Thesaurus Rex’s performance filled Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge with not only music but also laughter on their Out of Office tour.
Thesaurus Rex and opener Mimi Fang had the crowd dancing all night with their high-energy performances. The Showcase Lounge’s more intimate space allowed for fans to stand right next to the stage. This wasn’t enough for one audience member, who got on another person’s back while still right next to the stage.
First up was alt rock band Mimi Fang from Brattleboro, Vermont. Positivity radiates from lead vocalist Mimi Fang. Fang said that the band is a bunch of friends; this closeness is evident in their music. The positivity was shared with the audience when each band member gave a compliment to someone in the crowd.
Mimi Fang’s lively performance kept the crowd engaged as they were springing around the stage. The microphone felt like an extension of Fang’s body as she swung it around while dancing across the stage.
VIDEO FROM MIMIFANGMUSIC
“All of the songs that we are playing today, we are recording this winter and will be out on an album next spring,” Fang said. She is hoping to release the album on her birthday, March 11, 2027. While the songs performed are not available online, the albums “Chronically Sinsere” (2025) and “From My Bedroom” (2023) are available to be streamed.
@mimifangmusic Self love check in!! Heading out on tour w my band this weekend; can’t wait 💕💕 How are you doing (really)? “Reasons” is out now. Find it wherever you stream music :)) #selflove #newmusic #altmusic #singersongwriter #musictok
VIDEO FROM MIMIFANGMUSIC
MIMI FANG AT HIGHER GROUND 9/10/26 SETLIST
- Egotist
- Trial and Error
- On My Own
- CALL-ME-BACK
- Make Happy
- Not Sorry!!
- Never Gonna Die
- Going Going Gone
Thesaurus Rex, an Indie Rock band based in Brooklyn, New York, and formed in 2021, combines comedy, music, and corporate America to create the band’s unique identity. Their 2025 debut album “Greatest Hits” shows the band’s unique sense of humor in the music industry.
Their set started earlier than most would, during the setup, making the audience engage before it even started. Keeping true to a middle management theme, lead vocalist and guitar player Calvin Rezen carried his cables onstage in a briefcase, the crowd cheering when he pulled each item out.
The crowd was dancing from beginning to end, screaming every time the band started the next song. The transitions between songs were filled with laughter over Rezen’s out-of-pocket commentary. Rezen was met with silence when he asked if anyone was from Florida, but cheers erupted when he announced they were about to play “Dumpster Fire”, a song about Florida.
Thesaurus Rex kept the crowd engaged throughout the show by providing space for audience participation. When tuning guitars mid-set had the audience tune their voices as well; one audience member howled. This tuning session became Rezen calling out Charlie Puth. “The thing about me is I’m like Charlie Puth, in that I’ve got a terrible personality. I got his ass, I got his AI ass. You know Charlie Puth is like spearheading AI at Berklee, what, come on. He’s like, I’ve got AI in my head, and everyone else has to already. I’m like Shut up, just enjoy your perfect pitch, you fucking piece of shit.” The crowd booed at the mention of AI. But cheered when he transitioned to play “The Gallery”. The band did not prepare “The Gallery” to be part of the tour, but played it upon audience request.
Throughout the show, 9-to-5 working jobs were commented on. When talking about how time is infinite, Rezen said, “But not for you, because we are all going to die. And don’t forget. And spend every moment of your life thinking Oh shit, what am I doing writing an email right now?” Before going into “Ballad of a Horse Girl”
OUT OF OFFICE TOUR DATES
SEPT 9 – BOSTON, MA
Middle East Upstairs
SEPT 10 – BURLINGTON, VT
Higher Ground
SEPT 11 – TORONTO (CA)
Horseshoe Tavern
SEPT 12 – GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Pyramid Scheme
SEPT 13 – CHICAGO, IL
Schubas
SEPT 16— MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Zhora Darling
SEPT 17— MADISON, WI
Gamma Ray
SEPT 18 – NORMAL, IL
The Tally
SEPT 20 – COLUMBUS, OH
Woodland Tavern
SEPT 24 – STATE COLLEGE, PA
Manny’s
SEPT 25 – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Comet Ping Pong
SEPT 26– PHILADELPHIA, PA
Milky
A VERY LOOSE SETLIST FOR THESAURUS REX AT THE HIGHER GROUND 9.10.2026
- Buy Your Time
- Wrist Watch
- Way you look
- Dumpster Fire
- Gallery
- Rat the size of a small cat
- Rat King
- Weak Days
- Scam Song
- Fad
- Middle Manager
- I won’t hold my breath
- Bachelor’s wife
- Ballad of a Horse Girl
- Love won’t fade away
THESAURUS REX
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MIMI FANG
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
HIGHER GROUND
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