MUNA gets TOO HOT for Stanford, California

Sunday, October 18th, “Silk Chiffon” pop band MUNA brought their Gets So Hot Tour to the San Francisco Bay Area at Stanford’s beautiful Frost Amphitheater in celebration of Dancing on the Wall, their fourth studio album. Opening the show was indie pop artist Hemlocke Springs, promoting her newly released album, the apple tree under the sea. As someone who has never heard of Hemlocke Springs, I was intrigued by her stage presence and style, wearing a red velvet piece that looked like it was made for the Renaissance, while rocking contrasting blue hair. She definitely had some spunk and, when she performed her song “the beginning of the end”, I was hooked. I can see why MUNA has had Hemlocke Springs open a majority of the USA tour dates, as well as their 2022 tour dates for their Life’s So Fun Tour.

She can get the crowd HYPED. 

Comprised of lead vocalist Katie Gavin, lead guitarist Josette Maskin, and multi-instrumentalist Naomi McPherson, MUNA describes their band dynamic as “best friends, a marriage, and a family” — all labels clearly evident in their onstage chemistry. All songs on the new album were written by the trio and produced in their new studio in their hometown of Los Angeles, with McPherson in the production chair taking charge of the programming and engineering behind the scenes — a true jack of all trades! The new album is definitely more 80s dance vibes than their poppier 2022 release.

At a quarter past 8pm, MUNA kicked off their set to a screaming audience, knocking out banger after banger. MUNA’s nearly two-hour setlist included nearly every song off the new album, “It Gets So Hot”, “Dancing On The Wall”, “Wannabeher”, and “Mary Jane” being true standouts. Older songs from their first two albums were sprinkled in the set, too, like “Crying On The Bathroom Floor”, “Number One Fan”, “Stay Away”, and “Taken”. The song that helped me discover MUNA — “I Know A Place” from their debut 2017 album — was saved for the end. “Silk Chiffon” was also saved for last, when Hemlocke Springs was invited back out to help with the grand finale.

MUNA’s set was a dance lover’s dream.

As mentioned earlier, the band’s chemistry is magnetic and inspiring. They are absolutely unapologetic and not shy to show their values of love and acceptance. There is a contagious feeling that oozes throughout a MUNA show that you have to experience to believe.

As of writing this, following the show at Stanford, MUNA was involved in a fire on their tour bus in the early morning hours just before making it home in Burbank. Luckily, everyone got out safely, but they lost many personal items, which is devastating to hear. To support MUNA, please check out their new album and check out a show if they come to a city near you!! Things get HOT at a MUNA show… apparently TOO HOT. Glad everyone was okay and wishing safe(r) travels to the band.

Photography by Katey Schoenberger

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