Karly Hartzman joins MJ Lenderman at London headline show

The last time Lenderman played the UK capital – barely two months ago – was at Camden's 1500-capacity Electric Ballroom, but more than double that number were in attendance at The Roundhouse, just half a mile up the road.

Lenderman's set included the entirety of 2024 record Manning Fireworks – even the diffuse, bubbling feedback outro to “Bark At the Moon” – as well as a surprise appearance from Wednesday bandmate Karly Hartzman.

“We’ve got a real special show for you tonight,” Lenderman offered after the band cruised through some of the biggest Manning Fireworks cuts and a cover of This Is Lorelei’s “Dancing in the Club”. “One of our honorary members of The Wind happens to be in town, so we’re gonna welcome her to the stage tonight: Miss Karly Hartzman.”

The inclusion of Hartzman in Lenderman's set marks the vinyl reissue of early fan-favourite Guttering EP from 2021, a collaboration between Lenderman and his other band long before the dizzying success of Rat Saw God – songs that “we’ve never done with a band before. First time ever,” he confirmed. But after “Big Money”, “My Voice is a Little Horse”, and even the EP’s rendition of the Greg Sage song “Sacrifice (For Love)”, Hartzman stayed onstage for almost the remainder of the show – a whopping 11 songs.

Hartzman’s appearance was also surprising following her 2024 breakup with Lenderman, and Wednesday’s announcement he will no longer tour with the band for new album Bleeds – despite still being an official member.

For the encore, The Wind’s violinist/bassist Landon George returned to the stage alone to explain how his grandmother used to say, “‘Now Landon, you’ve got blue blood, now don’t forget it – you’re a George.’ She always made me feel like England is a magical, faraway place and she is right.” Aptly, they then included a cover of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love” among the closing songs.

Next up for Lenderman is the second half of their European festival run, including appearances Green Man, Noorderzon Festival in Groningen, and two sets at Amsterdam’s Paradiso Noord.

Setlist

“Manning Fireworks"
“Dancing in the Club” (This Is Lorelei cover)
“Joker Lips”
“Wristwatch”
“SUV”
“Catholic Priest”
“You Have Bought Yourself a Boat”
“TLC Cage Match”
“Big Money” (with Karly Hartzman)
“My Voice Is a Little Horse” (with Karly Hartzman)
“Sacrifice (For Love)” (Greg Sage cover) (with Karly Hartzman)
“Rudolph” (with Karly Hartzman)
“Toontown” (with Karly Hartzman)
“Rip Torn” (with Karly Hartzman)
“On My Knees” (with Karly Hartzman)
“Bark at the Moon” (with Karly Hartzman)
“I Ate Too Much at the Fair” (with Karly Hartzman)
“You Don't Know the Shape I’m In” (with Karly Hartzman)
“She’s Leaving You” (with Karly Hartzman)

Encore