Mandy Lee is a frontwoman who demands a higher shutter speed. The lead singer of MisterWives pivots, kicks, claps and dances with an energy reserved for caffeinated toddlers, and anyone over the age of 27 will burn calories just watching her perform. She and fellow band members—drummer Etienne Bowler, bassist William Hehir, guitarist Marc Campbell, multi-instrumentalist Jesse Blum and saxophonist/keyboardist Mike Murphy—set their music to dizzying motion when they perform, shifting like jilted marionettes to new track “Out of Tune Piano,” forming coordinated kicklines (no small feat when playing bass or guitar) and hammering an impromptu drum breakdown for their pop-perfect encore, “Our Own House.”
The New York-based group brought its bouncing, ska-infused medley to Portland last Friday, playing cuts from debut album Our Own House to last spring’s Connect the Dots, for what can only be described as one hell of a good, positive time—all the more so as it was Blum’s birthday, cake included. Sean Edgar shot the show; check out the ‘90s neon palette and fly girl moves in the gallery above. MisterWives are on tour throughout the Midwest for rest of the month.
Song Highlights
“Machine”
“Out of Tune Piano”
“Our Own House”
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017
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MisterWives at Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, 10/6/2017