Concert Review: MUNA Brings a Sense of Community to Roadrunner
Katie Gavin of MUNA performing at Roadrunner. All photos courtesy of Michael Last
On May 6, hundreds of twenty-somethings sporting Doc Martens and glittery eye makeup flocked to Roadrunner in preparation for MUNA’s sold-out show. Just weeks after opening for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the queer pop icons are on the road for their Life’s So Fun Tour.
Even 30 minutes after openers Nova Twins took the stage, the line outside of the venue wrapped around the corner. Fans eagerly waited for MUNA in anticipation, shouting along to their pre-show playlist filled with iconic tracks such as “Linger” by The Cranberries and “Sofia” by Clairo.
At 9:13 p.m., hazy smoke and thundering screams filled the room as MUNA began their set with “What I Want.” The electro-pop, queer anthem ignited a fire in the crowd as they roared every lyric and shook the general admission floor with their in-sync jumping. Lead singer Katie Gavin’s vocals sounded identical to the studio version as she danced her heart out in her “high school teacher” look, consisting of her prescription glasses, a white polka-dot dress, and tied-up hair.
Transitioning right into “Number One Fan,” lead guitarist Josette Maskin quickly ripped off their striped long-sleeve, button-up shirt after pacing around the stage, revealing their tattoos and fitted black tank top. Keyboard and guitar player Naomi McPherson simultaneously played both instruments for the 80’s pop-inspired, synth-heavy track, donning an oversized black blazer, white button-up shirt, patterned red tie and knee-length black shorts. Gavin absorbed the crowd’s everlasting energy as she unapologetically shook her hips.
Josette Maskin of MUNA performing at Roadrunner
With vibrant strobe lights perfectly matching the drum fills for “Solid,” the stage production was outstanding for the entirety of the show, making it clear that intricate details were being taken into consideration. The concert flawlessly reflected the band’s unbeatable chemistry and decade-long friendship as they consistently interacted on stage, whether dancing by each other’s sides or finishing each other’s sentences in between songs. Gavin finally addressed the crowd after three songs, hilariously yelling, “Thanks for selling this bitch out!”
McPherson and Maskin took over background vocals for “Stayaway,” which discusses the temptations of contacting an ex-lover. Fans took the lyrics to heart, passionately repeating the heart-felt bridge back to the band. Gavin’s glasses flew off her face during the trio’s synchronized headbanging to the beat, which they later addressed and humorously confessed Maskin and McPherson’s disapproval of her wearing them. “60 MPH glasses flying!” McPherson said, resulting in an eruption of laughter from the audience.
MUNA touched the hearts of the predominantly queer-identifying crowd as they dedicated “Kind Of Girl'' to the LGBTQ+ community, a country-pop song that addresses the importance of being kind to yourself. The audience had clearly been waiting for this moment, as they collectively draped their arms over their friends’ shoulders and swayed while shouting the chorus. Maskin matched the crowd’s energy, throwing their hands in the air and singing with their eyes closed in the middle of the stage. During the instrumental break, Gavin referenced the obvious genre change by jokingly saying “Yee-haw!” After the song finished, the trio placed their hands on their chests and expressed how much the crowd’s receptiveness meant to them.
The audience chuckled while Gavin introduced “Around U” as the breakup song she wrote about McPherson after they dated years ago. Maskin teased McPherson during the first verse by walking over and embracing them. Halfway through the track, Gavin caught and waved an LGBTQ+ flag that a fan threw at her as another nod to their queer fans.
Naomi McPherson of MUNA performing at Roadrunner
MUNA visibly had the most fun on stage during their sparkly, synth-pop break-up song “Anything But Me,” after punting an inflatable pony named “Stacy” into the audience. The joke references the line in the song, “Did you ever think maybe you’re on a pony going in circles on a carousel ride?” Gavin burst into laughter in the middle of the chorus after she attempted to kick Stacy into the crowd, but barely made it to the barricade. Stacy continued to float around the audience for the entirety of the song. The trio followed it with their newest single, “One That Got Away,” and fans knew every lyric despite it being just a couple of weeks old.
The encore began with “I Know A Place,” and Gavin shocked the crowd when she arrived on stage without her glasses and her hair down. The crowd proved to be the most electric during the closing track “Silk Chiffon,” a fan-favorite summer anthem. McPherson’s vocals excelled as they sang Phoebe Bridger’s featured verse, which at some points was inaudible due to the audience’s screeching. The band leaped around the stage in unison as the crowd waved their hands, making for an unforgettable close to an already unforgettable show.