A Live Music Filled Week with 311 and Japanese Breakfast
Some tours blessed the Land of Enchantment, and I knew I had to be there.
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I recently relocated to Santa Fe, and so far, it has been a fantastic experience. The people are lovely, the landscapes are otherworldly gorgeous, and almost everyone brings their A-game when it comes to food.
As a lifelong concertgoer, though, the predictable move to skip New Mexico happens all too often. While I’m still learning about the local scene, I headed out for a few shows this past week and found plenty of opportunities for national acts to stop through with some great venues.
Last Sunday, I took in 311 at the Isleta Amphitheater for a night full of the hits bookended by choice older selections. My joke for the weekend was, “bet we’re going to get a really great show in Albuquerque the night after selling out Red Rocks,” and the ageless alt vets proved otherwise, showing up with performance even better than when I saw them some years ago at the Hollywood Palladium.
Isleta Amphitheater is a pretty great spot, too, as far as mid-sized outdoor spaces go. We relaxed up on the lawn, and even there, the sound was great, including for openers Iration. It's easy to get in and out of and much more enjoyable than the comparable Whatever They’re Calling Fiddler’s Green Now in Denver.
Then, last night, I finally saw Japanese Breakfast after buying tickets months ago. The show was at the OG Meow Wolf, and wow, it was one of the most unique settings for a concert I’ve been to on my long list of venues.
“It’s very healthy and good that there’s a place for adult curiosity.”
-Michelle Zauner on Meowolf
Since the last time I saw them, Michelle Zauner and company have multiplied by a few members, and the fuller sound suits the songs well. Zauner’s catalog is also quickly expanding, and it was a fun set full of songs from the latest album, Jubilee (read my review here), as well as the favorites from Psychopomp and Soft Sounds, her theme for the Sable video game, a reworked track from the Bumper EP, and “Here You Come Again” by Dolly Parton. What an opportunity to see a skyrocketing act at such an intimate venue.
As we head into another uncertain winter, it was a relief to see some live music and share time with old friends.
And dammit, let’s get some more shows in New Mexico.