Mutemath, w/ Paper Route at First Ave, Minneapolis (03 April 2016)

poster Mutemath Setlist Stratosphere Chaos Prytania Clipping Light Up All I See Noticed Vitals Joy Rides Composed Used To Blood Pressure Control You Are Mine Safe If We Don't Look Down Armistice Best of Intentions Bulletproof Spotlight Remain Monument Reset Typical Paper Route Setlist Love Letters Wish Laugh About It Are We All Forgotten Balconies of Grace Better Life You & I Zhivago Gutter Dance on Our Graves Read More Mutemath Grammy-nominated, alternative rock band Mutemath have sold out 100% of their entire North American tour. Wow, right? The band will be promoting their new album Vitals ... Paper Route The last time we saw Paper Route, they opened for Copeland in 2009 at a really crowded all-ages show, and said “Paper Route are also from Nashville, Tennessee ...

New Orleans’ alternative rock band Mutemath recently took over First Avenue’s mainroom in Minneapolis on Sunday night. Although it wasn’t listed as sold out, it sure felt like it was at maximum capacity. Fans as far as Texas and Michigan drove in to see their favorite band.

Paper Route

By the time opening band Paper Route took the stage, the dance floor was packed. The Nashville’s last Minneapolis appearance was on April 23, 2013, with Anberlin... so it’s been a good three years since the group was in town. We previously caught them in 2009, so it’s few and far between.

Since I last saw them, I may have complained about the dueling vocals of JT Daly and guitarist Andy Smith was hard for me to focus and hear what was being sung. Since 2010, Smith left the band, leaving JT as sole singer - and Paper Route reinvented themselves with new songs, including the hit “Better Life”, which was played midway in their set.

Before playing “Zhivago” (“a song about a doctor”), JT spotted a fan singing the lyrics to “You & I”. He had to take a moment and ask his name. It was James. You can tell that personally knowing their fan’s names meant a lot to the band.

Paper Route is currently touring and recording their upcoming album. It’s not exactly out yet, but they did preview the new single “Laugh About It” for us on their 45-min set.

As for Mutemath, they put on a very entertaining show. First the stage darkened and stage is filled with “starry” lights from the many LED lights. Singer Paul Meany emerged from a tall stage singing “Stratosphere”. That’s really a great entrance, as he’s later spending his time sitting down for the keyboard or using the keytar.

Setlist

Many of their songs were specially synced to the LED lights, which visually was a lot of fun to watch. Midway in their set, Meany told us that about ten years ago, when they first recorded their debut album, they were practically begging people to check them out at the Fine Line Music Café via MySpace. From the bottom of his heart, he thanked those fans (some of them were in the audience, of course), and noted that his proudest moment was when they were hit with a power outage - that fans took over singing his song! Even looking at their setlist (see photo), it shows a cartoon drawing of a Minnesota Viking football player. They have a bond with the city, and it shows.

bed surfing

Near the end of their set, they played a rather long instrumental after their hit single, “Reset”, and as they proceeded to playing “Typical”, a bed was brought out! It was placed over the crowd, and Meany ran and jumped on and ‘bed surf’ during the song. It was spectacular.

Of course, fans stuck around and chant for an encore... but it was a smart move to not follow on such a high note.

Mutemath’s latest album Vitals is out now on Wojtek.

Remaining tour dates:

04/06 - Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS*
04/08 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO*
04/23 - Groovin' The Moo - Maitland
04/24 - Groovin' The Moo - Canberra
04/25 - Groovin' The Moo - Oakbank
04/27 - Metro Theatre - Sydney
04/28 - Corner Hotel - Melbourne
04/30 - Groovin' The Moo - Bendigo
05/01 - Groovin' The Moo - Townsville
05/02 - The Triffid - Brisbane
05/04 - Rosemount Hotel - Perth
05/07 - Groovin' The Moo - Bunbury

* - w/ Paper Route

Mutemath at First Avenue, Minneapolis (03 April 2016)

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