The Joy Formidable Kick Off their 10 Year Anniversary Tour in D.C. this Friday

There are several bands who I can say with pride that I’ve loved since their beginnings. The Joy Formidable is one of them. I remember hearing “Whirring” for the first time. My musical partner was very good at finding bands who were obscure. One day, he was playing their album, A Balloon Called Moaning, after learning about them on a music blog. I asked, “Hey… who are these guys? I really like their sound.” He replied with, “They’re a three-piece from Wales”. This was 10 years ago and I have been a supportive fan ever since.

I recall the first time I saw The Joy Formidable perform live. It was in the back room of the Black Cat – a very small crowd and even smaller stage. I had no idea what I was in store for. This little three piece blew me away. It was seriously the best show I have seen to date. I remember thinking that I was incredibly lucky to be seeing them in such a small room with only a couple hundred people. “Ritzy” Bryan’s commanding presence on stage, the playful interactions of her and guitarist, Rhydian Davies, and the amazing talent of drummer, Matthew Thomas… I knew that this band was going to be the next big thing!

At the time, I was working with NPR and we were beginning the selections for our showcase at SXSW 2011. I left the club and messaged Bob Boilen saying, “We have to get this band on for our showcase.” Four months later, I was photographing The Joy Formidable for NPR’s 2011 showcase in Austin, Texas. I was so proud of this band! While in Austin, I made my way to Waterloo Records to see them perform there as well. Since these early beginnings, I have seen the band perform 15 times and have told everyone I meet to “check out this band, The Joy Formidable”!

Some of my memorable shows with The Joy Formidable:

The first time seeing them (see first set of photos above)
Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas (see second set of photos above)
Austin City Limits – they shared the bill with The Cure and I made the trip just to see them both (see photos below)
Record shopping with them and Jon of the Vinyl District as Som Records (see photos below)
Seeing them perform at St. Stephens Church (see photos below)
Taking my daughter to her first show at The Ottobar to see them perform
Photographing them with my daughter – her first photo pass and first time in the photo pit
Seeing them at the Black Cat last year for the last show of the tour when they stayed after and hosted a dance party in the back room (where I first saw them perform!)
Seeing them in Scotland this past summer – again, playing with The Cure! (see last video)

To celebrate their 10 year anniversary, The Joy Formidable have released a special commemorative double album of A Balloon Called Moaning, featuring the 2009 EP and a newly recorded acoustic Welsh language version, Y Falwn Drom. (click here to purchase this anniversary edition!) They are kicking off their anniversary tour this Friday at Rock-and-Roll Hotel in D.C. and we cannot wait for this show!

Here are some of the highlights throughout my years seeing and photographing The Joy Formidable! Be sure to pick up tickets for their show this Friday, here!

All photos copyright and courtesy of Shantel Mitchell Breen.