Ascending indie queen delivers transcendent performance in Houston
On her extended leg of her North American tour, Mitski performed at Smart Financial Centre this past week in Sugar Land, TX – a suburb of Houston. It’s been almost a year since she released her seventh album, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We. Remarking on the early fall heat, Mitski said “you know that you’re in a really hot place when the air conditioning is so cold you need a sweater,” which reminded her of the time she lived in Malaysia.
Arlo Parks opened the night, playing songs like “Caroline” and “Eugene” off of her 2021 album “Collapsed in Sunbeams.” To echo her sentiment, Parks remarked that Mitski’s music is so sacred, and paraphrasing here, the music speaks to so many moments in life.
Mitski’s cathartic choreography is reminiscent of David Byrne. She was able to captivate the 6,400 capacity room in a way that was as grand as the space she filled. She enacts a dog at one point during “I Bet on Losing Dogs.” She dances with a beam of light at the end of “Heaven.” She (and the crowd) pantomime big and small during “Nobody.” Mitski is able to portray interior moments which makes you wonder if she forgets she’s even on stage.
Accompanied by seven musicians who effortlessly transition between repertoires of music, Mitski played a jazzy rendition of “Valentine, TX” contrasted with the recorded version which is much more sparse. A zydeco, jubilant version of “Happy.” A country-tinged “Everyone.”
You can scroll below for more highlights from an incredible night.
All Photos by Alexandra Howard
