Mount Rushmores host “Coming to Southern Miss” show

The Bottling Company in downtown Hattiesburg is expected to draw a crowd when The Mount Rushmores bring down the house with their album release show tonight.

The show will feature songs from their new album, Who You Hope To Be, a five-track extended play. Original songs as well as a few covers of Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers will be featured.

The Mount Rushmores, as they are today, have been in together since March. Band members include Jim Beard on drums, Jeremiah Stricklin on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Ethan Manning on electric guitar and Josh Stricklin on bass guitar.

"I would say our style is best described as indie," Josh Stricklin said. "We have a lot of ambient guitar chords, a lot of harmony in every song and bass runs galore, but we also have a lot of folk influences along with a lot of dynamic changes."

Junior entertainment industry major Cody Roth recently became familiar with The Mount Rushmores, and he is a new fan.

"Their music is a mix of folk and rock with a nostalgic taste of the hippie days," Roth said.

Jeremiah Stricklin said the band hopes for the most energetic atmosphere at the show as possible.

"Our songs are upbeat, and we want the crowd to feel the energy as much as we do," Jeremiah Stricklin said. "We are hoping people will do more than just sit and stare. Come to dance."

Josh Stricklin said his favorite of the new songs is "Through Painted Windows," the most upbeat song on the album, and it's the one people will find themselves easily moving around to. However, he said "The Saint" is the band's best song according to current fans.

"[‘The Saint'] is a very fun song," Josh Stricklin said. "We will be releasing a video for it with Sam Branch at the beginning of 2012."

Samuel Branch, a senior public relations major, is a photographer and video producer who works for The Mount Rushmores. He has produced three acoustic videos and one promotional video for the group, as well as a photo shoot.

"It's been a blast collaborating with the guys," Branch said. "Every time we get together to make something there is never a dull moment, and because of their energy and passion for their music the end product always turns out great.  They have been working on this EP for a while, and I know people are going to love it," Branch said.

The album cover features a young boy dressed in a tiger costume holding a bundle of balloons. The band calls him "Eddie," and he has become a symbol of the album name, which Josh Stricklin said is a perfect description of what the bands upholds.

"For us, Eddie stands for not just hoping to be something more, but going after that," Josh said. "He stands for not just having dreams of becoming something you love, but striving and achieving all those ambitions."

The show will begin at 9 p.m. and will feature opening performer Aaron Manning. The cover charge is $5.