Concert Review: MUNA at Stubb’s
Life was so fun at MUNA’s night-long dance marathon at Stubb’s on April 26.
Written by Miranda Garza
Photos by Natalie Anspach
Amid opening for Taylor Swift on her Eras tour and taping their Austin City Limits debut, MUNA graced fans with an unforgettable performance at Stubb’s — fittingly on Lesbian Visibility Day. Fans were undoubtedly counting down the days until the trio returned to the live music capital of the world following their ACL Festival performance last October. This was the third stop on their ‘Life’s So Fun’ tour; the name pays homage to lyrics of the viral “Silk Chiffon,” which they released with Phoebe Bridgers in 2022.
Sporting plaid, pearls, and duct tape, Nova Twins kickstarted their fueled hyperpop rock opening set at 7:31 p.m. Crowd members headbanged along to their heavy static shreds, showing how they didn’t mind the darkpop headliner’s distinct clash from MUNA’s indie-pop sound. With a pink zebra-print Fender, lead vocalist and guitarist Amy Love shredded the stage alongside her equally flashy opposite, bassist Georgia South. The duo packed a punch into their 35-minute set, which left the audience even more enthralled for the main act.
At 8:40 p.m., the stage lights ceased and the crowd — which now filled the entire outdoor space — flooded the air with excited screams. MUNA’s touring drummer Sarab Singh and bassist Just Super, secured their posts at opposite ends of the stage, just before instrumentalist Naomi McPherson, and guitarist Josette Maskin dawned the platform themselves. A cascade of drum and guitar riffs erupted, building a sharp tension that shattered when lead vocalist Katie Gavin emerged on stage. The opening notes to “What I Want” swelled within the venue. The pop powerhouse had the audience jumping in place and tirelessly dancing along, which seamlessly continued as the trio performed the dynamic “Number One Fan.” McPherson alternated between a white Fender and a soundboard set-up and Gavin danced along to the beat-driven melody. Maskin jumped onto a platform at the front of the stage, getting even closer to the crowd.
Barely giving the audience time to recover from the back-to-back dance party that ensued, Gavin announced, “This is for all of the d-kes and the d-ke appreciators,” before budding chimes and a sharp riff indicated that the groove-driven “Solid” was next. The upbeat track ended in an uproar from the crowd just before Gavin introduced the heavy-hearted, yet upbeat “Stayaway.” Fans recited lyrics like mantras, and when it came time for the bridge, the songstress took to the platform in front of the stage where fans sang the stabbing words back at her: “If I don’t stop it, before I know it / All the bad things never happened / You never lied or treated me bad / And if you did then you’ll wish you hadn’t.” The trio continued with electronic fever dream “Runner’s High” before dusting off About U’s “So Special.”
The audience garnered an array of cheers for the long-awaited, fan-favorite “No Idea” as Gavin veered toward McPherson,dancing against them as they attempted not to break their attention from the soundboard. The lead singer retreated toward the middle of the stage where she seductively danced with Maskin, before the guitarist dropped to their knees. The spectacle was followed by a brief break, when the trio checked-in with the crowd to make sure everyone was safe in the outdoor venue, and even gave away their own cans of Liquid Death to members of the crowd in need of water. The brief intermission was followed by the emotional “Loose Garment,” where Gavin’s high vocals echoed among serine strings and cool toned lights.
The lead singer brought out an acoustic Fender for a triad of guitar-centered tracks, starting off with a strummy rendition of “Winterbreak.” The trio reinvented the once-mellow track with resounding drums and cymbals that piece together in the song’s bridge. Gavin then introduced “Kind of Girl” with heartfelt words of solidarity, “I wanna just shout out how hard it can be if you’re a queer or trans person, to figure out the path that you want to take in life when either are not reflected in society or it’s actively discouraged. If you’re on a path like that right now, we just wanna say that we love you so much.” The self-love hymn paved way for the country-esque “Taken,” the last of the band’s acoustic holy trinity.
With her guitar now out of her hands, Gavin danced infectiously across the stage as she sang “Pink Light.” Rose-colored lights reflected onto the crowd. “I think we have some About U girlies in the building tonight,” Gavin speculated before the trio transitioned into the atmospheric “Around U.” McPherson clung to their black Fender intently, shaking their head with the rhythm. Maskin played their set of six strings effortlessly, with their head tilted back and eyes closed. Dark synths took over the now red and blue stage for “Crying on the Bathroom Floor.” The second verse found the audience wild with screams when Maskin ran up to McPherson and kissed them — a display no one saw coming. The band's playful antics continued during “Home By Now,” as Gavin chased Maskin around the stage to mimic the lyrics: “Have you ever heard about how when a person’s in a maze? / They will tend to walk in circles thinking they are going straight / They can’t see the bigger picture, so they get stuck in a loop / In the end, I was afraid that that’s what you and I would do.” They continued with the twangy “Anything But Me,” and brought out two inflatable horses named Stacy that jolted atop the energetic crowd for the duration of the tune. During the song’s bridge, Gavin hugged McPherson as she serenaded, “And sure, it’s not all black and white / Sure, I’m gonna cry / For the love we couldn’t keep,” alluding to their past relationship. She then strided toward Maskin and finished the verse before seamlessly belting, “You can have anything but me.” Next was the group’s latest single, “One That Got Away,” with fans amped up, unflinchingly denouncing their exes in their heads as they sang each lyric. After the spirited track, the band swiftly departed from the stage. “Memento” played through the venue’s speakers as green lights flashed on each drum beat.
The musicians returned to the stage, and Gavin, among her hasty preface to the next song, uttered “Fuck Greg Abbott,” which garnered a roar of cheers. The band then broke into “I Know A Place,” with its themes of sanctuary especially resonating with concertgoers considering Texas’ recent anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Every member of the crowd held their arms up, bouncing to the anthem as Gavin crooned, “They will try to make you unhappy / Don’t let them / They will try to tell you you’re not free / Don’t listen / I, I know a place where you don’t need protection even if it’s only in my imagination.” The trio concluded the night’s hour and thirty minute dance marathon with the bubblegum pop “Silk Chiffon.” They brought out the Nova Twins to help with the second verse, originally sung by Phoebe Bridgers. The trio waved goodbye to the crowd after the happy-go-lucky gem, and it was evident within the outdoor atmosphere that MUNA reinforced a sense of acceptance to the city just when Austinites needed it the most.