Ten Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Songs For New Fans

Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners haven’t experienced your typical artist’s journey.

When they released the track Evergreen in 2017, it’s unlikely that they could have seen it become a sleeper hit that made its chart debut seven years later. Evergreen gained widespread recognition after going viral on TikTok last year and debuted at #15 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs and #20 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. By August 2024, the song had soundtracked over 300,000 clips on TikTok.

Speaking of TikTok, the band are good friends with American singer-songwriter and content creator Gigi Perez, the young hitmaker behind the viral hit, Sailor Song. Perez and the group have played shows together and shared TikTok videos tagging each other.

@rmcmband
our rendition of Bags with @Gigi Perez 🧳 #livemusic #cover #tour #gigiperez #bags #richymitchandthecoalminers #bags #clairo #indiefolk #band #ontour
♬ Bags - Clairo

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Last year, Evergreen had a third lease at life when Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners collaborated with fellow indie folk group Caamp on a new version of the song, further bolstering its popularity. Not only has the surprise success of a seven-year-old song boosted the Colorado indie folk band’s name, but its global reach is also sending them to Australia for the first time.

This month, Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners—comprising three lifelong friends, Mitch Cutts, Nic Haughn and Jakob Ervin—will play to audiences in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, with Cronulla’s own Adam Newling along for the ride as the special guest.

With a new album on the way, there’s far more to Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners than a viral track. If you like country, folk and bluegrass pioneers Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, and Colter Wall–with a touch of Neil Young influence–chances are, you’ll fall in love with the trio.

If you haven’t heard Evergreen and are wondering what else Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners have up their sleeves, read on to discover the band’s ten songs you need to hear ahead of their Australian tour.

Evergreen

How could we start a list like this any other way? Evergreen was released on Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners’ debut album, RMCM, in May 2017. On TikTok, the song was utilised for “inspiring and wholesome” videos that used the #hopecore hashtag. At only one minute and 26 seconds in length (and only containing two verses), it’s short and sweet. But, there’s also an extended version…

Lake Missoula

Also, Lake Missoula, from their debut album, is based on a memory. When Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners finished high school, they went to the titular spot and were struck by the major Montana lake formed by glacial activity in the distant past. The lake features ripples in rocks formed by erosion, large canals, and a natural ice dam. It’s one example of the band using the geographical features of the lake as a metaphor for deeper feelings.

Subliming

The title track from their 2019 album, Subliming, is smooth and features an “intoxicating indie groove.” With its retro sound, the nostalgia dripping through the vocals takes listeners on an emotive, poignant journey that builds into an epic alternative rock climax—something truly special from the band. It’s an example of the band’s effortless blend of indie, folk, and alternative rock.

Sage

Another early song by Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, the 2017 track remains a “setlist staple” for the band. With Sage, the group mine feelings of breaking and healing. Applying those emotions within the song, the lyrics go: “Sage/ You can not heal it all/ We bend till we break/ We don’t wanna take a fall.” It hurts, but sounds beautiful while doing so.

St. Paul

The piano-led St. Paul is one of the finest songs Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners have ever released. Showcasing their musical dexterity and songwriting chops, the power piano ballad stands out in the group’s discography with tender vocals exploring emotions of feeling not good enough.

Wet Socks

While the title Wet Socks may sound unpleasant – we all understand the sensory nightmare of wet socks – the song is anything but. Described as a “total weapon,” the track features light and airy vocals and a mix that complements the gritty guitar playing. Another short track, this time, it’s difficult to decipher the lyrics, but with an atmosphere as fascinating as this one, it’s hard to care about anything else.

Northstar

Released last year, Northstar was born after the band toured across Europe and felt “disconnected” due to all the travel. It’s a song that encourages listeners to sit in feelings of contentment—can’t say we don’t want to feel the beauty within this song.

October Moon

Another track released in 2024, October Moon is gorgeous. It’s little wonder why the band named their November 2024 tour after the song. It’s a track that conjures an otherworldly mellow vibe, proving the band didn’t miss a single step from Evergreen to now.

Solstice

The title track from their 2018 album, Solstice is unlike some of the songs we’ve listed here in track length: it’s five minutes long! Across its runtime, Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners showcase how strong they are in somber, introspective spaces. Their magnum opus? It’s difficult to argue against that label.

Barry Herman

The first song from Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners’ forthcoming album, Colorado’s On Fire Again (due for release on Friday, 7 March), Barry Herman is the song the band says “best builds” the album’s landscape.

A tender folk song that gradually builds to include drums and harmonica, Barry Herman reaches a grand endpoint led by a charged acoustic guitar. An example of the layered, unique folk music Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners create, it’s yet another highlight in an impressive career.