Review of Mt. Joy
On August 25, 2024, Mt. Joy performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Becca Wilkinson.
Traveling across Europe and North America, Mt. Joy finished their 2024 tour at the Hollywood Bowl in their hometown of Los Angeles, with fellow LA artists Local Natives opening.
With the artists first establishing Mt. Joy in Los Angeles, the band made it count, filling their set list with crowd favorites such as “Sheep” and “Astrovan” and closing out with the infamous “Silver Lining.” On a personal note, Mt. Joy has always held a special place in my heart with their calming yet uplifting indie rock/folk music genre. With “Silver Lining” being my and my roommate's freshman year anthem, seeing Mt. Joy the day before the start of our senior year felt like a closing circle experience that was meant to be.
Colorful lights and psychedelic backdrops illuminated the band as the sun began to set. Opening with their newest release, “Highway Queen,” the crowd was excited to kick off the concert.
The Hollywood Bowl’s iconic outdoor amphitheater was filled with people of all ages dressed in various 70s chic outfits, with denim, flowers, and long skirts galore. With the music and the overall feeling of the audience, there was a sense of tranquility and happiness in the crowd.
Music Editor Sarrah Wilkes with roommate Sydney Kolker
Mt. Joy not only played the music that everyone knows and loves but also performed covers of classic 1970s songs such as “Dancing Queen” by ABBA and “You’re so Vain” by Carly Simon, further channeling everyone's inner 70s soul. Additionally, they performed a song that has yet to be released entitled “She Wants to Go Dancing,” perhaps alluding to a new song release or even an album.
What made this concert unique was a deep love for all of the songs Mt. Joy performed, yet that didn't require everyone to stand and jump up and down. Instead, people were peacefully swaying side to side and singing along, truly connecting with the music.
While I always knew a majority of Mt. Joy songs, hearing them live made me pay closer attention to the lyrics, realizing how meaningful their music is. Whether it be about love, loss, happiness, anxiety, changes throughout life, or just being comical, there is something for all listeners to relate to.
Lead singer Matt Quinn would have moments between sets where he would talk to the audience, perhaps sharing how meaningful Los Angeles is to them or the hidden context behind some of their songs. Even though many songs are rooted in deep emotion, some are from childhood memories or inside jokes. For example, Quinn shared that “Julia” was reminiscent of him and his brother getting high in their childhood hometown of Philadelphia and standing in line at their local 7-Eleven ordering snacks — a comment that filled the crowd with laughter.
To conclude, seeing Mt. Joy at the Hollywood Bowl was an experience I will not forget. Making sure they sang all the crowd favorites, talking to the audience, and even deciding to add more songs to their set list at the last minute, you can tell this is a group of artists that have a true passion for music and care about sharing their feelings to the broader community through the form of song.
