Motherfolk Bring Eternal Joy to Old Rock House
- Michelle Zigler
- Nov 13
- 3 min read
It was a chilly October night, fueled with the best autumn vibes and music to fill the cozy venue of Old Rock House. As someone who has greatly enjoyed the music of Motherfolk in recent years, I was absolutely stoked to hear that they were going on tour with a new album release, and St. Louis was one of the lucky cities on their list.
Joining them on their Eternal Joy tour was Horse Bitch, the eclectic, seven-person group that took to the stage with a vibrant energy to warm up the crowd. Horse Bitch hails from Denver, Colorado, with a musical concoction spanning genres of rock, emo, and western. There was no doubt from watching them that this band is fused through friendship and a love of the sound. They didn’t just play music, but they felt it; the members would frequently turn their performance into a miniature mosh pit on stage, pushing and shoving one another as the song carried on. It was wholesome watching them both perform and laugh together at the same time, immersed and enjoying the moment, and sharing that enjoyment with the audience. Their most recent album UVA was released last September, with the first song “Pirate Ride” starting the album off with an immediate bang.
In between sets as Motherfolk began to set up, I was standing outside when Riley, one of the lead guitarists and vocalists of Horse Bitch, walked by and introduced himself to me. It was a moment I don’t often have at concerts, but when I do, I always remember them and cherish them greatly. We spoke about their travels, about how it was their first time visiting St. Louis and the St. Louis Arch. They had to be back on the road that same evening, so it was a brief experience in the city, but I’m already eager for the next time they bring that same energy here to see.
Since 2014, Motherfolk has been cranking out their genre-blending songs, with the catchy upbeat sounds of indie rock paired with folksy storytelling lyrics which carry an unforgettable weight. This evening they chose to stray from the same familiar hits, and instead lean into their newer releases from Eternal Joy, with songs including “Heavy Stars” and “Eternal Joy for Everyone.”
Motherfolk is one of those bands that has just a little bit of everything which is why I enjoy them so much as a listener. Their music is perfect for chill, laidback road trips, yet I also find myself often dancing and spinning about when one of their songs like “Head Above Water” begins to play. It isn’t just their impressive musicality, but also their lyrics which I find myself scribbling down and saving for later–songs that often speak what I wish to say better than I can myself.
It was a beautiful performance, and afterwards members of the band stood outside and spoke with fans, some snapping photos. I am always so appreciative of musicians who are able to pause for a moment and engage with their listeners. It’s incredibly wholesome and allows you to see the humanity of people from either side, and Motherfolk have always been a band with a genuine transparency with their fans.
Motherfolk will be touring until mid-December, and with hope, they will be back in St. Louis soon.
