by Molly McCormack ’30 on October 8, 2026
A&E - Music
Mt. Joy is an indie and folk rock band that started with two high school students in Philadelphia. The band gained lots of popularity when they reunited in Los Angeles in 2016 and now sell out major venues on their tours. It is currently made up of five members: Matt Quinn, Sam Cooper, Michael Byrnes, Sotiris Eliopoulos, and Jackie Miclau. As someone who was previously unfamiliar with the band, I was lucky enough to go to a Mt. Joy concert in Boston this September, and it’s safe to say I was happily surprised.
I went into the show not knowing what to expect. I had heard of the band on TikTok once or twice, but that was it. When we got there and the first song they played had eye-catching stage lighting, I knew it was going to be a good show. It began with an orange light shining on the stage so you could only see the band members’ shadows. As the show progressed, they displayed engaging graphics on the screen behind them, like the northern lights, lyrics to their songs, and a video montage of them and their friends. These details made the show even more enjoyable and engaging for the audience, whether you were familiar with the songs or not. While the background screen was playing the intriguing graphics, the colorful lights shining onstage and into the audience added another great aspect to the performance. After playing one of their most popular songs, “Silver Lining,” confetti shot into the crowd, covering the whole venue. When the band left the stage and it seemed like it was the end of the concert, they came back for an encore on an alternate stage on the opposite side. This included more confetti shooting into the crowd and an even more immersive, magical experience.
As someone who didn’t know their music previously, I am definitely now a fan. They have a range of slow songs that are perfect for a calming listen, as well as upbeat, catchy songs that would get anyone up and dancing. I felt like I had already learned many of the lyrics to their songs just by being at that one concert. They also played multiple covers of classic songs like “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival and “Last Dance With Mary Jane” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I really enjoyed how they mixed the covers in with their original setlist because it was a nice surprise and got everyone in the crowd to sing along. I loved getting to hear their versions of the classics and the audience’s energetic responses.
The band themselves had a very simple setup on the stage which was refreshing to see nowadays, especially when every artist seems to have crazy stage props or background dancers. They engaged with the audience multiple times and often had speeches before playing their more meaningful songs. This aspect was great because I got a look into the meaning behind the songs before even hearing them. This led me to feel more emotionally connected to the music and understand the lyrics on a deeper level.
From the stage lights and backgrounds to the confetti covering the floor and the covers of popular songs, this concert was unforgettable. I am so happy I made the spontaneous decision to go, and I will definitely continue to listen to their music in the future. If you ever have the chance to see Mt. Joy in concert, you can expect a great night.