Girl at the Rock Shows

Farewell tours are tough for me. They always feel like such a grand celebration of everything a band has given you through the years, which I love, but, at the same time, they feel like a reminder that you’ll never experience this moment again, which I hate. I hate having to say goodbye to bands, especially one that has been a constant in my life, both in my daily playlists and in seeing them every few years. I get comfortable, take it for granted, and then, when it’s done and I see the final note being played and the final bow, I often get super emotional. I was emotional on Saturday night as Murder By Death took their final bow because I knew that this was the last time I would be seeing them on my turf, in my town. It won’t be the last time I see them live, because I’ll make it a point to attend one of their “Cave” shows. However, that’s not the same as just driving a couple of miles to see them create their magic at your home away from home.

Before I tell you about the Minnesota send-off for this amazing band, let me tell you about the truly fantastic opener of the night- David Huckfelt. David was a last minute addition to this show after Laura Jane Grace bowed out of this tour just a couple of nights before this show (that’s a long story and one that I will not get in to but I wish her the best and hope things get figured out and that she and her wife get the help that they need) but he fit the night so perfectly. His music felt like the north shore of Minnesota. It felt like giant trees swaying in the air with glitters of sunshine peeking through at times and crashing waves hitting the shore at others. It was gorgeous. No other way to put it. Joined on stage by just one other amazing musician, Dave’s set felt understated and so peaceful, which, I think, heightened my emotions for the night. I’m not sure if that was necessarily a good or bad thing, but I know that my days of living without David Huckfelt’s voice in my life are over. I plan on spending a good chunk of time this week delving into his solo material and exploring what he has done with indie-folk cult favorite band The Pines, of which he was a founding member.

Before I go on to tell you about Murder By Death’s extensive set on Saturday, let me just say– thank you. Thank you to Murder By Death for putting it all out there– for being on the road constantly and bringing consistent live shows and recorded music to the world for twenty-five years. I can’t imagine all the things this band has seen as they’ve toured the world over and over again. Although I wasn’t taking notes, I’m pretty sure the Star Wars-styled words that showed up on the screen just before the band took the stage on Saturday said that this particular show for number 1916 for them (again, I wasn’t taking notes and could be off on that but, regardless, it’s a high number). Can you imagine? Over twenty-five years playing so many shows across the world, thrilling audiences night after night, seeing everything and anything as you did so, and all of the faces and people you meet? Wild to think about, right? At the same time, something about Murder By Death has always felt so approachable. Not just the music, but the members as well. They come off as honest and truly enjoying what they are doing (which, I suppose, you have to do if you are going to go as long and hard as they do). Experiencing this music and that approachable energy is something I never miss, and although their music was definitely a bit out of left field compared to what I typically listen to, I was obsessed.

Earlier this year, Murder By Death announced they were retiring from the road, but not before embarking on one final tour across the country. I don’t blame them. Touring has become rougher and more challenging for bands of all levels, and, eventually, the burnout has to get to you, but I was just so thankful that Minneapolis was included on this final farewell tour. As soon as the band took the stage at First Avenue, the audience reacted with a deafening roar of applause. It wasn’t your typical excited style of applause; it was one made up of respect and admiration. There was pain in every clap because everyone in the packed iconic venue knew that this was it. This was their last chance to feel the magic that comes with a Murder By Death show.

Their set was made up of two songs from each of their ten full-length albums that are out there (I know that they have more releases than that, but that includes a holiday album and a cover album). It was so fun to travel through the years with the band. You got to hear their sound evolve over the span of their set on Saturday night, which made my heart flutter. I remember stumbling upon this band because of their name. Like many other people, I was surprised to hear a more alt-country sound than metal, but I loved that about this band. Such a brutal name with such a chill yet dynamic sound. It messed with my brain and confused the crap out of people, so yeah, I was here for that. I heard that moment when I discovered them in their set on Saturday night, but I also heard “Foxglove,” a song that my boyfriend has claimed as his song for me. There was something so powerful about living an entire life during their set on Saturday night. Although I’ve said that about sets in the past, the whole living an entire life thing, there was something different about this. It sounds morbid, but it was a bit like watching your life flash in front of your eyes. Reliving memories before you have to say goodbye to them. Again, dramatic and morbid, but it truly was a beautiful aspect of Saturday night’s show for me.

Murder By Death didn’t play everything I wanted to hear– how could they? How could you fit so many timeless and classic songs into just one set? You couldn’t, but they did a great job of selecting songs that people wanted to hear, and every song was performed against this odd thank-you backdrop. As much as this tour was about the band saying goodbye to their fans and vice versa, it also felt like a way for the band to thank their fans for all the years of unwavering support. That’s who Murder By Death was and will continue to be– a band for the fans. A band with an insane amount of heart and passion that knew how to start a movement. It was a grassroots, old-school, boots-on-the-ground style of promotion and fundraising. It was a band of people who were truly exceptional at creating amazing music and clearly deserved to be much bigger than they were, but at the end of the day, it never let that get to them. They continued to grind, they continued to evolve and connect, they continued to be a force in the music world, and that will never end.

This review is scattered. I know that. Truthfully, my mind feels a bit jumbled after Saturday night. This was definitely one of those shows where my words cannot come close to doing it justice, and, even though I feel like I could write for days about this band and this show in particular, it would mean nothing to you because it felt like such a personal experience. I guess all that I can say is, thank you, Murder By Death– thank you.

Line Up:

David Huckfelt

Murder By Death

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 43

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 0 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

David Huckfelt – 0

Murder By Death – 8

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 9.7 out of 10

Show on Deck — The F*All / God Came From Space / VVOLF MASK

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