Mt. Joy Indie Rockers Are Back On The Main Line And Philly

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —Mt. Joy Indie rockers Matt Quinn and Sam Cooper are coming home.

Two decades ago, you may have been lucky enough to catch the 2005 Conestoga High graduates playing in the Berwyn Tavern or Gryphon Cafe in Wayne.

They started out playing music in high school.

Then, they went their separate ways, both graduating college, followed by brief stints in separate law schools.

Just by chance, they reunited in Los Angeles in 2016 and started playing music. They formed the band, Mt. Joy, named after a mountain in Valley Forge National Park, near where they both grew up.

The five-piece band began recording and playing all over the country and abroad.

They recently moved back to their hometown. Quinn resides in Olde Kensington and Cooper resides in Devon, Chester County.

Mt. Joy will play at the Mann Music Center on Aug. 12 and 13. They are hosting a non-perishable food drive on both nights.

They are also raising funds for Philadelphia charities, including Connor Barwin’s Make the World a Better Place and Jason Kelce’s (Be) Philly.

What is it about Philly?

“My dream was born here,” Quinn said. “The first concert I ever went to was Bruce (Springsteen) at the Linc. It was so inspiring. I had obviously never seen anything like that, and I’ve been dreaming ever since.

“I’d go to shows at TLA and The Mann, get on the train, and go to as many WXPN Free at Noon concerts as I could at World Cafe.

"A lot of my friends I grew up with are still here. It’s just a special place for me. To be playing music at places I once sang my heart out as a fan, and to fill those spaces with our own Philly fans is genuinely what brings me the most pride out of all our accomplishments. Two nights at The Mann . . . I genuinely can’t wait.”

Quinn said he lived in other big cities which may be more physically beautiful, but he's never lived in a place with people like Philly.

"Such funny, kind, and tough people," he said. "It’s a strange but perfect mix.”

The concert is at the Mann Music Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131. Aug. 12 show is sold out. Tickets for the Aug. 13 show are available here.