but that wasn’t the case.

From the moment they stepped on stage, MUNA’s sojourn in Minneapolis brought an always-appreciated spirit of joy to the audience. For the encore, opener Jensen McRae returned to sing Phoebe Bridgers’ verse in “Silk Chiffon.” It was a large role to fill, but the singer-songwriter executed it beautifully. When artists show up as their authentic selves to animate sharp songwriting, pristine instrumentation, and friendship, life is, truly, so fun.

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