Glass Portrait Celebrate Love Letter EP Release at The Wayfarer

Some Sundays are meant for catching up on sleep before another work week begins. This past Sunday was supposed to be one of those days for me. Instead, I found myself making the two hour drive from Poway to Costa Mesa for Glass Portrait's Love Letter EP release show at The Wayfarer, a venue that somehow managed to be my first visit despite all the years I've spent bouncin around Southern California's music scene.

Tucked away in Costa Mesa, The Wayfarer feels like the kind of venue that reminds you where bands get their start. Intimate, loud, and built for connection, it was the perfect setting for a lineup that showcased exactly why local music continues to totally matter. Joining Glass Portrait for the evening were Ourselves Among Others, My Last Goodbye, and Cut Ties, each bringing something different to a night that ended up being much more memorable than I expected if I’m being honest. I’m glad these bands made me eat my initial thoughts because I was in for a more than good time.

I was especially interested in catching Ourselves Among Others after noticing their name on an upcoming Of Mice & Men bill. If that opportunity ends up being a launching point for them, it would in no way be hard to understand why. Instrumentally, the band was locked in, I kept looking at my partner saying “They’re like reeeeally good”. The clean vocals were solid, but the unclean vocals were on an entirely different level. Seriously, I could listen to those all day. What stood out most, though, was the output of energy. Let's be real, it was a Sunday night at a smaller venue and the crowd wasn't massive. Ourselves Among Others didn't give a care. They performed as if they were standing in front of thousands. At one point, the vocalist mentioned that it doesn't matter whether they're playing for a packed room or a handful of people because these moments are what keep music alive. It's a sentiment that stuck with me throughout the night. Replaying that small quote in my head throughout the night. I've had pretty good luck spotting bands that are destined for bigger things, and this feels like one I'd keep a very close eye on. The potential is there. Sometimes all a band needs is the right set-up for that jump to opportunities. I’ll see you guys at OM&M.

Next up was My Last Goodbye, and while it would be easy to focus on how young these artists are, that's honestly what makes their journey so cool. We often discover bands after they've already spent years grinding through the scene or after members have built resumes in other projects. Watching artists develop in real time feels different. It feels more personal. You get to witness the mistakes, the improvements, the milestones, and the victories as they happen. We've watched bands like Bad Omens and Bring Me The Horizon evolve into some of the biggest names in heavy music. Nobody starts there. Every successful band has chapters that look a lot like this one. My Last Goodbye represents that early stage where possibilities still feel endless, and that's worth paying attention to. These guys have energy I can only dream of having, I need 5 cups of espresso a day, all they need to do is wake up and have that same fit. Can you see the theme here? Energy.

Cut Ties shifted the atmosphere with a more pop punk leaning approach that brought a different kind of charisma into the room. Loud, fun, and wholeheartedly nostalgic, their set felt like a throwback to the early 2000s while still feeling new enough to stand on its own. They even threw in a Harry Styles cover, which, sorry, was an absolute hit with me (hate me I dare you). Sometimes a cover either lands or it doesn't, and this one definitely landed. I also couldn't help but overhear a conversation in the bathroom where a couple of girls were talking about how much they loved the vocals in this band. I love hearing the voices within a venue, from bands and listeners. The power of words is so strong. If you're looking to catch them again soon, they'll be sharing a bill in Los Angeles with Glass Portrait and Revelry, another band I had the chance to catch out in Pomona not too long ago and recommend everyone going out there to support that.

Then came the reason everyone was there. Glass Portrait took the stage to celebrate the release of their new EP, Love Letter, and from the moment they started playing, it was obvious how much this night meant to them. More importantly, it was obvious how much fun they were having. Nothing felt forced. Nothing felt pressured. It was sincerely pure excitement. The band wanted people moving, singing along, and becoming part of the experience rather than simply watching it unfold. The energy throughout the room reflected that, and I loved being in the shadows watching it all happen. There was diversity in the crowd, passion onstage, and a genuine sense of appreciation between the band and the people who showed up to support them. Huge thanks to Troy for inviting me out and for taking the time to come say hello. Moments like that never go unnoticed and I look forward to watching you guys keep going.

What stuck with me most wasn't necessarily a single song or performance. It was the feeling that surrounded the entire evening. Music is music. Whether you're standing in an arena packed with thousands of people or squeezed into a smaller room with a few dozen, the connection remains the same. Watching these bands support one another, joke around backstage, help each other through the inevitable hiccups of live music, and celebrate every small victory reminded me why local scenes are so important. It sounds corny, but it's true. The passion at this level feels incredibly raw. It's artists creating because they love it, not because they have to.

Truthfully, I don't make it out to smaller local shows nearly as often as I used to. Somewhere along the way, arena tours, festival stages, and bigger productions started taking up most of my calendar. This show felt like a wake up call. A reminder of those early days spent discovering new bands, making friends, and feeling like part of something bigger than yourself. There are no giant screens. No impossible sightlines. No barriers separating artists from fans. Just people coming together because they love music.

So consider this your reminder to get out there and support local music.

Support the bands playing to twenty people the same way you'd support the bands playing to twenty thousand. Go to the shows. Buy the merch. Make new friends. Immerse yourself in the community. You never know when you're witnessing the beginning of something special.