NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
It’s been quite a busy year so far for LA indie pop band MUNA. They started off with some shows in Australia before taking a two week break, played Coachella, then embarked immediately on their North American tour. This is their second tour supporting their third studio album, the self-titled MUNA, released in June 2022. While they’ve been very successful, they’ve never been quite mainstream. However, with their latest record which is even more of a dance pop album than their previous records, and tour dates later this year supporting Taylor Swift, they are poised to finally “hit it big”.
As they’ve progresses in their careers, you can also see the confidence growing as they put their sexuality more and more to the forefront of their music. They’ve always been gay but it wasn’t necessarily a huge part of the band’s identity. That has slowly changed and, with the release of “Silk Chiffon”, THE queer song of 2021, who’s video mimicks the classic movie “But I’m a Cheerleader”, it was plain as day. And the anthemic “What I Want” from their latest record celebrates being gay and that there’s nothing wrong with “what they want”. Their music uplifts and supports the LGBTQ community, who were there in force at History in Toronto on May 14, 2023.
Opening for MUNA was the incredible London-based duo Nova Twins, made up of guitarist/lead vocalist Amy Love and bassist/vocalist Georgia South. With just a guitar, a bass, drums, and some crazy programming on their pedals, this band generates an incredibly full sound from just three players! If rock, funk, punk, and hip hop got together and spit out a band, it would be the Nova Twins! They also released their latest studio album “Supernova” in June 2022. With the energetic pair stomping around the stage, their set was a frenetic performance. And Love’s growl….OMFG!!! They really do need to be experienced live if you get the chance!
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If there’s anything MUNA has improved on over the years, it’s making an entrance. The previously mention “What I Want” opened their set and the crowd truly went bananas! With lead vocalist Katie Gavin dancing around the stage decked out in a sexy black vinyl outfit (complete with gloves!), it contrasted with guitarist Josette Maskin sleeveless t-shirt, which contrasted with bassist/keyboardist Naomi McPherson’s white dress shirt and tie. But isn’t that what MUNA is all about? Gotta be comfortable in your own skin…as well as your own clothes!
Throughout the set, the band members were in constant motion, ensuring their fans at the barricade had the opportunity to be close and personal with all three. In particular, Maskin (she/they) would come to the very front of the stage to play. For some reason, the lighting on their poses was always spot on! As for McPherson (they/them), I did share a brief moment with them when I first entered the venue and we both admired each others’ t-shirts of the Cure!
The setlist for the night comprised of around half songs from their latest record and half older songs. Sometimes, the band would go straight into the next song and sometimes they would tell a story or interact with the crowd. Since it was Mothers’ Day, Gavin (she/her) talked a bit about that and, whether you have a great relationship or a non-existent relationships with your mother, the band is always with us. She also said that we need to learn how to “mother ourselves”, to take care of ourselves. “Kind of Girl” is a little bit about that. They closed out the main set with “One That Got Away” from their last record.
It was nice to see so much joy in the faces of the fans in the audience, dancing and singing along to their favorite band! MUNA came back to complete the night with their biggest hits: “I Know a Place” and “Silk Chiffon”. They’re heading to Denver for the last night of their solo tour before joining Taylor Swift for a number of dates in June and July. After that, it’s off to Europe and the UK for some solo dates and some shows with boygenius. I know that their following will grow spectacularly by the end of August so catch them in smaller venues while you can!
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