Mt. Joy + Wilderado at Scoot Inn

Last Thursday was the first day it really smelled like October in Austin—the perfect night to see Wilderado open for Mt. Joy at Scoot Inn. On our way, we drove alongside a purple, pink and yellow sky as the sun made her dramatically beautiful exit for the night. Wind whipped the trees as we crossed east 5th andWilderado’s first song danced over the railroad tracks, beconning us into a buzzing crowd.

This show marked Mt. Joy’s first show in Austin since SXSW back in March. Wilderado’s last show was almost exactly a year ago at Barracuda. Thursday night’s at Scoot Inn was a visible measuring stick, marking the significant growth of both bands in terms of audience and command of the stage. 


Wilderado drew a large crowd swirling with giddiness as fall weather and colors began to paint our city. As Wilderado rumbled through “Morning Light,” you could probably hear the crowd from across I35 as they sang along, “These days that I've been gone are the longest that I've seen. From Austin to LA and everywhere in between.” No doubt Austin’s been missing Wilderado too.

The sold out venue roared as Mt. Joy’s Matt Quinn greeted their fans after a long summer apart. As Sam Cooper thundered through a rollercoaster guitar solo on “I’m Your Wreck” joints from the front rows began to find their way back, and we all settled in for a trip up Mt. Joy. The energy was so real you could almost see it swirling, as the band sang, “And whatever happens, there's money in the mattress!”

Mt. Joy played satisfying sampling of songs from their eponymous first album, as well as their new single “Rearrange Us”. More intricate guitar solos, constant energy and new music indicate Mt. Joy’s growth and evolution as a band. The force of the sold out crowd singing every word to their 2016 breakout single “Astrovan” shows a fanbase that’s growing right alongside them.