Mind's Eye Comes Home to a Lively Sold Out LA Show
los angeles, ca - june 2nd, 2024
About 15 minutes before the curtain would open up to Mind’s Eye at the El Rey, someone in the crowd held up an inflatable dick, and the entire crowd erupted into cheers. I’m starting this review like this because that moment, I feel like, set the tone for that Sunday night. The 700-capacity room was already buzzing with high anticipation just waiting to be released.
On Sunday, June 2nd, Mind’s Eye sells out the El Rey in Los Angeles. Their name, paired with a rainbow of neon, flashed above Wilshire Blvd as the line stretched down the block and around the corner.
L.A. based indie-rock band Mind’s Eye wrapped up their Fear & Love tour with a sold out hometown show, making it their biggest headlining show to date. Consisting of lead vocalist Vince Lopez, bassist Kelli Kumiko, drummer Jacob Cambra, and guitarists Andrew Scott and Jack Duda, influences of almost every subgenre of rock seep into their discography. The band’s growth has been significantly palpable in the last year alone, and their live shows allow their listeners, who likely found them scrolling through TikTok, that this is a band that is well-worth experiencing in person.
Once the lights dimmed curtains opened to reveal the five-piece, and no time was wasted getting the show started with the high tempoed “Bite The Bullet”. It’s near impossible not to tap your foot to the track at the very least, its surfy style guitar riff would begin to set the lively mood. But everyone just needed to loosen up a little more, which is when Vince took the mic off its stand and started singing directly to members of the crowd, breaking the invisible barrier between fan and stage.
When talking about masters of stage presence, Vince truly has audiences at the palm of his hand from the moment he walks on stage. Whether he’s holding fan’s hands singing to them directly, or throwing in little standup comedy bits between songs, the audience is engaged with his charisma. But the crowd isn’t just watching the show, and participation feels like an understatement for the role they have. Energy actively radiates from person to person whether it’s from the band on stage or the mosh pit in the middle of the crowd.
One thing about Mind’s Eye: they love a dramatic pause. In the case of “can’t help myself”, its purpose is to build up tension until the chorus allows that release. The layering of the two guitars and bass compliment each other so well, that focusing on each contribution individually provides a different experience. Meanwhile the crisp intensity that Jacob fills in on drums gives a satisfying payoff to the silence between lyrics in the song's verse.
Lyrics to fan-favorite “astrology girl” are kind of unserious, and that’s what makes it so fun to dance to. It's ironic dialogue makes fun of those who define themselves as “edgy” – platform Doc Martins, listeners of The Cure, daddy issues – cue Maddie in Euphoria saying “wait is this fucking play about us?” Vince held out the mic to a member of the audience after asking for their zodiac sign, which in this case was a Pisces. “Oh yeah you’re like fucked up and shit,” replied Vince in a sarcastic tone, gaining laughs as the song began to play. “This is for everyone in the crowd who’s not a Pisces!”
The live version turns up the rhythm just a bit, enough for a mosh pit to open up and crash together for the chorus. “What’s your sign? What time were you born?/Do you like red wine? Do you watch gay porn?” Kelli’s vocals in the second half of the chorus were amplified by everyone singing along – “Did you think 2012 was the end of the world?/Do you wanna be my astrology girl?” People ended up on the opposite sides of the room by the end of the song.
The dreamy “don’t tell me” gave a much needed break to catch up on breath from all the jumping and dancing, as its lyrics plead for love and honesty. Being the setlist’s only slower song doesn’t ruin the vibe though, as its tone of anticipating heartbreak fits into the theme of young love. “tunnel of love” quickly changed that and inevitably people were crowd surfing and bumping into each other again. Featuring tight drum fills that keep the song in check and some twangy guitar from Andrew, the layers of the song keeps the exuberant energy high.
Anything can happen at a Mind’s Eye show. Stage diving, inflatable dicks, next it was time to trauma dump. Hands shot up in the air after Vince asked the crowd to share their situationship experience. After someone explained their dilemma about a guy named Brandon, “I actually have a surprise for you tonight, Brandon why don’t you come on out here!” and on stage walks this random guy trying to defend himself! No one can hear what he’s saying because the crowd is just screaming at him, until Vince comes up from behind and smashes a bottle on the guy's head. The audience screams “Fuck Brandon!” while he continues – “That was him right? That wasn’t him? Oh fuck.. Gotta get that cleaned up.” Jack then begins playing the iconic four note guitar riff for “clevergirl” and the crowd goes crazy.
Jacob’s drums in “clevergirl” are a key player to the intensity of the song, its sound building up strength around the room only allowing a sweet release at the end of the chorus. The dramatics of the music let's listeners really soak into the angst of the lyrics, and by asking the crowd to share their awful situationship stories, the song becomes personal for individual members of the crowd.
The bass in “running to find you” is an important part to the song's melody, as it plays off its new wave inspired guitar riffs. Once again, the individual aspects of each instrument blend together making it irresistible to get lost in the sound’s bright tone. Fans love Kelli, which is why they started chanting their name after they took the reins on lead vocals for their most recent release “WISHING FOR ME”, another song that encourages head banging after its mellow pre-chorus build up
The crowd and the band soon become one, with Vince even joining the mosh pit for “Handful of Nothing.” “L.A. Every time. You smell like shit,” exclaimed Vince once he returned to the stage. ”But goddammit Los Angeles I love you!”, the crowd roared in response. Other show highlights were the inclusion of three new, unreleased songs intertwined throughout the setlist, each demonstrating the bands growth into finding their signature style, which seems to be heading into a more heavier, alt-rock inspired distorted foundation.
“lies”, in my opinion, is a perfect song. Featuring a brain-scratching breakdown in its last minute and a half, words can’t even begin to describe the feeling it evokes. You can’t help but just smile and dance and jump and move to the midwest-emo inspired guitar licks as the song continues into this gorgeous cacophony of noise.
It’s at this point in the show where the audience has really grown comfortable in the setting. Strangers had their arms around one another jumping to the beat of “MODERN FEAR”, hundreds of voices in unison yelling “I like you, I love you, I hate you/Wanna know the ways I can make you try/But it’s not your vibe.” Crowd energy was still persevering despite the end of the night nearing – strong enough to catch Vince in a stage dive during the end-of-song breakdown.
Saving their most well-known song for last, “wasted affairs” gave us one last chance to dance and jump around one last time with one another. The call and response, fast-paced nature of the chorus had the crowd swaying together. “I want you to…” sang Vince as he pointed the mic out to the crowd, some with their heads facing the ceiling with their eyes closed screaming out “feel the same way I do!” as they punched their fists in the air.
A meet and greet line wrapped around the venue that went on for an hour after the show ended, with fans giving gifts revolving from fan art to little plushies. Bands can easily say that they’re appreciative of their fans, but Mind’s Eye proves that statement with their actions. Cringey self-aware jokes aside, it’s a mutual respect and love for indie-alt culture that brings them together; the epitome of how live music creates and builds community.
A Mind’s Eye show is infectious in the best way possible, and will have crowds begging for more. It’s not uncommon for people to show up because they’ve seen some “indie boy” TikTok’s on their for you page, only to leave with smiles plastered on their face and sweat dripping on their clothes. With a co-headlining spot at Viva! Pomona coming up in July, Mind’s Eye is on the path to becoming a staple to the L.A. indie scene, if they haven’t already.