Austin City Limits

-"Austin City Limits" presents a bold new voice on alternative music, Role Model... - Yeah, Sally I'll buy a couple of rounds Don't let me think I'm enough Then disappear when the wine runs out Ooh-whee!

-...and indie rocker MJ Lenderman.

- She's leaving you She's leaving you -Thank you, Austin City Limits!

-It's Austin City Limits!

-Thank you so much, everybody.

[ Crowd chanting ] -Austin City Limits!

Alright, Austin, Texas!

-One, two, three, rock!

-Alright, alright, alright.

-Thank you very much.

-50 years of Austin City Limits!

Austin, Texas!

-Recorded live from Austin, Texas, it's "Austin City Limits."

-Now a singer-songwriter who blurs the lines between genres.

Role Model.

- Dad's on the phone, and he's lecturing me About a girl that he met back when he was nineteen It's never gonna work 'cause the puzzle won't piece Hey, head out the window Sweat on the pillow It's been keeping me up at night Guess this is what love feels like, alright Seems like your shoulder Keeps getting colder But, babe, I was raised in the cold Just wish I could do what I'm told Ah, now Dad's on the phone, and he's lecturing me About a girl that he met back when he was nineteen It's never gonna work 'cause the puzzle won't piece Hey Son of a gun, but I know that he's right 'Cause the girl that I love never treated me nice Writing's on the wall, I pretend I can't read You're forgetting me [ Cheers and applause ] Ah, yeah!

Losing my patience Confusing the waitress And asking her way too much Like, "Why am I still in love With somebody who leaves me, hey Way too easy?"

She said, "Honey, you'll be alright" But she gets paid to be nice Ah, hell Dad's on the phone, and he's lecturing me About a girl that he met back when he was nineteen It's never gonna work 'cause the puzzle won't piece Ohh Son of a gun, but I know that he's right 'Cause the girl that I love never treated me nice Writing's on the wall, I pretend I can't read Ooh, you're forgetting me [ Cheers and applause ] Ooh, you're forgetting me Ooh, you're forgetting me Dad's on the phone, and he's lecturing me About a girl that he met back when he was nineteen It's never gonna work 'cause the puzzle won't piece Hey, nah, nah, nah Son of a gun, but I know that he's right 'Cause the girl that I love never treated me nice Writing's on the wall, I pretend I can't read You're forgetting me Yoo!

[ Cheers and applause ] Oh, hello, Austin, you beautiful people.

[ Cheers and applause ] I'm very grateful to be on this stage.

This is a very legendary stage, and, um, I am lucky to be here in a beautiful city.

[ Cheers and applause ] Well, he was bragging 'bout investments She was talking 'bout Ozempic And the dinner had a guest list Guess it's hell on Earth He told her she seemed unstable She got up and left the table Guess it's hard to find an angel When it's hell on Earth, Hell on Earth Yeah!

- Whoa, oh, oh - Hey Sometimes it gets so hard to listen They send food back to the kitchen Said they wanted something different Could you get much worse?

Came to dinner as a favor But it's feeling more like labor So I told 'em, "See ya later," gave 'em hell on Earth Well, I tried my best tonight Don't know what for I click my heels three times We're not in Kansas anymore, come on Take me - Home - Hey, take me - Home - Take me home [ Cheers and applause ] Well, it's the way they never struggled Bills have always gotten paid Pockets never been in trouble Unemployed and unashamed I'm the child of my mother New England born and raised Where the common sense is common as a nose job in LA Well, I tried my best tonight Don't know what for I passed the "welcome" sign As I'm walking out the door Take me - Home - Hey, take me - Home - Ah, take me home I know it's time to go when there's cocaine on the nose And they start asking who you know at the table Grab my coat, skip the goodbyes, hit the road Swear they wouldn't even noticed if I never even showed So take me - Home [ Cheers and applause ] - Take me - Home -Yoo!

- Home - Take me home Take me home, take me home Take me home - Home - Take me home, take me home Take me home Take me home [ Cheers and applause ] I have a song of mine that I literally cannot remember the words.

There's too many.

And so I simply don't perform it.

But it's one of my favorite songs ever.

Um, and so I have to write down, you know -- I don't want -- I'd rather read it from a book.

I feel like that's more aesthetically cool than me, like, on my phone or something.

I don't know.

This feels cooler than a teleprompter.

Um, so I wrote it.

Or maybe I'll just tell you guys a little story or something.

I'll read you a little bedtime story.

[ Cheers and applause ] This one is called "Something, Somehow, Someday."

[ Cheers and applause ] Well, he's a loose cannon, foolish man Who needs some medication She's a shoe-tied, blue-sky honeymoon vacation He's a fixer-upper, skipping supper, hates an obligation She's a Friday night He's a bad-dream, nicotine druggie complication She's a peace sign, tea-time drinker on occasion He's an East Coast, jeans rolled, no communication She's a "welcome" sign But I believe They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Yeah, I believe They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Yes He's a Ford truck, door-shut, runs from conversation She's an open ear, souvenir, reads the situation He's a no thought, record shop, slutty on occasion She's a night in Rome He's a piece of work, dirty shirt, needs evaluation She's a pinkies up, pixie cut with plenty motivation He's a whiskey-drinking, barely thinking Got no destination She's a plane ride home And I believe They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Yes, I believe They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Yes, ma'am Something Well, I believe They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Yes, it's clear to me They're meant to be Something Somehow Someday Something Somehow Someday [ Cheers and applause ] Ooh, I just want to dance a little bit.

Whoo-ooh!

I remember when the days were long Old recliners in the yard Kicking heels up to our favorite song All the boys were playing cards Always felt like something's missing Ever since she hung the lights Now it's one-night stands and overthinking Just spending my nights Thinking 'bout you - You - You In the moment Thinking 'bout you You In the moment I remember when the nights were long Diving headfirst off the dock Now I wonder where the days have gone While I lay in bed and rot, ah The sun was falling on the water She was staring out to sea I said, "I'm sure you'll find somebody stronger" And I'm sure I'll always be Thinking 'bout you You In the moment Thinking 'bout you You In the moment, oh, oh Thinking 'bout you - You - In the moment Thinking 'bout you You - In the moment You get by nine-to-five in the city Making rent with no money to spare Do you think 'bout the nights sharing Whitney With the end of July in the air?

Now you cry all night 'til the morning In the arms of someone you settled for Couldn't let it go if I forced it What do I do, oh, what do I do?

It's always been you Oh, it's always been you Hey - You - In the moment I'm thinking 'bout you - You - In the moment Ohh, thinking 'bout you - Yeah, I'm always thinking about Yeah, I'm still thinking about you - In the moment Thinking 'bout you - Yeah, I'm still thinking about I'm still thinking about - In the moment [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

It's closing time and I'm leaving You're holding on to someone new Are you still picking up the pieces?

Am I still worried about you?

Why, yes, I am And I always will Yes, I am and I always will Uh-huh Yes, I am and I always will Be some protector Holdin' on from a distance I'd never wanna intrude No, no Does he love you any different?

Am I still sounding like a fool?

Ah, why, yes, I am And I always will Yes, I am and I always will Oh-oh Yes, I am and I always will Be some protector Be some protector To you [ Cheers and applause ] To you To you Yeah-eah, ahh Ah, ahh Am I guilty, am I sorry?

Do I miss you at the party?

Am I dragging this forever?

Am I thinking about September?

Am I wrecking reputation While you're making reservations?

Am I lying to my mother That someday I'll find another?

Yes, I am And I always will Yes, I am and I always will Ah-ah-oh Yes, I am and I always will [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Be some protector Ooh Be some protector Ohh [ Cheers and applause ] Yoo-whee!

Oh, yeah Well I met Sally at a late-night dive bar She don't dance, but she downs her drinks Heard through a friend she's a born-again wild card She was telling me wild things She was telling me wild things Lives down the street past the 7-Eleven Just close enough that I spent the night She grabbed my hand at the intersection I spilled my guts at the red light Hey, Sally That feeling's coming around Please don't go falling in love Then disappear when the wine runs out Yeah, Sally I'll buy a couple of rounds Don't let me think I'm enough Then disappear when the wine runs out Ohh-whee!

[ Cheers and applause ] Sally!

Well, I open up while she's flipping through pages Getting lonely as the days get dark If you're bored and your mind starts changing Maybe just give me a head start And I I see the glass in your eyes Just trying to keep it alive For crying out loud Ah, Sally That feeling's coming around Please don't go falling in love Then disappear when the wine runs out Whoo-ooh, Sally I'll buy a couple of rounds Don't let me think I'm enough Then disappear when the wine runs out Aw, here we go again I'm falling headfirst Ankles hit the two-step Sally makes my head hurt Heard through the grapevine She can be a diva Cold like Minnesota - Hotter than a fever!

Aw, here we go again I'm falling headfirst Ankles hit the two-step - Sally makes my head hurt Heard through the grapevine She can be a diva Cold like Minnesota Hotter than a fever Sally That feeling's coming around Please don't go falling in love Then disappear when the wine runs out Yeah, Sally I'll buy a couple of rounds Don't let me think I'm enough Then disappear when the wine runs out Whoo-hoo [ Cheers and applause ] -You said, "My journal probably looks like the same way as me writing a song.

It's just a product of how I think and process things and how I try to look back in a loving way."

That's a pretty profound statement.

I find it fascinating because it's such a -- It's such a positive, optimistic spin on what I feel like... ...most of humanity wouldn't necessarily put a positive spin on.

It would be more, "Let's just wallow in the feelings."

-I feel like I am always on the edge of just slipping down that rabbit hole of just, like... One negative thought could just send me into this, like, spiral.

I feel like -- I'm like -- I ride this fence and I put in so much effort every day to, like, not do that and to have a positive outlook.

Um, because it's easy for me to just spin like that out of control and just think everything is going wrong or whatever.

Um, and so I do -- I do, like, put in effort and, like, I do journal.

And when I journal, I'm like -- I hit the positive things usually to -- I just -- I don't -- I think wallowing in something or, like, looking back in anger in any way is just -- It just shoots me down a spiral that I don't need to go down any -- at all.

-Understood.

I get that.

For sure.

-Yeah.

-Next, a newcomer with an old soul and ragged rock sensibility.

MJ Lenderman.

- Birds against a heavy wind That wins in the end One of these days With shorts full of sand One of these days You'll kill a man For asking a question You don't understand Some have passion While some have purpose You have sneakin' backstage To hound the girls in the circus You've opened the Bible In a public place You've opened the Bible To the very first page And one of these days It will all end Your tired approach to original sin You've been betting on horses Named Johnny Come Lately You've been high on the hog And your dog seems to hate you You once was a baby And now a jerk Standing close to the pyre Manning fireworks Once a perfect little baby Who's now a jerk Standing close to the pyre Manning fireworks [ Cheers and applause ] You can put your clothes back on, she's leaving you No time to apologize for the things you do Go rent a Ferrari and sing the blues Believe that Clapton was the second coming It falls apart We all got work to do It gets dark We all got work to do She's leaving you She's leaving you You said "Vegas looks beautiful at night" And it's not about the money You just like the lights And though you know what is implied When your room is free You're feeling lucky It falls apart We all got work to do It gets dark We all got work to do She's leaving you She's leaving you It falls apart We all got work to do It gets dark We all got work to do It falls apart We all got work to do It gets dark We all got work to do She's leaving you She's leaving you - And she's leaving you [ Cheers and applause ] She's leaving you [ Cheers and applause ] - So you say I've got a funny face Well, it makes me money So you say I've wasted my life away Well, I got a beach home up in Buffalo And a wristwatch That's a compass and a cellphone And a wristwatch That tells me you're all alone I'd still take your amazing grace I'd give all my money And I'd still take your pretty face 'Cause I've got a houseboat Docked at the Himbo Dome And a wristwatch That's a pocket knife and a megaphone And a wristwatch That tells me I'm on my own And a wristwatch That tells me I'm on my own [ Cheers and applause ] Some say Distance grows the heart But I know Sometimes we just drift apart Everybody's walking in twos Leaving Noah's Ark It's Sunday at the water park We sat Under a half-mast McDonald's flag Broken birds Tumble fast past my window And you don't know The shape I'm in Punching holes In a hotel room Singing all you had to do Was be nice Whoa, whoa, whoa, be nice To me Clarinet Singing its lonesome duck walk Clarinet Singing its lonesome duck walk What else can you say To help a friend with a broken heart?

You don't know The shape I'm in You don't know [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, guys.

Jordan wanted to sign With Adidas for shoes But Nike gave him an offer That he could not refuse It wasn't a pizza That poisoned him in Utah With a hotel bill to prove Three thousand dollars on just five dudes I bought fake Jordans They weren't even shoes Oh, he looked so sick It was all over the news But it wasn't the pizza And it wasn't the flu Yeah, I love drinking, too I love drinking, too [ Cheers and applause ] - We saw John Daly Sing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" Bird calls comin' from the rafters At the hardware store They took my driver's license But you still have yours You're all I need, babe Yeah, you've heard that one before You're all I need, babe Loneliness is simple Not much else is Her love for me is real She gives what she has to give She gave me wings But I caught flight And I think I might be Knock, knock, knock Knock, knock, knock, knockin' on Heaven's door tonight Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock Knockin' [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] Appreciate you guys.

Thank you!

[ Cheers and applause ] I actually think I'm pretty optimistic.

I mean, I think I'm cynical in some ways, but, um... But, you know, on a day-to-day basis... ...I feel like I'm the more optimistic person in the group.

Like, maybe even in a stupid way.

[ Laughs ] But, um -- But, yeah, I don't know.

I think it's hard not to be cynical in... like, as far as, like, worldview goes and living in America and, um... Yeah, the way that society has progressed over the years and the world that I've grown up in is -- It's easy -- Uh, I mean, it's hard to be optimistic about, you know, where the world is headed, I guess.

I think the guitar entered my life when I was like 7, and, uh, it's been something I've, you know -- It's just kind of a part of me ever since then.

Well, the lessons started when I think I was 7 or 8, and I took them with, you know, my best friend growing up.

We took them together, so I always had somebody to play with.

And we were on this kind of journey together.

And -- And we had a drum set, too.

So one of us would play drums and the other would play guitar, and we'd switch back and forth, and so we learned, you know, how to make music together at a super-young age.

We were really lucky for that.

[ Cheers and applause ]