On Monday, five-piece indie rock band Mt. Joy performed their rescheduled show, originally set for the previous Friday, at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. Friday's show was canceled after members of the band tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, their slated opener for Monday's show, multi-instrumentalist Yoke Lore, also tested positive over the weekend and was unable to perform.
Despite the complications, the Los Angeles band with roots in Philadelphia were in top form, as was the production from The Capitol Theatre. To start the evening Matt Quinn, Sam Cooper, Sotiris Eliopoulos, Jackie Miclau, and Michael Byrnes thanked the audience for turning up on a Monday, before kicking off a set that made concert-goers confused about whether or not they had work the next morning.
They opened with "I'm Your Wreck," "Strangers" and "Lemon Tree" moving forward through their discography one song at a time. Next came "Astrovan" and "Let Loose" both from their self-titled LP. They continued to move through their song-book showcasing Miclau's proficiency over the keys, Quinn's fervent vocals, Eliopoulos' steady percussive spine, Cooper's dexterous riffs and Byrnes anchored and connective bass lines. As the crowd continued to amalgamate by singing along to Mt. Joy's originals the band decided to treat them to the first cover of the evening – the Grateful Dead's "Fire on the Mountain."
It's no secret that The Capitol Theatre and the Dead have historic ties and the purity, passion, musicianship, and fearlessness that allowed The Dead to push the improvisational boundaries of music still have roots within its halls and upon its stage; as Mt. Joy covered the beloved song it became clear those roots were once again sprouting flowers.
They continued with their eponymous single followed by a cover of The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize." They set closed with "Julia" which contained snippets of Bill Wither's "Aint' No Sunshine" and Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."
Watch Mt. Joy cover "Fire on the Mountain" below:
Mt. Joy
The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester N.Y.
April 11, 2022
Set: I'm Your Wreck, Strangers, Lemon Tree, Astrovan, Let Loose, Jenny Jenkins, Orange Blood, Dirty Love, Sheep, Cardinal, Fire on the Mountain, Mt. Joy, Do You Realize > Evergreen, Julia
(w/ Ain't No Sunshine and Crazy snippets)
Enc.: Bug Eyes, Johnson Song, Silver Lining
