Mitski fans lined the Masonic Temple in Detroit on Aug. 28, 2024. A never-ending line, overwhelming and full of eager fans, circled two blocks around the temple. Each fan was wearing a whimsical, creative and unique outfit. The aesthetic established a certain energy going into the concert that felt like everyone was on the same page.
Once everyone was seated, the concert opened with Lamp, a Japanese band, providing jazz and a warm atmosphere, contrasting Mitski’s feral energy. Lamp created an atmosphere of safety with their peaceful voices and made for a great way to start off the show.
The supportive and enthusiastic audience clapped along to every song, despite very few people knowing the words to the Japanese songs. The opening performance was especially special considering Mitski’s songs are so jagged and thought-provoking, while Lamp’s songs felt soothing and could put someone to sleep. It isn’t wrong that Lamp’s songs make one sleepy, but they had a different vibe than many had prepared for. Luckily, the majority enjoyed it.
Lights alerted fans to a break in the show, giving them a chance to rush to the restrooms and merchandise lines. When returning, fans waited anxiously for Mitski to perform as the crew helped set up her stage, which consisted of a large curtain surrounding the circular stage. All was yet to be revealed.
By the time Mitski’s band took the stage, everyone had lost it. Each musician prepared and tuned their instruments as Mitsk slowly took the stage. Audience members, myself included, were screaming and shouting, shocked to see the voice of some of our favorite songs. Mitski, calm and collected, paced around the stage, eventually making her way to the back of the circular stage. Hidden by the drape, she entered onto the stage. Her shadow was revealed with the help of the lighting team, who were able to help her create a large shadow of herself. The shadow continuously grew until the end of the song, where the drape dropped to the floor. Fans lost it again as she was dramatically revealed at the end of the song.
“It was pretty freaking lit,” recalled Tia Cocciolone, a CHS junior and Mitski concert attendee. “She did a lot of stuff with the lights that I thought was super cool. It wasn’t just like some girl singing on a stage. It was like someone giving you a presentation of her feelings and experiences, and I felt that.”
A standout part of the show was the lighting. Every single light was matching up with every single beat to Mitski’s music, helping create a unique scenery and setting unlike anything I had ever seen before. My favorite part of the show was Mitski’s dancing, where she whipped out sharp hand movements and used props such as chairs. During her song “I Bet on Losing Dogs,” she whipped out a dog impression. While the alarming dog-like movements made some uncomfortable, it was entertaining.
“I thought [her dancing] was really interesting,” Cocciolone stated. “First of all, it’s hard to sing and dance. Even dancing like that just made it so much more like the singing. It felt like the singing was the easy part, and it was like the feeling and the dancing that actually made people go through it. It’s not just a song, it’s a whole story.”
Mitsk focused on her newest album, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” but also added older hits of hers throughout the set. Her most famous song from the album, “My Love Mine All Mine,” included a beautiful set prop of contemporary, shimmery cutouts of flowers hanging from the ceiling. Each hanging on separate wires, they slowly started moving upwards as the song ended, resuming their original position. Audience members watched in awe as she performed her hit song.
The audience wasn’t ready to say goodbye by the time Mitski announced she was wrapping up the set. She left the stage as everyone howled for more. Eventually her band returned to the stage, and Mitski, filing behind, chose to perform another one of her popular songs, “Nobody.” While Mitski sang “Nobody,” the entire theater sang along with her, knowing every word and creating a powerful energy. I began gathering my stuff towards the end of the song, attempting to beat the line, only to see she wasn’t finished. An older song, “Washing Machine Heart,” was sung next by her and was a highlight of the concert for me. That song introduced me to Mitski’s music during eighth grade and holds a very special place in my heart. Seeing it live with a passionate audience in a beautiful theater was surreal.
“She’s such a unique performer. I feel like her style of dancing and stage presence was so good and so different,” said Nina Beals, another Mitski concert attendee. “Honestly, it was amazing.”
Nearing the end, Mitski concluded her concert with blindingly fierce blue lights. The audience lifted out of their seats, providing a standing ovation. Mitski proved she is unlike no other: unapologetic and constantly pushing boundaries. She is a performer who never fails.
