Seldom do I think that there is somewhere on this earth more accepting than a crowd at a music event. Seldom do I think that there could possibly be something out there that could so effortlessly transform an entire group of people into pure euphoria. Seldom do I think that there is something else out there that could bring so many people together in a more beautiful way. Seldom is not synonymous with never, no matter how close it may come.
However, after Thursday, Feb. 21 and seeing Rainbow Kitten Surprise and opening act, ‘Mt. Joy’, live at Tabernacle, in Atlanta, I doubt I’ll ever entertain the idea again. Truth be told, there is nothing that could possibly compare to the show they provided for us, and if you have ever had your doubts, I highly suggest grabbing the last of the tickets to their tour.
‘Mt. Joy’ is a small indie rock/pop band made up of five members: Matt Quinn, Sam Cooper, Sotiris Eliopoulos, Jackie Miclau and Michael Byrnes that began in Los Angeles.
They released their first album, titled “Mt. Joy,” in March of 2018, which featured hits like “Jenny Jenkins,” “Sheep” and “Silver Lining.” The band features some of the most talented individuals I have ever seen perform live. Five minutes into their show I was questioning why the city of Atlanta wasn’t busting down the stained-glass windows to be where I was. The prolonged introductions to songs and focusing in on each band member, made the experience that much sweeter and more intimate. Their show gave us a chance to get to know each one of them in a way that can’t be done by simply listening to the album.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise took the stage after Mt. Joy to perform a grand total of 18 songs. They played a mixture of the three current albums they have out on most music platforms, focusing primarily on their most recent album, “How To: Friend, Love, Freefall.” This album was released in April of 2018 and featured hits like “Hide,” “How To: Freefall” and “When It Lands.”
The chemistry between the band members was undeniable during the performance, and their ability to transfer that same chemistry to the crowd was astonishing to witness. Their theatrical movements and acts on stage brought the story behind the poetic lyrics to life and there wasn’t a time during the set when we weren’t dancing along to every detail.
I have seen over 50 performances, but I have never had an experience quite like this one. I still struggle with how to put it into words, but make sure to check out these bands on iTunes, Spotify, and their social media platforms to see for yourself!
