MJ Lenderman and the Wind take on the Calgary Stampede

MJ Lenderman and the Wind.

In anyone else’s hands, a song titled “I Ate Too Much at The Fair” might feel too on-the-nose for the opening weekend of the Calgary Stampede. But after noting his love of the infamous pickle pizza on the grounds, MJ Lenderman plucked the track from his 2021 album Ghost of Your Guitar Solo — and in doing so, nailed the bittersweet mix of overstimulation and indulgence that defines a day at the Stampede.

“I ate too much at the fair / Despite what you said / Honey, I didn't see you there / My legs have dangled while we kissed / The stars would spangle in the ski lift”

His tender and witty lyrics echoed the experience happening outside the doors of the Big Four: the queasy feelings of a rollercoaster ride, mixed with the sickly-sweet taste of a candy apple, alongside the quiet heartbreak that can sneak up on you between the rollercoasters and the rodeo.

“Indie Rock’s New Golden Boy,” MJ Lenderman, may have seemed like an outlier on a bill that darted between country, folk and Americana, and were a surprising get for Calgary, which often feels like an overlooked city for touring bands. While the Calgary Stampede is known for its spectacle, it’s not frequently top of mind for unique programming. Yet the addition of the Asheville group to the lineup proved to be one of the night’s standout moments.

The lineup for the evening included Winnipeg’s Boy Golden, Alberta’s-own Noeline Hofmann, and the Australian indie-folk outfit The Paper Kites, all leading up to the evening’s headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. During a particularly tender moment of the evening, the Paper Kites brought Boy Golden back out for their track “Darkness at My Door,” which really underscored the sense of camaraderie present among the evening’s performers.

Lenderman’s set walked a tightrope between fuzzed-out rock and alt-country, highlighting the wit and emotional vulnerability of the lyrics he’s become so well known for. As the crowd sang along to “She’s Leaving You,” cowboy hats were tipped from the crowd, and even the country-diehards seemed to appreciate the storytelling present in his work.

By the time the band closed with “Knockin,’” which re-imagines the chorus of of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” — the Big Four felt miles away from the midway. The crowd joined in on the familiar lyrics and showed that Calgary audiences are more than ready for something left of centre.