Mitski Summer 2024 Tour: Was it worth it going?

Mitsuki Miyawaki, better known as Mitski, is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her live performances where she choreographs movements for each song instead of playing an instrument. 

I was able to see one of these performances this past weekend in Grand Prairie, Texas. It was definitely the best live performance I’ve ever seen from a music artist.

This tour featured her latest album, “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We,” which she released Sept. of last year. The album won record of the year at this year’s Libera Awards.

The setlist featured top hits, like “Nobody,” and underground gems like “Happy.” Mitski only performed the songs she seemed to enjoy the most. Her live versions of these tracks brought a fresh new twist, especially in “I Don’t Smoke,” where she took the melancholic vibe and made it a jolly folk song. 

The lighting and production quality were outstandingly impressive. Each song’s colors were perfectly matched, especially during the heartbreaking numbers. During these songs, the spotlight would shift to highlight Mitski at her most vulnerable state.

“It was hard to be emotional to her sad songs because I would be too distracted by the amazing lighting and sound quality of the band,” junior at Edmond Memorial High School, Lily Dauphine, said. “The effort put in by the crew, band, and Mitski made it such a beautiful experience. It was really inspirational for me as someone who’s into theater and crewing.”

Some of my favorite visuals were in “I Don’t Like My Mind,” where the spotlights circled around her, symbolizing entrapment, and in “Star,” where the stars reflected fleeting love. 

The choreography was not only beautiful but impressive, as Mitski sang while performing difficult moves, including jumps, splits and lying on the floor. Her stage presence left a long lasting impression on the audience. 

Mitski was also very genuine when speaking to the crowd.

“I’m so glad you’re here, especially those of you in corners, I know you don’t have a good view,” Mitski said. “Y’all, I love you so much. It means everything to me that you came here. I know for a lot of you, you had to coordinate lodging, coordinate travel. Thank you so much.”

I found myself in tears multiple times during the show. Every aspect- Mitski’s voice, the choreography, the band’s performance, and even the merchandise quality- made it an unforgettable experience.