Memphis’ music DNA is messy in the best way: soulful, gritty, curious. And Joybomb fits right in. The high-energy quartet is stitching pop-smart hooks to punk urgency, and they’re doing it with the kind of authenticity that could only be brewed in the 901.
“We’re rock-and-rollers with a perpetual youthful spirit that leans punk and emo,” frontman Grant Beatty told us. “We write anthems for the outcast—and for the cool kids, too… songs about asking questions and challenging authority while embracing life to the fullest.”
Why Memphis?
Grant moved here in 2015 and never looked back.
“Memphis resonated the second I got here. People would ask, ‘Why not Nashville?’ and I was like—I relate to the grit-and-grind mentality more. It’s weird enough to be interesting and welcoming enough to feel like home.”
A New Lineup, a Sharper Bite
Joybomb’s story winds through false starts and determined resets. After an early EP got shelved in 2016, the band rebuilt during the pandemic, making their full-length American Cult Candy and re-debuting in 2022. Post-COVID, they doubled down on a lineup designed for touring:
- Grant Beatty (vocals/guitar) & Connor Booth (bass): millennials with the experience.
- Xander Sinclair (drums) & Luki Luvsik (guitar): Gen Z firepower discovered the old-school way: a flyer at Memphis Drum Shop.
Press Play: “Stigmata Palms”
Joybomb’s latest single, “Stigmata Palms,” is fast, bright, and relentlessly catchy.
“I like leaving listeners in a paradox,” Grant told us. “Did we just have fun? Was that song supposed to be fun? Musically it’s up, but lyrically it’s ‘you okay, bro?’ If you can be introspective and dance—or jump in the mosh pit—at the same time, that’s the goal.”
Recent singles like “I, Paparazzi” and “Stigmata Palms” are building momentum after a huge 2025 stretch at RiverBeat, Cooper-Young Fest, and even an opening slot for Third Eye Blind.
Joybomb x 901: Standing Out by Being Ourselves
Outside Memphis, Joybomb sometimes surprises people.
“Folks hear us in the Midwest or East Coast and can’t believe we’re from Memphis,” Grant said. “To me, that’s proof of the diverse swath of artistry here that tourists don’t always expect. We’re standing on the shoulders of giants and adding our chapter.”
Why Joybomb Fits the Memphis Moment
Joybomb’s lane of fast songs with social focus matches the city’s ongoing story. Memphis is still building new music infrastructure and platforms, and the band wants to help shape that path.
“It’s fun to be a part of something where you can tangibly feel like you were helping build something. We’re all getting to tell the story.”
Get to know Joybomb
If you’re into big hooks, elbows-out guitars, and lyrics with something to say, Joybomb’s your new Memphis obsession.
Follow the band, spin the singles, and catch a show. Bring your friends, your questions, and your mosh-pit shoes. Memphis, meet your next favorite rock band.
