Prepare for the emotional roller coaster that is Mitski in concert, as she brought the Shrine stage alive on March 29. With artful setups and captivating choreography, she proved that performance art is alive and well. Known for her artistry, Mitski took to the stage for the Los Angeles leg of the North American The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We tour. The crowd came dressed for the occasion and was seated, prepared for the night to begin.
After the opener, Julia Jacklin, Mitski started the night with “Everyone” which was met with a loud cheer. Mitski took a pause after the first song to welcome everyone to the show, expressing excitement in performing on the “mystical” Shrine stage. “No more chitchat” said Mitski, “let’s fucking go.” The crowd cheered as she sat on one of two chairs set on stage. These two chairs would appear more throughout the night acting as both Mitski’s props and dance partners.
Mitski has been known for incorporating unique choreography into her shows over the years and tonight was no different. The usage of props and lights was captivating and aesthetically gorgeous. The way she danced, as if led by her emotions, despite being artfully choreographed, is a testament to her creativity as an artist. A stand out moment was when Mitski slow danced with a singular light that shone down toward the stage. Another was when shards of glass came down towards the stage acting as a broken disco ball.
The microphone was very clearly on for the whole night and the amount of movement Mitski was engaged in demonstrated how strong her vocal control is. There was a range in her choreography that matched her musicality. From emotional flailing rampage, to seductress, all encompassed within Mitski. Despite the aesthetic visual chaos, everything felt very intentional.
Mitski performed a range of songs from her discography, including “I Bet On Losing Dogs’’ which was on her 2016 album Puberty, to “I Don’t Like My Mind” from her 2023 release The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. There was something for both long-time and newer fans to enjoy from the show. Mitski kept people on their toes singing folk versions of songs including “Happy” and “I Don’t Smoke,” making a change to the dance style to match the folk changes.
An “I love you” was screamed from the audience which Mitski reciprocated back, saying “This is the last song! But I’ll tell you a secret there will be an encore if you’re very good!” The lights dimmed as she ended the night with the song “Fireworks.” The promise of an encore led to the crowd begging for more and stomping on the ground. Mitski sang a combination of two of her most popular songs “Nobody” and “Washing Machine Heart” in an unexpected twist. People cheered, laughed, and cried throughout the night, leaving both emotional and satisfied with the performance.
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