Racing Mount Pleasant
Racing Mount Pleasant | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Kingfisher |
| Origin | Ann Arbor, Michigan, US |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Labels | R&R[1] |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | racingmountpleasant |
Racing Mount Pleasant (formerly Kingfisher) are an indie band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. After forming under the name Kingfisher at the University of Michigan, they released their debut album Grip Your Fist, I'm Heaven Bound in November 2022. In 2025, they changed their name to Racing Mount Pleasant, released two singles, and announced a second album. Their musical style has been compared to bands such as Bon Iver, Lord Huron, and Black Country, New Road.
Career
[edit]Racing Mount Pleasant started as Kingfisher in 2022,[2] after saxophonist Samuel Uribe Botero and vocalist Sam DuBose began collaborating on music.[3] The band released their debut album Grip Your Fist, I'm Heaven Bound on November 11, 2022; The Michigan Daily described it as "outstanding" and "a remarkably mature album".[2] At the time, the band was composed of eight musicians,[2] as well as two visual artists and two photographers.[4] All twelve members were students at the University of Michigan.[4] By June 2023, the band had become a seven-piece, plus three visual artists.[5]
On April 9, 2025, the band changed its name from Kingfisher to Racing Mount Pleasant, and released the single "Call It Easy".[6][7] On May 9, they released the self-titled single "Racing Mount Pleasant" and announced their first album under their new name, to be released on the record label R&R.[1]
Racing Mount Pleasant's live shows are often bespoke to each venue, using projectors synced to the music and sometimes telling the audience to sit instead of stand[4] in order to "command attention in a way that [doesn't] ask for much".[5] Their performances have been praised for their intimacy, immersion, and detail.[4][8][6] In 2025, they opened a concert for Cameron Winter.[6][1]
Musical style
[edit]Racing Mount Pleasant have been compared to many other artists, including Lord Huron,[2] Bon Iver,[5] Black Country, New Road,[9][1] and Explosions in the Sky.[1] Their musical style has been variously described as indie folk,[3] chamber pop,[6] Midwest emo,[10] and garage rock.[1] According to Arts Around Ann Arbor, their sound combines "the intimacy of folk music, the dynamics of shoegaze, the details of electronica, and the arrangements of jazz and classical crossovers."[5]
Members
[edit]Current members
[edit]As of 28 June 2023[update]. All info per Arts Around Ann Arbor.[5]
- Callum Roberts - trumpet
- Casey Cheatham - drums
- Connor Hoyt - alto saxophone
- Kaysen Chown - strings
- Sam DuBose - vocals, guitar
- Samuel Uribe Botero - tenor saxophone
- Tyler Thenstedt - bass
Visual artists
[edit]- Gabby Mack
- Gray Snyder
- Sky Christoph
Past members
[edit]- Ben Wood - guitar[4]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Grip Your Fist, I'm Heaven Bound (2022)[2]
Singles
[edit]- "Snowing, all at once" (2022)[11]
- "Regulate" (2022)[11]
- "Holy Hell" (2022)[11]
- "Do You Think I'm Pretty" (2022)[11]
- "Call It Easy" (2025)[6]
- "Racing Mount Pleasant" (2025)[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Farrell, Margaret (May 9, 2025). "Racing Mount Pleasant Share New Single "Racing Mount Pleasant"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Moeser, Jack (November 11, 2022). "Ann Arbor based band Kingfisher dazzles with debut album". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Tucker, Grace (April 2, 2023). "Meet the University of Michigan students who play in Ann Arbor's music scene". Mlive. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Medintz, Joshua (November 14, 2022). "Kingfisher — more than just the new band on campus". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Hall, Ally (June 28, 2023). "Just like "Heaven": Kingfisher's confident and inventive widescreen debut LP balances intimate vocals and expansive instrumentation". Arts Around Ann Arbor. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Hardman, Neville (April 9, 2025). "Hear Racing Mount Pleasant's spellbinding debut single "Call It Easy"". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Porter, Christopher (April 11, 2025). "Friday Five: French Ship, Racing Mount Pleasant, The Missing Cats, J-Classic, Sacha". Arts Around Ann Arbor. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Lira, Carolyn (March 28, 2024). "Kingfisher takes the stage in Ann Arbor". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (May 9, 2025). "12 New Songs Out Today to Listen To: Miley Cyrus, Midwife, and More". Our Culture. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. May 16, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Racing Mount Pleasant". Spotify. Retrieved June 7, 2025.