The first words that were not song lyrics from Water from Your Eyes lead vocalist, Rachel Brown, were about Souplantation. Apparently, the singer had never heard about the defunct restaurant chain before the day of their performance, and on the same day, they learned how it was shut down just a few years prior. This is the kind of atmosphere you can find yourself in while attending a show opened by Water from Your Eyes. An eclectic indie pop duo consisting of aforementioned vocalist Rachel Brown and producer Nate Amos.
It was a rare show on a rare night, February 29th the leap day. Despite the bad omen, the show went off without a hitch. It was a night filled with laughter, aggressive dancing, and a mishmash of harsh and soft tunes that fed the crowd well before the next group, Squid was supposed to go on.
Water from Your Eyes signed to Matador Records in January of last year and released their sixth studio record the following May. Their discography spans a wide range of sounds but their newest project Everyone’s Crushed is by far their most experimental. Each track follows its own unique trajectory combining live instrumentation with ambient noise and calm vocals. They not only embrace experimentation but the little quirks that naturally follow along with it. This translates to their live performances as well.
Rachel Brown carefreely meanders about the stage as their bandmates play alongside. They’ll casually dance around their second guitarist Al Nardo and make awkward conversation in between songs. It’s a distinct kind of energy that you can only get from a group so willing to play with the medium itself. Post-show we asked them what inspired their relaxed stage presence and both members admitted it came from a place of necessity. Crowd preparation is no small task but Water from Your Eyes makes it look easy.
“I try to think that I’m alone, or with just the band,” said Brown.
“Yeah, I just kind of pretend like we’re practicing,” added Amos.
The group's duality seems to be twofold. Inherently they’re split up into two distinct halves, but this trend carries over sonically. One song will be soft and put the crowd at ease then the next will provoke a much more visceral response. They always perfectly set the tempo and control every movement methodically.
It’s impossible to forget the impact their single “Barely” had on the audience, as soon as Brown uttered their iconic refrain “One, two, three, four. I count mountains,” the floor below them almost instantly erupted into a violent mosh as they chanted the lyrics to the same tune. The same could be said about their second-to-last track “True Life” which begins with a rhythmic back and forth between two guitar hits. The crowd seemed to imitate the instruments, swaying left and right in complete, rapid motions.
As their set came to a close, their other bandmates, Bailey Wollowitz and Nardo, exited the stage early for their final song. It was another soothing piece, Brown silently murmured while illuminated by an orange glow mimicking sunlight.
They ended as a pair, just as they started.
