Even though you have to respect a band going out on their own terms, that doesn’t mean you have to like it. That was my immediate sentiment when I found out Murder By Death was hanging it up after 25 years. Thankfully for fans, the Indiana-based indie rock outfit wasn’t going away quietly. Along with a full tour across the US and Canada, the band also decided to release a new full-length studio album just as the tour kicked off. They still expect to do some of their special engagement shows from time to time, but this is their last full tour.
With that in mind, I knew I had to pay my respects. The fact that this was likely my last time seeing them made the show special. Adding to the appeal was the venue. Friday’s show at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit was a homecoming show of sorts for lead singer Adam Turla. He spent his formative years in Metro Detroit, attending lots of shows at St. Andy’s.
While Murder By Death has been able to make their living through their craft for 25 years, they’ve always hovered in the space where success came more from a diehard fanbase and grassroots following than it did by gaining it traditionally.
And honestly, I don’t think the Murder By Death I know and love would exist if traditional success had found them much easier. Their DIY ethos and fanbase have allowed them to take risks, try new things, and make a real connection with their fans. They’re folk punk and Americana with a brooding, gothic, and dark edge. Their sound is grandiose in nature with orchestral arrangements and rich, moody narratives. They play around with so many styles and genres, on any given album, you’ll hear real country music, somber ballads, and bombastic ’70s David Bowie.
Thinking about Murder By Death’s entire 25-year catalog, with its diversity and sheer volume of songs to choose from, I had no idea what to expect from this show.
Before I could really worry about the main event, though, Laura Jane Grace opened the show. She’ll be doing the first leg of the farewell tour, which is fitting on multiple levels, one being that Grace’s former band, Against Me!, gave Murder By Death one of their first big breaks as a young band. Everything comes full circle. Just a few songs into her set, Grace commented that the crowd had to get through hell (her set) before they could get to heaven. Personally, I think she was being a bit too hard on herself.
Grace and her band sounded great live. In order to fit maximum rock and roll into the 45-minute set, the band chose to thunder through a variety of new music from Grace’s upcoming album release in July, selections from her multiple solo projects, and then ending her set with some Against Me! favorites. Grace talked with the crowd in between blocks of songs, as well as during the middle of some. By cutting down on some of the banter, Laura Jane Grace and crew powered through a 16-song set and properly warmed the crowd up for the main event.
While I enjoy Grace’s post-Against Me! career, I’m a sucker for those AM! songs. I felt a noticeable mood shift in the crowd when that part of the set kicked in. It also looked like Laura Jane Grace was having genuine fun playing them. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll get Against Me! again. If we don’t, I guess the option to start a petition for a reunion at Riot Fest is something to consider.
Much like a wake, when it’s time to start, there’s no more delaying, just acceptance. Murder By Death was up next.
With a loop of the 1902 silent film A Trip To The Moon on in the background, and the theme song to Twin Peaks playing, the mood was set perfectly. From there, the band came onto the stage. They were dressed for the occasion, decked out in their Sunday best. Lead singer Adam Turla then interrupted the pre-show ovation with the words “Let’s get sad and creepy,” then jumped right into “Riders.” From that point on, the band had the crowd in the palm of their hands for the next two hours.
Putting together a setlist for a final tour of a career that spans 25 years and ten full-length albums is a monumental task. There was definitely some careful curation that needed to be done, especially when you’re saying goodbye, but also promoting a new release at the same time. The new album, Egg & Dart, got the most attention with four tracks dedicated to it. I was totally cool with that because we got to hear them debut “Black Velvet Cloak,” which was a technical feat in and of itself due to some of the song’s intricate guitar arrangements. Each of the band’s other full-length albums has at least two songs on the setlist. It was almost like a dark and brooding episode of This Is Your Life in that regard.
In all the times I’ve seen Murder By Death live, they truly did save the best for last.
While the show felt and sounded grandiose and epic, it also had a very intimate feel. Instead of having a guitar tech, Turla had his case of guitars next to him for the whole set and would switch them out as the set list required, sometimes even during the middle of a song. Keyboardist David Fountain also managed quadruple-duty by adding mandolin, trumpet, and lap steel to his plate throughout the set. The bass and drums were pounding and drove the rhythm the entire evening. The string section, consisting of cellist Sara Balliet and violinist Emma Tiemann, really filled out the sound in the best way. Their instruments provided an eerily somber undertone on the slower, sadder songs and a dynamic pep to the more up-tempo rock songs.
The six members of the band are virtuosos in their own right, and seeing them together one last time at the top of their game was equal parts amazing and depressing … the perfect combination for Murder By Death if ever there was one.
When I looked at the audience, I saw a room filled with mixed reactions. There were plenty of people singing along and having a great time. Some just stood stoically, making sure they didn’t miss a single note. With a band that’s been around for 25 years, some of their fans are old enough to be parents, and there they were, sharing this memory together with their kids. Then, there were multiple people crying when that one song that meant so much to them was performed. I’m not ashamed to admit they got me twice.
The fans and reactions to the show were as diverse and unique as Murder By Death has been for the last 25 years. The show truly was a joyful wake, made even more special by how connected the fans were with the band and the venue. The feelings of love, loss, and gratitude were powerfully flowing back and forth between the crowd and the band all night, and it’s a set I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Murder By Death’s Farewell Tour is one not to miss.
Check the band’s official website for more information about the tour and their new album, Egg & Dart.
