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Unknown Mortal Orchestra Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• May 10 2024 Kilby Block Party 2024 Salt Lake City, UT, USA Doors 11:30 AM  –  Scheduled: 2:35 PM 11:30 AM 2:35 PM
• May 11 2024 Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival 2024 San Diego, CA, USA Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 11 2024 NOS Alive 2024 Oeiras, Portugal Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 12 2024 Mad Cool Festival 2024 Madrid, Spain Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 14 2024 Cactus Festival 2024 Bruges, Belgium Doors 11:00 AM  –  Scheduled: 7:25 PM 11:00 AM 7:25 PM
• Aug 09 2024 Thing Festival 2024 Carnation, WA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Laneway Festival Melbourne 2024

• From the Sun / Secret Xtians
• Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)
• Thought Ballune / Little Blu House
• Necessary Evil / Monki / Necessary Evil
• So Good at Being in Trouble / Waves of Confidence
• Can't Keep Checking My Phone
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Forum Theatre, Melbourne, Australia

• From the Sun
• Thought Ballune
• The Opposite of Afternoon
• Necessary Evil
• Ministry of Alienation

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Laneway Festival Auckland 2024

Unknown mortal orchestra at laneway festival sydney 2024, unknown mortal orchestra at laneway festival brisbane 2024.

• Necessary Evil / Monki

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Odeon Theatre, Hobart, Australia

Unknown mortal orchestra at concert hall, sydney opera house, sydney, australia.

• In the Rear View
• Waves of Confidence
• So Good at Being in Trouble

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at The Republik, Honolulu, HI, USA

Unknown mortal orchestra at balaclava fest 2023.

• Little Blu House

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Corona Capital 2023

• Weekend Run

More from Unknown Mortal Orchestra

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Most played songs

• Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) ( 261 )
• Ffunny Ffrends ( 253 )
• So Good at Being in Trouble ( 247 )
• Can't Keep Checking My Phone ( 231 )
• From the Sun ( 231 )

More Unknown Mortal Orchestra statistics

Midnight Breakfast Eggy Núria Graham Indica Palm Radio Ratta Ka Kat Rooftop Love Club The Temper Trap Toro y Moi

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Artists covered

Beck Black Sabbath Can Girls Grateful Dead Billy Joel Pink Floyd Jay Reatard Otis Redding T. Rex

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Gigs seen live by

1,892 people have seen Unknown Mortal Orchestra live.

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Live Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ 9:30 Club — 4/18/23

A path to success in music could very well originate from a trust in one’s own vision and the patience to nurture ideas into a full body of work.

The most thoughtful artists establish their early sound like planting a seed, and the bold ones grow their catalogue by way of inventive, deeply personal songs and with a confidence that fans will always welcome new material — even it takes a few listens.

Ruban Nielson believes in the songs he’s been crafting as the leader of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and by instilling an authenticity when he formed the band in 2010, the New Zealand native propped the group for longevity and put it on a trajectory to become one of the most thrilling and pleasurable acts recording and taking the stage today.

UMO packed 9:30 Club on back-to-back nights last week, and in playing two sold-out shows in the nation’s capital, Nielson and his squad showed they are indeed thriving on their patented psych rock-acid pop-fantasy R&B recipe, as are the band’s growing number of fans.

Stream the new Unknown Mortal Orchestra album, V, released on Jagjaguwar, via Spotify:

In an enigmatic presentation to match UMO’s brand of mystique and intrigue, the band executed a transportive and tantalizing set of music on April 18 that pulled from the talented group’s expanding songbook , including the magnificent new double album, V, released in March on Jagjaguwar.

Billowing stage fog made general visibility low early in the evening, but a massive U-M-O spelled out in vintage lights on the back wall pumped through the haze like an old-school marquee to fire up the audience as cups of water were dispersed to the many who’d waited in the humidity to get down with this band before it ended its anticipated U.S. spring tour this past weekend.

In full swing having been on the road since late March, the four-man group took the stage with a purpose and the crowd was elated, shouting from any direction, from both levels. Ruban was joined by bass player and respected producer Jacob Portrait, with whom he founded the band, as well as his brother Kody on the drumkit and Christian Li on keys.

Though it was hard to see the detail of their actions, these players concocted dynamic, provocative sounds, stylishly examined a spectrum of emotion and casually showed off incredible musicianship that added up to one of the trippiest, most captivating presentations 9:30 Club might see for some time.

“The Garden” from V kicked it off, and this unordinary piece showcased the remarkable vocal abilities and extraordinary guitar know-how Ruban’s acquired through more than 20 years of playing music professionally — he and Kody achieved success a band prior as The Mint Chicks , a volatile, expressive endeavor that lasted for about a decade. While that noisy art project was raucous and intentionally absurd, songs like the mystical opener to the new UMO album are demonstrative of an advanced songwriting operation — one with active, dazzlingly bizarre arrangements, cozy melodies, and a passion that juices from every track.

Watch the official music video for Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s most recent single, “Meshuggah,” via the band’s YouTube channel:

Much like their last go-round, the Nielson brothers boost Unknown Mortal Orchestra with an infectious spirit, a zest to make music and have fun doing it. Kody absolutely hammers the kit — he eventually broke a piece of it late in the set in DC. And Portrait — who’s worked with artists like Alex G and Porches — appears to be a like-minded soul. He wore a wide grin throughout the set, and he was crucial not only in laying a resilient foundation, but in lifting the harmonies too.

Li, an up-and-coming artist out of New York City and the newest touring member of the band, proved himself invaluable in shaping the sonic clouds that uniquely tint each composition.

This tour saw UMO decidedly bust out a list of what have become favorites along the band’s ascension, and those on hand in DC were treated to a pair from the album titled II: a surreal “From The Sun/Secret Xtians” combo followed by “Swim and Sleep,” a plunging, kaleidoscopic escape from anything and everything. Here, Ruban’s voice was otherworldly, wise, and cunning as he handled the guitar like a master and jumped about to catch what little light was flashing at him across the stage.

The first song released from the latest album, “Weekend Run” made its way onto streaming platforms back in 2021 — sassy, funky, a track that gets better with each play. Like Ruban has said in interviews , he follows his own instincts in writing songs and almost expects them to catch on after going through his own rigorous, selective approval process. At 9:30 Club, this and each original UMO track were welcomed by everyone in the house in what became an all-out bash.

“Thank you so much, DC,” Ruban said, never fully illuminated at any point in the show. “Thanks for letting us play some of this old stuff too.”

What he referred to as old might be considered now to be foundational material that has helped the band develop and maintain its identity as a leading force in experimental, psychedelic sounds. Over the course of a decade that saw this style of music proliferate — with a notable wave of psychedelic groups or musicians coming out of Australasia — Unknown Mortal Orchestra has used consistency and care to establish itself as a leading explorer of the territory.

The new songs feel akin to those captured on early records and reinforcing this in DC was a carefree pairing of “Thought Ballune / Little Blu House,” two standouts from the 2011 self-titled UMO premiere, an album praised out of the gate for its use of time and space.

Chris Nielson — Ruban and Kody’s father and an amazing story himself — emerged stage right with the sax or the flute to augment several tunes. With his presence alone, Chris reminded how far his two sons have come: They watched him struggle but ultimately overcome drug addiction before he helped them get into music.

Such an unconventional upbringing has yielded atypical songwriting, especially on the newest UMO album. Smooth, flirtatious, and intimate, “Nadja” has quickly emerged as another favorite from V, and it translated to a glorious live offering at 9:30 Club, where Ruban’s solo was chic, sexy, and unmistakably bluesy.

Fans were treated to “So Good At Being In Trouble,” a song from II that by the numbers appears to be the most popular of UMO’s to date. Like in this track’s recorded form, Ruban used his sumptuous, tender intonation to impassion it with a distinct soulfulness.

Revisit Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s critically acclaimed 2013 studio album, II, via Spotify:

A romantic and alleviating number from V, “Layla” was nothing short of beautiful in its live form. With its enduring, pitifully hopeful chorus — “let’s get out of this broken place” — this single, the first released this year, overjoyed the 9:30 crowd.

Ruban’s guitar seems to find a contrasting seam in the best UMO songs, and he went off in this take, injecting thrash into an off-beat rhythm and appearing like a guitar lord of sorts. He’d show throughout the night the ability to both obtrude and compliment melodies, giving each song its signature accent.

After “Multi-Love” from the 2015 album of the same name, Ruban shared an unexpected cover of T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer,” and in doing so he revealed what is certainly another psych posse that informed him and his mates.

A fascinating groove that high steps with elegance and hears Ruban at his most adoring, “Meshuggah” sounded like an instant classic when it was released early this year as a single, and it was a celebratory closer last Tuesday night at 9:30 Club. The audience wagged its collective tail through this track and on through to the encore, which saw UMO return for a healthy five-song addendum.

The group led it off with a cover of “Shakedown Street” that, when the band recorded it for the high-profile Day of the Dead project back in 2016 , undoubtedly placed UMO’s name in the minds of the many Grateful Dead lovers worldwide. At 9:30 Club, ticketholders bopped, twisted, and turned to the UMO version of this song as it ventured into wild territory and Ruban showed more of the electric guitar textures that seem wholly his own.

“Like Acid Rain” from Multi-Love manifested as a glamourous, vivid expose, and it preceded a series of the band’s most adored tracks, including “That Life,” a winsome and lasting pop cut from V, and the heavily requested and ultra-sweet “Hunnybee” from 2018’s Sex and Food.

As many hoped, the night culminated with one of the band’s most recognizable and amusing creations, “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone,” another hit from Multi-Love. Proof of UMO’s powerful dance-inducing properties, this snazzy, temperamental introspection moved every living body in the place.

With more artists than ever competing for eyes and ears, it’s not easy for a risk-taking band to establish itself with fans — especially at a time of so much psychedelic examination.

But even with a name that poses it ambiguously , Unknown Mortal Orchestra has become a favorite daily routine for many listeners worldwide. And with a perceptive leader who has put so much of himself and his family into the music, UMO is positioned to grow and please its fans for years to come.

The Garden From the Sun/Secret Xtians Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) Weekend Run The Opposite of Afternoon Thought Ballune / Little Blu House Necessary Evil / Monki Ministry of Alienation In The Rear View Nadja So Good at Being in Trouble / Waves of Confidence Layla Multi-Love Cosmic Dancer (T. Rex cover) Meshuggah Shakedown Street (Grateful Dead cover) Like Acid Rain That Life Hunnybee Can’t Keep Checking My Phone

Here are film photographs of Unknown Mortal Orchestra as well as opening act Seafoam Walls performing at 9:30 Club on April 18, 2023. Most of these were taken with two Nikon F2 cameras, both made in the 1970s, and a few were snapped with an Olympus Trip 35. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Vock.

Seafoam Walls

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra, formed in 2010 by Ruban Nielson, is a psychedelic and lo-fi rock band, hailing from Portland, Oregon, U.S. and Auckland, New Zealand.

Formerly of the New Zealand band the Mint Chicks, band leader Ruban Nielson, after disbanding the group, wanted to leave the music world behind and take up a day job. As a side project Neilson began playing around with samples and he anonymously uploaded the track “Ffunny Ffriends” to his Bandcamp page in 2010. It wasn’t long before bloggers were trying to hunt down the song’s craftsman and it was revealed to be Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who subsequently signed with Fat Possum Records.

The band, consisting of Nielson, bassist Jake Portrait, and drummer Riley Geare, released their eponymously-titled debut album in June 2011. The album instantly earned critical acclaim for the impressive lo-fi psychedelic nature, won the 2012 Taite Music Prize, and Nielson went on to win the award for Best Male Artist at the year’s New Zealand Music Awards.

After signing with Jagjaguwar towards the tail-end of 2012, the label issued Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s sophomore album, the simply named “II” in February 2013. The album was led by the single “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)” and again earned much the same praise as the band’s debut, later winning the award for Best Alternative Album at the New Zealand Music Awards. In support of the album the band embarked on a worldwide tour including dates in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America.

Following a series of acoustic sessions, the band saw an opportunity to expand their sound and released the acoustically psychedelic “Blue Record” in 2013. The short album, recorded on one mike in Nielson’s basement, features three acoustic covers of songs from “II” and covers of Dirty Projectors and Beck.

Live reviews

I've been a sound engineer and lecturer in sound for more years than I care to mention and I can say, hand on heart that that was one of the worst sounding gigs I've been two.

Even taking up position beside the mixing desk, where the sound should have been serious perfect, I found the engineer pushing the faders up past 'Eleven' which resorted in a dirty, distorted cacophony. I don't know what the matrix (monitor) mix for the band monitors was like, but the audience was treated to drums that sounded like they were card board boxes. A Nord lead that was all distortion and no finesse, especially on the Rhodes sounds. A woollen bass and drum kit that was non-existent. Less maximum volume, more headroom for you to need it. In this day in age there's no need for for bad sound.

As for Rubén Neilson's vocals they were so low on the mix that they were a constant mumble. You'd rarely hearer a line or two whe the band went quiet I between songs, but that was it. As soon as they craned up again it was a predominance of mids and distortion drowning everything out.

For a band that pride themselves on creating exquisitely sonic albums this concert should have been a sonic triumph, but was a total let done. Sack the engineer he is doing you NO favours. Use local engineer knowledge as much as possible to elemenate dead spots, comb filtering , etc. They know the room.

I'll continue to listen UMO exquisite albums, but I doubt live will tempt me again.

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My ears were wonderfully introduced to Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s ‘FFunny FFriends’ via BBC Radio 6 Music in January 2012. From that day forth I began to explore more of their music and muchos liked what I heard. I was already a big fan of their first album, so when the fantastic ‘II’ was released in 2013, I was pretty keen to see them live.

When I saw these guys were playing at the Electric Ballroom in Camden (Nov 2013) I jumped at the opportunity. I decided to go with my good friend Rolando who had never heard of them but having listened to some of their repertoire was pretty excited. We rocked up early doors and settled down with some fine English Ale. The support band was 'Wampire' who neither of us were familiar with but they gave a great performance and set the crowd up nicely for Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

I'm only a short little man (5 ft 6inches) and did end up with a big head obscuring my view for a few minutes but managed to rectify the situation via some cheeky crowd darting manoeuvres. Their performance was stunning, my friend Rolando was almost crying tears of joy during the acoustic version 'So Good At Being in Trouble' and is now a big fan. Definitely looking forward to seeing them and their guitars again soon.

American/New Zealand mash-up indie rock outfit Unknown Mortal Orchestra have amassed a huge following for their innovative take on an over-saturated genre since they broke from beneath the radar in 2010. Since then their sound has taken them around the globe and with every show they are said to be performing with more and more confidence.

Lead singer Ruban Nielson was formerly a member of The Mint Chicks so he is used to being onstage and has natural abilities when it comes to interacting with the crowds yet the rapport the three musicians share is also infectious. They clearly get on really well as people and seem at their most contented when jamming out to the likes of 'The Opposite of Afternoon' and 'Strangers Are Strange'. Much to their bemused amazement, the audience sing back the chorus to the finale of 'Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark)' and the band claps them along. Leaving on a high, the band seems to have a bright future if the live show is anything to go by.

The concert overall was good. UMO smashed as expected and the Emily opened the nicely. I would come back to see other concerts there. It was hot as hell in there though. I actually got the point where i had to step out to the lobby and come back in. I had to lose my spot up front on the floor for that cooler air, but it became unbearable and i couldn't focus anymore. I ended up spending the last 20 mins in the balcony. Still warm but was much easier to bear and the sound quality was still really good.

The band warmed us up slowly, with hits from namely their new and their second album. During Stage or Screen the singer climbed on the amplifiers to get away from the spot-lights, but they found him nevertheless. After less than an hour, the band went off stage and came back for an encore. And boy, they saved the best for last. They played an awesome version of Multi-love and unfortunately stopped way too soon. Next time, play a bit longer please! Greetings, a UMO fan.

Amazing! Opening act definitely was lacking (“Makeness” DJ - a no from me) but UMO was killer! They played a huge range of songs from each album and a healthy amount from their new album. Their stage presence was great and they were funny and interacted with the crowd a great deal. Lighting was on point and snappy and the sound was good (a bit off in the vocals the first bit but they sorted it out).

You guys rock!!

It was so good, definitely one of the three best gigs I've ever seen.

The fact is that they were all awesome musicians and they kept playing incredible stuff and went on for ten minutes and so on, this is why they barely played eight or nine songs. It was so catchy and beautiful that there was no moshpit nor anything else, the audience just wanted to stay quiet and listen to their music.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, as usual, put on quite the show. I was a little afraid that the show would be different because of the National's barrier between the crowd and the stage, but Ruban managed to get in and jam out with the crowd. It was a killer show with a lot of energy and good vibes. I would 100% see UMO again and again and again.

Great music and great people. They played many songs off the newest record, but still included some great old ones. They played a slightly different version of So Good at Being in Trouble and it sounded awesome. Ruban is extremely talented and his guitar solos are something you need to see live!

Dope. Ruban seemed like a great dude, having a blast on stage while effortlessly shredding. They opened up a lot of songs for solos and added a lot that you won't hear on their records. As usual the Majestic pulled a great crowd. I hope they come through town again on their next tour.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 7 concerts across 6 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter

Credit: Photo: Elizabeth Gillis

Unknown Mortal Orchestra 's Tiny Desk concert was more of a family affair than lead singer, Ruban Nielson, revealed during his band introductions. His father, jazz musician Chris Nielson, has been on tour with them to support the band's latest album, V. During the band's live show back in April at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., he casually drifted on stage, played the saxophone for a song or two, then drifted back off. Following that performance, Chris had travel plans that would've prevented him from making it to NPR. I begged them to reconsider the routing and they obliged. Chris, sax in tow, stayed put for the entire set along with Kody Nielson on drums rounding out the Nielson trio. Keyboard player Christian Li and longtime UMO member Jacob Portrait on bass make up the current roster.

The setlist leaned right into UMO's incalculability. The band decided to forgo material from V to play songs from the first couple of albums, a rare move at the Desk that speaks to the strength of UMO's catalog. The opening number, "From the Sun," lacked the density of the recorded version but punched way harder. Ruban and the gang then shifted into a clever medley of oldies from II , Multi-Love and their self-titled debut.

• "From the Sun"
• "Thought Ballune"
• "Little Blu House"
• "Necessary Evil"
• Ruban Nielson: vocals, guitar
• Christian Li: keys, vocals
• Jacob Portrait: vocals, bass
• Kody Nielson: vocals, drums
• Chris Nielson: saxophone

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producer: Bobby Carter
• Director/Editor: Maia Stern
• Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin 
• Creative Director: Bob Boilen 
• Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel, Estefania Mitre
• Audio Assistant: Neil Tevault 
• Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
• Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis
• Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Kara Frame, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills
• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s V Tour Visits Houston

Written by sana rajendran , amarylis rodriguez on november 2, 2023.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra made a stop at Houston’s White Oak Music Hall on their V tour, celebrating and promoting the release of their fifth studio album. Out of the seventeen tracks on their setlist, seven were from V , including songs like “ Nadja ,” “ Layla ” and “ Meshuggah .” That night, the band was composed of the primary regular members, Jacob Portrait, Ruban Nielson and his brother, Kody Nielson.

The audio and visual artist Amulets , who includes live guitar loops and pedal work during his set, occupied the stage before Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Amulets took the crowd on a half-hour journey with his very advanced soundboard and technical skills. Emotions rose and fell as the musician built tension with ambient beats and released it with powerful electric guitar solos. 

UMO began their nearly three-hour long set with “ The Garden ,” a song that also appears on V as an opening track. Immediately, the crowd was immersed and only fell deeper under their spell as the band proceeded with a few older songs, like “ From the Sun ,” “ Secret Xtians ” and “ Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) .” 

Throughout the set, each song was accompanied with colored lighting, and some of the more energetic tracks were given more intricate lighting designs. The band seldom addressed the audience, opting instead to focus on their craft. They broke this trend, however, during a sweet moment in which an audience member shouted out an “I love you!” between songs. Nielson responded with a shy, “We love you, too.” The band posted on Instagram before their tour began that this would be their first time taking a stage in over four years, which makes this moment even more special.

During their time on stage, the group incorporated several medleys of their songs. Rather than giving each song a full rendition, they chose to combine tracks; for example, their setlist included combinations like “ Thought Ballune / Little Blu House ” and “ So Good at Being in Trouble / Waves of Confidence .” The crowd was extremely into this idea, and they went wild every time a smooth transition between songs occurred. 

The psychedelic rock band saved some of their most popular songs for last, satisfying their audience, who was demanding an encore. The light show also ramped up during the closing songs, increasing the audience energy tenfold. Ending their concert with “ Hunnybee ” and “ Can’t Keep Checking My Phone ,” Unknown Mortal Orchestra sent their fans off with memories of a night they won’t soon forget.

Sana Rajendran

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