“When I’m in the studio I’m playing most of the instruments. Onstage, it’s a different thing”: Alt-country guitarist du jour MJ Lenderman shares his tone secrets and explains why there’s life in the live album yet

MJ Lenderman.

MJ Lenderman is a big fan of live albums, from the Band’s Rock of Ages and the Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 to Drive-By Truckers’ Alabama Ass Whuppin’ and “a million Neil Young records.” But his decision to add his own offering to the live album canon was for a more specific reason.

“My live show sounds different from the records, because when I’m in the studio I’m playing most of the instruments,” the Asheville, North Carolina-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist says. “Onstage, it’s a different thing.”