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The indie-rock band chats with RM ahead of their show.
Mt. Joy seems to be everywhere, all the time. The indie-rock five piece is set to play Koka Booth Sept. 23 on their Hope We Have Fun tour—marking their fourth local set in as many years.
A jampacked schedule is nothing new for the group. Since the 2016 release of their debut single, “Astrovan,” Mt. Joy has been on the move—cruising from small venues (think The Pour House, Lincoln Theatre and Cat’s Cradle) to opening up for the likes of The Lumineers and The Head and the Heart to headlining festivals and playing nationally broadcasted sets.
Despite now boasting a literal mountain of accolades and millions of fans, the Philly-based band refuses to lose focus of their music—their song remains the same. “I just think we’ve gotten better as a band, as we’ve gotten to play with each other,” guitarist and vocalist Matt Quinn tells RM. “To me, that’s the biggest thing. And, then, you know, we’ve experienced a lot in life since then—so hopefully some of that is shining through too.”
Their years together echo in their chemistry—reflected in production, performance and dynamic—but their sound hasn’t grown up, only out. And despite the momentum, success hasn’t altered their songwriting process: “Expectations can definitely mess with your head,” he says. “We try to keep it simple—just make songs we love and let the chips fall where they may.”
On their latest record, Hope We Have Fun, those chips fell in favor of their classic sound: firmly rooted in rock with a signature indie crunch. Some moments—like a feature from recent indie breakout Gigi Perez—add a fresher feel, but, at its core, the band doesn’t overthink their sound.
When asked about standout tracks, Quinn points to “Pink Lady” as the clear fan favorite—and while he is “not really surprised,” they’re not complaining because it’s such a fun tune to play live and jam out to. And jam seshes are both a given and welcome at their shows, with smooth transitions into covers by everyone from The Flaming Lips to Grateful Dead to Gorillaz.
“We try to bring songs we love to our shows as much as possible,” muses Quinn. But the band finds its way back into their groove. So, prepare to head to Koka Booth this month—there’s room for everyone on Mt. Joy. boothamphitheatre.com
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