MJ Lenderman knocks it out of the park at the Truman

June 23, 2025

Alex Agueros, Kate Cummings,

MJ Lenderman & the Wind. // photo by Kate Cummings

Run it back, MJ.

Returning to the area in short time after a sold-out March date in Lawrence, alt-country rockers MJ Lenderman & The Wind celebrated an exceptional year with an effortlessly cool, no-nonsense victory lap in front of a packed crowd Monday, June 16, at The Truman.

MJ Lenderman & The Wind blew through Lawrence in March during an impressive run of sold-out shows promoting Manning Fireworks, released last September on Anti- Records. Fans quickly reached the 350-capacity bar venue upon its announcement last September, and, three months later, there was no issue filling a room about three times that size.

Dressed in a blank blue T-Shirt and black jeans, Lenderman performed with a casual confidence that matched his country slacker style. Enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky support from The Wind compensated for Lenderman’s quiet coolness on stage, and brought to life the playful wisdom sketched on Manning Fireworks and 2022’s Boat Songs. “You need to drink some water,” Lenderman preaches on “Rip Torn,” “It’ll kill the need to puke. You need to learn how to behave in groups.”

Lenderman appeared less comfortable with The Wind at his back than tossing among his band’s magnetic energy. From their twangy take on This is Lorelei’s indietronica heartbreaker, “Dancing in the Club,” to the searing, max-volume experience at the end of “Wristwatch,” he and the group assumed the same positions to hammer out another jam.

Racking up assists is a strength of Lenderman’s game. Before his tip-ins on Waxachatchee’s album Tigers Blood, Lenderman hot-wired hooks for fellow Asheville, North Carolina rockers, Wednesday. On Monday, Lenderman received direct support from longtime collaborator and drummer for The Wind, Colin Miller.

Lenderman & The Wind leveraged their rapport to deliver a refreshingly mellow second half of the set. “TLC Cage Match” meandered to its iconoclastic conclusion with the urgency of a lazy river. “Baby, all our heroes now are dead, ‘cause all things go.” Pop-leaning singles “You Are Every Girl To Me” and “Hangover Game” hummed like basketball cards in the spokes of a Huffy, while “You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In” transported fans to a melancholic “Sunday at the water park,” and offered a glimpse at the informal sessions that helped transform Lenderman from a Guitar Hero junkie into rock star.

With minimal banter (“Anybody keeping tabs on the Finals?”) and laid-back proficiency, MJ Lenderman & The Wind made floating across two hours of an ever-growing collection of excellent songs look easy without ever appearing disconnected from the big game.

Colin Miller. // photo by Kate Cummings

Treating about 200 early birds to every track on his his new album, opener Colin Miller had a near-full house on the same frequency by his save-the-last-dance finale, “Thunder Road.”

Miller released Losin’ in April, and helped produce recent albums from Merce Lemon and Florry, the latter of which toured their June release the following night at Replay Lounge in Lawrence. Credits from Lenderman and members of the headlining live band, Ethan Baechtold, Xandy Chelmis and Landon George further showcased the collaborative nature of a vital scene in American rock music.

Naturally, his sound resembled the headlining show. Miller and his band filled out alt-country compositions with deceptive musicianship, while his verses were just as clever and carefully crafted, swapping “Himbo Dome” humor for unfiltered sentiment. “You got your shadow and I got mine,” Miller sings on “Porchlight.” “Least I can do is leave on the light. … But I know you won’t come home.”

Sparse arrangements and falsetto stretches on “4 Wheeler,” “Lost Again,” and “Little Devil” echoed the rustic experiments recorded by Califone and Woods, while Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band graced Miller’s dark gray tee confirmed The Boss’ influence far before his final song.

Losin’ is an understated and mature album from an artist’s artist, and further reason to read the credits of your favorite records and to arrive early to shows.

All photos by Kate Cummings

MJ Lenderman & the Wind