The room, not unlike their tour bus, was hot. Sleepy downtown Minneapolis remained none the wiser to a nearly sold-out venue practically bursting through the seams of the black magical curtains harboring 7th St Entry. Toasty, drawn-out tones crept through the swinging door onto the street, carrying the voice and guitar manipulation of the opening musician who hails from Brooklyn, Lefty Parker.
Main act Mary in the Junkyard picked up the pieces of the crowd’s hearts from Lefty’s contemplative, sentimental ballads and his new off-the-beat song “Punish Me” by taking the stage and coyly embracing their instruments. Still humming, the energy in the room suddenly felt not unlike taking off a tight sweater.
Mary in the Junkyard’s music juxtaposes dark, driving indie folk beats with dollops of whimsical sweetness. Appearances can be deceiving. Beneath Clari’s airy, femme exterior lies the husky, prominent beat poetry of her lyrics and Saya’s diabolical bass lines that stick with you long after the song ends.
Following the raucous performance of “New Muscles” which integrated Saya’s viola, the band took a moment to connect with the audience, sharing some of their experience on the tour bus (ie conversations about farts), workout routines, and how not to burp into the microphone.
The adorable trio soon found themselves engulfed, swallowed whole by a room of hungry listeners eager to digest their wholesome, angsty vocals and velvety British accents. For just three people, a guitar, a bass, a drum set and a viola, their youthful energy was palpable and the band’s freshness certainly was much needed.
Their confidence and ability to completely and unequivocally captivate a room on a weekday night speaks to their future as they continue to take up more space and gain relevance in quiet, deceptively calm cities like Minneapolis.
