Live music review: Water From Your Eyes returned to Austin with new record
Rachel Brown (thanks for coming) and Nate Amos (This Is Lorelei) met in Chicago in 2016 while Brown was on break from New York University. Noise pop duo Water From Your Eyes formed when Amos relocated to Brooklyn, spurring a songwriting partnership that’s several records deep and becoming a tenured indie act. Since the release of their critically acclaimed Matador Records full-length Everyone’s Crushed in 2023, songwriting team Brown and Amos have been working to build their sonic relationship that shows the crowds getting bigger and the chatter in the online music spheres louder. For the unveiling of their seventh studio album and second Matador entry It’s a Beautiful Place doubling down on their hard-to-pinpoint approach, the duo hasn’t stopped creating or halted their relentless stints of touring. For their third stop in Austin in two calendar years at the recently rebranded Brushy Street Commons (formerly known as Parish) on Tuesday, October 21, the Amos and Brown-led group showcased that they’re here to stay awhile and continue their surreal, self-aware brand of Gen-Z social commentary.
Upon entering the newly managed Brushy St. Commons, observations from showgoers indicated that not much has changed about the East Austin venue. The stage, second-floor viewing platform, lights, bar, and disco ball are all intact. We missed local Austin noisemakers Wet Dip, but their past performances blend noise rock, post-punk, and punk rock with words that deliver an aggressively honest take on the current world at large.
Philadelphia electronic duo Hooky took over next, producing a set of music that relied on sample loops and synthesized vocals, which either meandered to ethereal oblivion or produced an entertaining catharsis of blissful soundscapes. With that many samplers, the twists and turns felt like they could go on for hours of bleeps and bloops.
NYC by way of Los Angeles tour mates, Winter took the last opening slot, one that captivated attendees the most of the support acts. Following in the footsteps of their Big Apple contemporaries, the effects pedals were plentiful and the music engaging with sincere promise in the perils of 2025. Helmed by Brazilian-American singer and guitarist Samira Winter, the East Coast quartet creates a lush aesthetic that highlights poetic stanzas, striking a potent, emotional chord. The lyricism in Winter breeds color-rich imagery, marking a balance between wishful longing and careful optimism. After the rollout of their latest project Adult Romantix, Winter has made New York her permanent home, painting the beginning of a new era that includes this stint on the road with their touring counterparts.
After the extensive opening bill wrapped, Water From Your Eyes took the stage at 10:30 p.m., assembled at the front of the riser in horizontal fashion. The vibe of vocalist Brown often includes a pair of sunglasses and a thrift store-esque getup, sculpting an aura of activist stoner philosopher that reminds one of Comedy Central’s Broad City slackerism. Guitarist Nate Amos plucks his strings with a focused form of controlled chaos, bringing his textural contributions to live shows with precision as the primary writer and producer for Water From Your Eyes. The despondent vocal performance from Brown might seem like a symptom of cannabis-induced rambling, but the WFYE outlet away from their previous solo project, thanks for coming ruminates on the state of the world, generational pitfalls, and cynical observation.
The headlining set lasted all of about 45 minutes, taking songs from their last three records to give a crash course on the band’s recent history from 2021 to the present day. Beautiful Place track “Born 2” brought a soaring intro that saw the packed Brushy Street crowd participating in raucous movement for the shoegazy opening number.
Touring bass player and guitarist Al Nardo shows an enthusiastic involvement with the live ensemble, switching between bass and guitar duties with urgency to keep up with the experimental unpredictability of the two leading forces. A triple burst of Everyone’s Crushed cuts came in the form of instrumental album opener “Structure,” a psychoactive version of viral single “Barley,” and the disconnected moodiness of “Out There.” The dizzying electronic sounds that populate each offering complement the deadpan pop tendencies of Brown, all while supplying a backbone for the off-kilter guitar squealing from Amos. If you enjoy Pure Guava-era Ween, WFYE might scratch that itch.
The drumming from Bailey Wollowitz draws from a jazzy influence, but the hypnotic nature provided a glowing, symmetrical fit for the boundless creativity that Water From Your Eyes exercises. On 2025 single “Life Signs,” the tempos and dynamics switch between instruments on a dime. For their third Austin stopover in 18 months, this performance felt the tightest. The playfully confrontational “Buy My Product” conveys directness while maintaining the red-eyed corporate mockiness that makes Brown a welcome focal point. Between each song, they shared criticisms of social issues to mobilize their younger-leaning followers, providing a sense of hope that the weirdo music lovers in attendance could find inclusive solace.
A three-song new record run to end the concise headlining stride manifested with title track “It’s a Beautiful Place,” “Blood on the Dollar,” and “Playing Classics,” bringing a satisfying end to their Central Texas appearance while still leaving their growing, dedicated fanbase yearning for even more. Brown briefly thanked the audience, and the scant but affirming stageshow drew to a ceremonious close. Water From Your Eyes is one of those bands that tell the hard truths, no matter how blunt or cheeky they come off while doing it. Rachel Brown and Nate Amos are becoming known for their sardonic demeanor, but still have a good time with their thoughtful, action-inspiring statements.
Water From Your Eyes continues down the road through the Fall before heading to Europe in November. Ticket information can be found via the band’s website.
All photos by Troy Gonzales
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