MJ Lenderman Releases Video for ‘Wristwatch’
MJ Lenderman by Lance Bangs
“Outstanding.” - Pitchfork [8.7 - Best New Music]
“Manning Fireworks’ sad sack anthems tap into something devastatingly, purely human." - The Guardian
"we are in the presence of greatness here." - MOJO ★★★★
"a catch-in-your-throat solo album from Wednesday's guitarist." - Uncut (9/10)
“Joyously weird alt-Americana… Featuring possibly his best track yet, the North Carolina guitarist-songwriter goes to the sparse and seamy side on this worthy successor to Boat Songs.” - The Observer ★★★★
"Lenderman is one of indie rock's brightest young stars." - NME ★★★★
MJ Lenderman releases the video for ‘Wristwatch,’ his “brilliant coupling of loneliness and modernity” boasting “one of the catchiest choruses of [2024]” (Under The Radar) from his album, Manning Fireworks, released last fall on ANTI-. Directed by legendary filmmaker Lance Bangs, the video depicts Lenderman driving a pickup truck loaded with basketballs and inflatable pool rafts and repeatedly crashing into an overpass. Members of The Wind show up along the way.
Of the video, Bangs says: "I had been drawn to make things with Jake for a while, and spent the late summer listening to the songs that would make up Manning Fireworks. The imagery of characters caught in persistence without progress that has recurred in his writing was there in “Wristwatch” and that song was the one I went back to the most while listening to the batch of recordings. I had seen low clearance bridges in this part of North Carolina in my past travels, a mismatch between the train trestles that were built in the first half of the 20th Century and the modern 13ft height of most tractor trailers. Durham has a notorious one called the “Canopener” that is featured on a website and Youtube channel “11foot8.com” by Jurgen Henn, who has captured 186 crashes since April of 2008. I took measurements and designed plans to add a few more crashes to Jurgen’s tally."
2024 was MJ Lenderman’s busiest year yet and 2025 has continued in that vein. Following the release of one of the year's most beloved albums, he played a completely sold-out fall North American tour, sold out the Sydney Opera House, and made his Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NPR Tiny Desk, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon debuts.
MJ Lenderman and The Wind will be embarking on the first leg of their 2025 EU/UK tour this spring with a string of sold-out UK shows, capped off by a performance at Primavera Sound in Barcelona in early June.
They’ll return in August for an extensive EU/UK run, hitting major festivals like Øya (Norway), Way Out West (Sweden), and Green Man (Wales). The summer leg also features some of their biggest headline shows to date, including stops in Berlin, a double night at Amsterdam’s Paradiso Noord, and a highly anticipated show at London’s Roundhouse.
MJ Lenderman EU/UK Tour Dates
May 29 - Bristol, UK - Marble Factory [SOLD OUT]
May 30 - Brighton, UK - CHALK [SOLD OUT]
May 31 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
June 2 - Glasgow, UK - Old Fruit Market [SOLD OUT]
June 3 - Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz Manchester [SOLD OUT]
June 4 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom [SOLD OUT]
June 5 - Sun. June 8 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera
Aug 3 - Katowice, PL - OFF Festival
Aug 4 - Prague, CZ - ARCHA+
Aug 5- Berlin, DE - Columbia Theater
Aug 6 - Sat. Aug. 9 - Oslo, NO - Øya Festival
Aug 7 - Oslo, NO - Øya Festival
Aug 8 - Gothenburg, SE - Way Out West Festival
Aug 9 - Copenhagen, DK - Syd For Solen Festival
Aug 13 - Paredes, PT - Paredes de Coura Festival
Aug 15 - London, UK - Roundhouse
Aug 16 - Wales, UK - Green Man Festival
Aug 19 - Groningen, NL - Noorderzon Festival
Aug 20 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Noord
Aug 21 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Noord
Aug 23 - Torremolinos, ES - Canela Party Festival
A full list of dates can be found below, and tickets can be purchased here.
Selected press for Manning Fireworks:
“Lenderman’s off-kilter observations are enveloped in a haze of melancholy, but there’s a comforting, wool-blanket warmth to the tone of his guitar and the broken croak of his voice.” - New York Times
“‘a quiet revelation… the sound of a modern master at work.” - DORK ★★★★
"Lenderman once again redefines slacker charm on Manning Fireworks." - The Line Of Best Fit (9/10)
"a powerful achievement, one that deserves to last." - Clash ★★★★
"the album tells fictional stories with a wry eye and an unparalleled songwriting craft." – Rolling Stone UK
"MJ Lenderman has been central to some of the most exciting releases of the last few years." - So Young
"An unqualified triumph." - Record Collector ★★★★
"The songs possess a barbed humour and an open honesty." - Shindig! ★★★★
