Concert preview: MisterWives will make you a believer — well, almost everyone

The last year of MisterWives' career has made quite an impression on the music community. From being named an MTV "Artist to Watch" in March to a successful album in February's "Our Own House," the New York City band has won over droves of new fans with toe-tapping beats and singer Mandy Lee's energy. Well, except the self-proclaimed "Beliebers," who received the band less than politely when MisterWives opened for Justin Bieber earlier in the summer.

Lee spoke with The Tribune recently about the last year of MisterWives' music, gearing up for a fall tour (including a stop Thursday, Oct. 22, at The Complex in Salt Lake City), and opening for a diverse list of acts like Bieber:

What has life been like for you since "Our Own House" was released in January?

Being on the road, for sure, and reimagining the show. We were playing the same show for about a year now, and now that we're about to go on the fall tour, it's just fun to get home for a week and reinvent the set entirely. Keep the fans on their toes by bringing new stuff and also new music. It's so funny that you're like: "Oh it's been almost a year now," and I'm like: "It's time for a new album." We're itching to put out new stuff and getting better at what we do.

Has that time period or experience changed the way you're writing this new music?

Yeah, I guess I never thought in a million years I'd be songwriting on a plane [laughs]. Where my location is has definitely changed, but the process is still the same. Definitely where I am, though, I'm like: "Where am I?" I'm on a bus, I'm on a plane, I'm all over the world. It's pretty mind-blowing because I just always wrote music in my bedroom at 2 a.m., so it's pretty crazy. … That's been a new challenge for me.

"Reflections" is about a breakup, which most artists would turn into more of a somber song musically and lyrically. But you turned it into a dance-floor album. Why?

I would say "Reflections" is probably the only heartbreak song. I wrote that prior to the rest of the album when I was in a total different mindset and the rest of the album is very happy. I guess I was very tired of writing all the somber, slow songs and all that does is make you cry and wallow in self-pity more. I wanted to flip it on its head and make an anthem to help get over a heartbreak. Now it's just a really fun song to play live and I don't even think about those feelings anymore.

Another theme of this album lyrically and with the title, to me, is a sense of unity or rallying in the band — that you're not only colleagues and friends, but family. Did that feeling of camaraderie show up for you as you put the album together?

Absolutely. I feel like that was in the forefront of what the whole album is about. For us, we're a small band just beginning, hopefully, so you get a lot of opinions as to what you're supposed to be, what music you're supposed to make and how you're supposed to look. All this nonsense that at the end of the day we don't care about because we just want to play music and continue on with our passion just being best friends. It kind of put a fire under my a-- … and really made me write the album in a week or two weeks. It all kind of poured out of me because I was fed up with the expectations and the opinions that had nothing to do with what we were trying to do. It definitely caused a reaction and gave birth to "Our Own House."

How important is it to a band to have that sense of togetherness when you face outside pressures and are on the road together for months at time?

Oh yeah. And the bond only gets stronger. These guys are family to me, I can't even call them my best friends. I don't think I could do this if it was with any other group of people, I really don't. They're the best support system and we always have the greatest time and are always laughing. Enjoying every moment together and pinching ourselves, we just feel like a unit. Unless we play poker. Then we all start fighting each other.

You're touring with WATERS this fall. How did that partnership come about with such a variation between your styles?

Our manager sent us a bunch of bands that they thought would be a good fit for the tour. We listened to all the music and WATERS was what stuck the most and popped out to us. I remember listening to their music and instantly being hooked like: "We've got to tour with these guys." It was exciting for me that there's another female [WATERS keyboardist Sara DaMert] because that's a rare case, unfortunately, being out on the road. Their music is just so fun and they seem like they're all about the same things we are of having a good time being a band, making great music and connecting with people.

You've recently toured with Twenty One Pilots, American Authors, etc. What have you learned from touring with so many different styles of bands?

[Twenty One Pilots'] live show is probably the best live show out there right now, and it was super inspiring for us on how to bring the show to that next level and bring that kind of energy. We're really fortunate that we've gotten to tour with such amazing bands because all of them have brought something to the table that has inspired us. Everything from Half Moon Run to The Royal Concept to The Mowgli's, Bleachers, Twenty One Pilots, American Authors. All these different bands have really played a part for us to watch and be like: "How can we grow?" without copying. We're definitely not wearing ski masks and doing backflips. … We're not physically fit enough, unfortunately.

Is there a certain satisfaction in playing a set to fans of bands in totally different genres if you know you've converted a few of them by the end of the show?

Watching the kids in the front who have their arms crossed and are like: "Who are you? I don't care. I don't want to like you, I'm just waiting for the headliner." Then, by the middle or end of the set, you've got them jumping around and singing their faces off. We all get goosebumps from that. That's what it's about. The only time that has never applied is opening for Justin Bieber. None of those kids wanted to convert [laughs]. The only time I got them riled up was when I screamed "Justin Bieber." It was the most saddening, frustrating show of our lives, I think. … Justin Bieber is awesome, it's nothing against him, those kids are just so diehard.

Last question: Is Misterwives a play on "sister wives"? Polygamy is kind of a hot-button issue in Utah.

It is a play on "sister wives," but no disrespect. We love everyone, I just thought it was a really funny twist on a concept. So no hard feelings, it's a total play on words.

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith

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The Scrapbook Tour featuring MisterWives

With WATERS and CRUISR.

When • Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.

Where • The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $16, $18 day-of; Smith's Tix; all-ages show