A native of Asheville, NC, Mark Jacob Lenderman, better known as MJ Lenderman, was raised in a musical household, exposed to a wide variety of artists from a young age, and finding, like many kids of the 2000s, a love for a wide breadth of rock thanks to the popularity of Guitar Hero. Jake- who was also a sports obsessive, youth basketball player, Catholic alter boy, and the second-to-youngest in a family of six- began to immerse himself in Asheville’s vibrant music scene as a teen, posting some early songs to Bandcamp, and eventually joining fellow Asheville indie artist Indigo De Souza’s band on drums (he has credits on her first two albums). After a brief stint UNC Asheville, Lenderman opted instead to move in with some friends and collaborators and focus on music, supporting himself in the early days by working at an ice cream shop. He’d release a fairly under the radar eponymous debut album in 2019, before joining local grungy, country-tinged indie and shoegaze outfit Wednesday on guitar soon after, a band he’s remained with, and has released several fantastic albums with since, including fantastic recent LP Bleeds (though no longer has time to be a part of their touring lineup).
The pandemic slowed things down, but also gave Jake the luxury of time, able to collect unemployment and focus on creative expression and songwriting with his friends and bandmates (you’ll often see him listed as MJ Lenderman & The Wind, who, though Linderman records most instruments in the studio, are an integral part of his sound and fantastic show, and appear on a fantastic live album). The result was 2021 sophomore album Ghost of Your Guitar Solo, a record which helped earn MJ further buzz, parallel to Wednesday’s growing acclaim. 2022’s Boat Songs, though, is the record that really helped Lenderman break out, perfecting his signature fusion of indie rock and alt country, laden with his sense of humor and pop culture musings, and at once approachable and unpretentious but also deeply personal and profound. The following few years would see bigger and buzzier tours, a record deal with popular label ANTI- ahead of that aforementioned live album (2023’s And the Wind (Live and Loose!)), and even an invite to play guitar on all of Waxahatchee’s acclaimed recent album Tigers Blood.
Returning with a highly-anticipated fourth album, Manning Fireworks, last year, Lenderman managed to rise to the increased pressure of suddenly being a hot new artist, and to deliver his best, most earnest, and most self-assured record to date, dialing back the quirky humor a bit in favor of sincere, reflective, and exceptional songwriting, again leaning into his folky, southern roots and penchant for slacker rock, with timeless, lush production. It’s something of an instant classic, heralded as one of 2024’s best albums, and putting MJ Lenderman on the map as one of the best new artists making music today. If, somehow, you haven’t yet jumped on the bandwagon, read our review of his stellar show at Brooklyn Bowl from back in January, and then be glad you have yet another chance to see Lenderman live in Music City this year, this time headlining The Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 14 with likeminded rockers David Nance & Mowed Sound.
Tickets are still available right here while they last, but we’re thrilled to announce that we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky fan! Preview the lineup and enter below.
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MJ Lenderman & The Wind and David Nance & Mowed Sound will perform Tuesday, Oct. 14 at The Ryman Auditorium. The show is all ages begins at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), and tickets are available for $53.35-63.72.