"Jenny Jenkins" by Mt. Joy – A Song Review

Reviewed by: Dan Gordon

     The fifth single from Philadelphia folk-rockers Mt. Joy bodes well for their debut album, due out March 2nd. Rounding out an already solid bunch of introspective songs running the gamut from sobering descriptions of addiction to playful numbers picturing Jesus riding in an Astrovan, “Jenny Jenkins” is Mt. Joy’s ode to Los Angeles, the false promises broken there, and the ones who helped them through nonsense. Inspired by singer Matt Quinn’s realization that the iconic palm trees of LA were not in fact native to Southern California, he finds solidarity even in disaster when the eponymous Jenny Jenkins also sees through the veneer of LA’s gilded exterior: “We laughed out loud at all of the bullshit here, I’m dying on promises dear, in the Hollywood sun.”

     “When I loved you… it was enough to be alive,” he confesses, not needing LA or the opportunities it promises to be happy. Mt. Joy found sudden SoundCloud success with their song “Astrovan” with its unique blend of folk, psychedelia, and pure fun, but pays a heartfelt tribute to their roots in what could very well be the subject of a million future I-knew-them-when boasts, the last song before Mr. Quinn is challenged to keep his own promise: “You know I wouldn’t change things, even if I made it.”

     The upcoming tour schedule for Mt. Joy is shown below. It includes a stop at Café Du Nord in San Francisco on April 3. For ticket information, CLICK HERE. 

     "Jenny Jenkins" by Mt. Joy 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtjoyband

Website: http://www.mtjoyband.com/

Upcoming Tour Schedule

MAR 8 THU - Moroccan Lounge, Los Angeles, CA

MAR 9 FRI  Soda Bar, San Diego, CA  

MAR 13 TUE SXSW, Austin, TX  

MAR 14 WED SXSW, Austin, TX  

MAR 15 THU SXSW, Austin, TX  

MAR 16 FRI SXSW, Austin, TX  

MAR 17 SAT SXSW, Austin, TX  

MAR 19 MON Mt. Joy and Duncan Fellows at Club Dada, Dallas, TX  

MAR 20 TUE Riot Room, Kansas City, MO  

MAR 22 THU Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO  

MAR 23 FRI The Lil Smokies & Mt. Joy at Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO  

MAR 25 SUN Tempe Beach Park, Tempe, AZ  

APR 3 TUE Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA

APR 6 FRI Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR  

APR 7 SAT The Fox Cabaret, Vancouver, Canada  

APR 8 SUN Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA  

APR 10 TUE The Olympic,  Boise, ID  

APR 20 FRI Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, SC  

APR 21 SAT The Underground – Fillmore, Charlotte, NC

APR 22 SUN Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC

APR 24 TUE Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, VA

APR 26 THU Hargray Capitol Theatre, Macon, GA  

APR 27 FRI Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN  

APR 28 SAT The Revelry Room, Chattanooga, TN 

MAY 3 THU Rough Trade NYC, Brooklyn, NY  

MAY 4 FRI Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington, DC  

MAY 7 MON The High Watt, Nashville, TN  

MAY 8 TUE Duck Room at Blueberry Hill, St Louis, MO  

MAY 11 FRI THE HIDEOUT, Chicago, IL  

MAY 12 SAT THE HIDEOUT, Chicago, IL  

MAY 14 MON Ace of Cups, Columbus, OH  

MAY 15 TUE The Funhouse At Mr. Smalls, Millvale, PA  

MAY 19 SAT The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA  

MAY 27 SUN BottleRock Napa, Napa, CA