Something Massive Happened Here.
Wow, I haven't done one of these in a while, but when you're inspired you're inspired and MUNA definitely reignited my desire to write, so y'all get ready for a lot more fresh content coming your way.
Over the last few months, I have completely fallen in love with MUNA. From the second I heard their debut record About You, I knew I had found something great. Each song on this album resonated with me in ways that I hadn't found before, giving me a sense of peace and that moment of "wow, FINALLY, someone gets it."
From day one, I made it my mission to see a MUNA live show. Only problem? The shows they were playing in Austin were ACL Festival (who really wants their first time seeing an artist they love to be a festival, not me) and a show with Harry Styles.... and we all know how fast that sold out.
Then, like a gift from God, they announced an ACL Late Night headliner, for $20 at a venue that holds less that 500 people.
On October 12, I made my way to The Parish, a small hole-in-the-wall that you'd definitely pass if you weren't looking for it. A small line had already formed, despite doors not being for over an hour, everyone waiting was talking about the show they'd played the night before with Harry Styles. I chimed in with what I'd hoped they'd put on the setlist, my thoughts on the album and everything in between, getting more and more anxious as we talked through each song.
The opening artist, Keeper, were a trio of women who I am very convinced are actually angels. Their music was so serene, the only way to describe it would be to call it a badass choir. Normally, I would be opposed to an opener being so mellow when their purpose is to get everyone warmed up and excited for the rest of the show, but they were somehow the perfect fit, easing every last bit of anxiety that was building throughout the day.
MUNA's live set completely changed my life.
I know, I know, I say that a lot, but out of all the shows I go to, I have never in my life felt so safe to dance, and cry and just feel whatever the music brought out. I don't know if it was the intimacy of the venue, the energy of the crowd, or something within MUNA themselves, but it was very evident that this show was special for everyone in the room. Even Katie, their lead singer, was brought to tears by If U Love Me Now, and honestly, I was crying right there along with her. But with the sadness came so much joy. With covers of U2 and Stevie Nicks, the whole room was screaming the lyrics and dancing without inhibition, nobody cared how you dance or if your singing was not unlike a dying animal, we were all in it together.
My favorite part of the night was by far the last song. I Know A Place has become an anthem within my life, it's the song that I scream in the car when I'm having a bad day and the song I dance to in the living room to celebrate the good ones. Everyone in the audience seemed to share that sentiment, you could barely hear Katie because we were all singing at the top of our lungs, shouting the lyrics to a song that means the world.
When the show was over, I went outside of the venue to wait to see if I could meet them, to get a chance to tell them how much their album means to me and, hopefully, have Katie write " I know a place" for me to get tattooed. After about an hour they came out and told the small group of people that were waiting that, unfortunately, they were getting sick and needed to rest for their upcoming shows, so they weren't going to be able to take photos and stick around to chat with everyone. But before they left, I asked if it would be okay if Katie wrote my tattoo and, without hesitation, they wrote down my instagram information so they could send me a tattoo of their design. The kindness that they showed even when they didn't have to made it even more clear that MUNA will always be some of my favorite people on the planet.
With everything that has occurred the past few weeks within the music community and in our country, I feared that the safe haven that I've found in live music would be gone, MUNA reassured me that no matter what life throws our way we will always be able to come back together to a place of love and acceptance and understanding that no one can ever take away, and for that I am forever grateful.
Love,
Marissa
