For the past year+ New York-based indie singer/songwriter Mitski has been riding a wave of critical acclaim and packed shows surrounding her fourth and latest LP, Puberty 2, released last June on Dead Oceans. The album received glowing reviews from the lofty likes of The Guardian, Pitchfork, and Spin and her last local show sold out The First Unitarian Church well in advance. And while Mitski tends to be on the private side of public figureness (I’ve had several interview requests denied.), the album speaks in diary-level existential introspection on topics such as ethnically ambiguous existence, the profound comedy and tragedy of growing up, and just the very notion of attempting to come to terms with abstractions such as “love.” The sound of the album itself would seem to owe itself equally to classic songwriting, post-punk, and ‘90s alt rock and often sounds like a bit of an amalgam of Liz Phairy, Kristin Hershy, and Kim Dealy balladry. This Friday, July 7th, Mitski returns to The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection when she’ll play Union Transfer. And PHILTHY MAG is giving away two free tickets to the NEARLY-SOLD-OUT show. Go to PHILTHY MAG’s Facebook page by Wednesday, July 5th, at 5pm EST, to find out how to win. The winner will be picked at 6pm and notified shortly after. For those of you who already have tickets, or who are planning on getting lucky dibs on these tickets, make sure to show up for support from Half Waif, whom I once described as, “wonderfully heady synth pop,” and who opened for Land of Talk and Boot & Saddle just two weeks ago; and Julia Jacklin, a singer/songwriter who would seem to nod to ‘90s alt country, whom we first met last September, prior to her own opening slot at B&S. Until then, check out Mitski’s video for “A Burning Hill” below.
