Southern California rock band MUNA, featuring Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson, opened the show Wednesday night, September 29, 2021 at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. MUNA was playing their last show on their tour with headliner Phoebe Bridgers. Credit: Courtesy of TNS.
MUNA brought a dance party to KEMBA Live! on Sunday night, delivering an electric performance filled with passionate singing and energetic dancing from the crowd.?
The indie-pop band, consisting of Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson, and Josette Maskin, took the stage at KEMBA Live! on Oct. 4. The trio formed in 2013 and has since been making their mark on the music industry as an openly queer group. The band gained popularity with its 2021 hit “Silk Chiffon,” establishing MUNA as a festival staple and sought-after opening act, including Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in 2023.
MUNA kicked off the North American leg of their Gets So Hot Tour on Sept. 17, in Phoenix, Arizona, with dates running through Oct. 21 before a European leg begins in November. The tour features songs from the band’s newest full-length studio album, “Dancing on the Wall,” alongside some of their biggest hits. Naomi McPherson, who primarily plays guitar and keys, missed the first few stops of the tour due to personal matters, but recently returned in time for the Columbus show.
Hemlocke Springs, a 27-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer, opened the show with an impressive vocal performance. She energized the crowd with her upbeat synth-pop music and punk-influenced vocals, pairing her performance with an infectious stage presence that perfectly prepared the audience for the high-intensity show.
Shortly after the opening act, an announcement voiced by lead guitarist Josette Maskin encouraged fans to donate to non-profit organizations supporting LGBTQ+ equality for a chance to win a signed setlist.?
At 9:10 p.m., the lights dimmed as lyrics from “It Gets So Hot” began to flash on the screens at the back of the stage, evoking excited screams from the crowd. The trio emerged from the backlit stage, their silhouettes coming into view as lead singer Gavin began to sing, alongside Maskin on guitar and McPherson on keys.?
After performing lead single “Dancing on the Wall,” from the band’s latest album, the group broke off, moving freely around the stage as they launched into “Wannabeher.” The upbeat song featured rap-style verses from Gavin, a departure from the powerhouse vocals she showcased throughout the rest of the concert, as well as intense instrumentation from McPherson and Maskin.
The band then transitioned into “Mary Jane,” which highlighted Maskin and McPherson’s backing vocals, as their impressive harmonies complemented Gavin’s lead throughout the song.?
After performing “On Call,” the band took a brief moment to speak to the audience, sharing their familiarity with the city. Gavin noted that they had “played this specific venue a lot of times” throughout their touring history, evoking enthusiastic cheers from the Columbus crowd.
The lights transitioned from the intense red that had illuminated the stage for the duration of the concert to blue for “So What,” mellowing the atmosphere of the show as Maskin swapped out their electric guitar for an acoustic one.?
The band showcased its talented instrumental abilities with an extended outro of more than a minute, while the screens displayed Gavin staring into the distance for the duration of the instrumental segment.
Transitioning into “Big Stick,” Gavin used the moment to shout out several political issues, drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd. The remarks fit the anti-capitalist themes of the song and highlighted MUNA’s transparency and willingness to use their platform to address political issues.
The show then transitioned into a more subdued atmosphere, beginning with “Buzzkiller,” which Gavin described as “the saddest song on our most recent record.” The stripped-down arrangement allowed for an emotional performance with Gavin’s vocals taking center stage — sounding almost identical to the studio version of the song.?
Fans were encouraged to wave their phone flashlights in the air, illuminating the venue as the screens displayed a countdown to the end of the song.
The trio took a few minutes to speak to the crowd, but ultimately spent more time bantering with each other, creating the feeling of best friends simply enjoying performing on stage together. They introduced their next song, “Kind of Girl,” by joking that it was about being “cranky or not.”
Following the series of ballads, the band picked up the pace with the most energetic performance of the night, “What I Want,” a carefree anthem that turned the crowd into a dance party as the red lighting made its comeback.
The band transitioned into “Number One Fan,” where their enjoyment of the performance was clearly evident as they jumped around the stage. McPherson delivered an impressive performance, showcasing their musical versatility by switching between the guitar and keyboard throughout the song.?
The next performance, “Anything But Me,” was a highly anticipated part of the show featuring a tradition the band follows for each of their concerts. Fans bobbed around an inflatable horse named “Stacy,” adding an element of humor and playful absurdity to the show.
The trio briefly left the stage before flashing white lights, revealing the band backstage on the screen as they began their performance of “Stay Away,” another massive vocal showcase by Gavin, who effortlessly belted out the lyrics. The group reunited on stage at the end of the number with Maskin and McPherson intensely playing their guitars in contrasting parts, building the energy toward the final few songs.
The group turned their energy toward a medley of a few songs featuring “Pink Light.” Appropriately, a pink spotlight illuminated the stage as touring bassist Geo Botelho, who delivered a high-energy performance, joined McPherson and Maskin at center stage.?
Although not a member of the trio, Botelho, along with drummer Sarab Singh, joined MUNA for their tour, delivering powerful instrumental performances throughout the show.?
“I Know a Place” fostered a sense of community for the LGBTQ+ community, which MUNA often advocates for, as the crowd passionately sang along to every lyric. Fans jumped and danced together as Maskin invited the audience to raise their hands, bringing individuals together who had not known each other before that night.?
MUNA closed out the show with their hit song, “Silk Chiffon.” The energy in the crowd was electric as the camera panned across the enthusiastic audience. Fans showed support for McPherson, who took the lead on the second verse in place of Phoebe Bridgers, the original featured artist.
The group’s natural chemistry drew the audience into their friendship, creating a genuine connection between the band and its fans. The mix of upbeat, high-tempo songs and slower ballads made for a dynamic performance that captured the energy, authenticity and community that define MUNA.?
Rating: 4/5
