The lights in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater dimmed as “Mitski: The Land” began to play Saturday to a couple dozen excited fans of the alternative singer-songwriter.
The succinct concert showcase tied into her newest album, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.” The film was originally released on Oct. 22 in select theaters worldwide to critical acclaim.
This film is a recording of Mitski's 2023-24 performances in Atlanta for her most recent tour, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We Tour,” which was named after the album released in 2023. The film included many of Mitski’s tracks from her new album, as well as a number of her popular earlier releases.
Many of the audience members attended with their friends, family or significant others. Excited murmuring came over some of them when fan favorite songs began to play. The audience whispered in excitement especially when Mitski performed one of her most famous songs, “My Love Mine All Mine.”
“I just loved the production of it,” Maddie Campbell, a fan of Mitski since 2021, said. “It really felt like I was there.”
Campbell took a more reluctant Brighton Nugent along with her to the show, who had only recently become aware of Mitski’s music after Campbell introduced the artist to them.
“Not being a huge Mitski fan, I will admit that the stage performance was very opening,” Nugent said. “It was very beautiful, very cool.”
Mitski’s film included her alternative pop music, a live band, colorful lighting effects and several abstract performances by the artist. She danced on stage, using just two chairs as props for a majority of the performance. Although it was filmed at her concert performances, the entire piece was cohesive and included a variety of angles and editing choices.
Even fans who had already seen Mitski in concert went to the show and were wowed by the performance.
Longtime fan Soliana Tekeste, who had previously been to see Mitski in the past, and her friend Jay King came to the show sharing how much they loved the performance. The two especially enjoyed the song “Star,” which Tekeste has a tattoo dedicated to.
Both were talking over one another in their excitement about the show.
“It was great,” King said.
“I loved it,” Tekeste said.
One critique attendee Owen Fossmeyer had about “Mitski: The Land” was that it too short for a concert film, coming in at just an hour and 18 minutes.
“I honestly wish it was a little bit longer,” Fossmeyer said about the show. "I think they cut out a lot of songs.”
Fossmeyer said he thought the film should’ve featured more songs off the newest album, as well as Mitski’s 2022 album, “Laurel Hell.”
After the show, the theater had pieces of Mitski memorabilia for sale including vinyls and cassettes. Many fans lined up to the merch table after the show to support one of their favorite artists.
“I thought it was really good. I love the newest album. I’m glad they used a lot of songs from there. So I thought that was nice,” Fossmeyer said.
