This past weekend, indie-rock icon Mt. Joy took the stage at Madison Square Garden for their debut in the legendary venue.
At 7:06, only a few minutes after doors, the upper concourses are not yet flooded with fans. It smells of hot dogs and popcorn, with haze creeping out of doorways into the arena. Only two flights of stairs down, madness was beginning. General admission ticket holders race towards the floor. After only ten minutes of the venue being open to the public, nearly 30 rows of fans are lining the barricade. Of course, this is not unexpected. Mt. Joy has been selling out their headlining shows for years at this point. It was no surprise to see them sell out Madison Square Garden to a crowd of eager fans.
The band took the stage shortly after 8pm, opening with “Sheep.” And it was loud. Perhaps, you could conclude that it had something to do with the capacity, the acoustics, or something to do with the venue. Or perhaps, it’s largely due to the way Mt. Joy has spent the past few years putting on an unforgettable show that invited fans to hang on every last note.
The band took a moment to thank fans and reflect on the milestone it is to play Madison Square Garden. Performing at the venue is no small feat, and selling it out is cause for even more congratulations. The reminiscent visuals of “Jenny Jenkins” included footage from the career of the band with content from the road, load-in and load-out from significantly smaller venues, festival appearances, and the journey leading up to where the act is now. It was an especially sweet juncture to look back on the moments that created the milestone with nearly 20,000 other people, soundtracked to the music that made it all happen.
Three songs in, each fan’s bracelet glowed a warm orange for the iconic single, “Orange Blood.” It’s worth noting that Mt. Joy’s production is world-class. Innovative and saturated lighting illuminated a crowd with eyes glued on the visuals flashing across an LED wall. It’s natural and captivating, like they were made in tandem and perfectly complementary. “Let Loose” and “Bug Eyes” were especially beautiful, boasting rainbow lights and psychedelic washes across the whole arena.
Typically, keys player Jackie Miclau sets up “Dirty Love” with a magical arrangement of her own. She’s brought distinctly crafted melodies and mash-ups to introduce the song. But tonight was set apart, as Miclau was joined by fellow classically-trained legend, Lindsey Stirling. Stirling and Miclau built a collaborative, unique arrangement into the song, with Stirling accompanying for the entirety of it. Vocalist Matt Quinn introduced and thanked Stirling before informing fans that their first set of the night was nearing its’ close. Quinn set up a new song, “She Wants to Go Dancing,” which is a self-fulfilling prophecy of a tune that had everyone dancing in their seats.
Following their intermission, set #2 of the night was a fever dream of best-in-class musicianship for some of the band’s most legendary tracks. Songs like “I’m Your Wreck,” “Astrovan,” and “Bathroom Light” had audiences fully captivated, screaming every last word. Sam Cooper, guitar, came with his A-game and put on one of the most memorable performances I’ve seen. Mt. Joy is undoubtedly set apart by their musicianship and chemistry. It’s become increasingly difficult to find live performances that match the caliber of studio recordings. This is not the case for Mt. Joy, and especially not on this particular evening. Their live performances aren’t solely “just as good” as their studio recordings, but a masterclass in the beauty of collaboration between genuinely talented musicians. I believe it’s part of the reason the band has seen such success. Fans are hooked by fresh melodies and dreamy lyricism as on the studio records, but find a distinct magic in the live show that’s near impossible to capture fully in a recording.
As they finished up a cover of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Quinn prepared audiences to cheer on yet another special guest for newest single, “Highway Queen.” Maren Morris, recently featured on the single, took the stage with the band. Morris brought an element of fullness to the harmonies, making the song especially unforgettable.
Quinn himself realizes the weight of the magic in the moment, noting he doesn’t “know how we’ll follow that, but we’ll do what we do best and get weird.” He, of course, is referencing the band’s legendary song that has all but tattooed itself on their set list: “Johnson Song.” During the height of the chorus, Quinn and Cooper ran towards a second stage through cheering fans. Miclau soon joined Quinn for stripped renditions of “Bathroom Light” and “Younger Days.”
Despite six shows with the band, this evening’s performance of “Astrovan” boasted one of the loudest crowds I’ve heard. As the song came to a close, Quinn noted the surreal nature of the night. He highlighted the talent of the five-piece ensemble, thanked the crowd, and Sam Cooper stepped in to recognize Quinn. It was clear that, like all artists’, this was a dream come true for the band. Quinn said that the band’s journey in itself has been “powered by dreams like this one,” thanking each fan for making it a reality.
The band came out for an encore of “Julia” and “Silver Lining,” complete with covers of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” and Avicii’s “Levels.” Fans danced until the last word, and lingered after the final chord. The final set was adorned with confetti and a dreamy haze that I have yet to find words for.
It felt like the show of a lifetime; but knowing Mt. Joy, they’re just getting started.
Leave a Reply