Review: Early Eyes at 7th St Entry
In the midst of a long Minnesota winter, I sat on the fourth floor of the Dewitt Wallace Library and got the sense that something was missing from my life. Perusing the First Ave website as a means of procrastination, I see the answer: Early Eyes at 7th St Entry on March 4th, 2023. Early Eyes is a long-time local favorite here in the Twin Cities and after years of missing (and then deeply regretting missing) their shows, I knew that this was it.
First off, I think I could be convinced to see just about any band at 7th St. The venue has a soft spot in my heart, not only because my dad has always raved to me about it, but also because I’ve come to collect a growing catalog of my own near and dear memories of the space. I like 7th St because it’s so small that I can stand in the front and pretend like I too am in the band as I scream-sing the lyrics off-key alongside my favorite artists.
My love for 7th St aside, this wasn’t just any band. Early Eyes has been a shining presence in the local music scene for years now, releasing their first EP in 2017 and going on to play First Avenue’s annual Best New Bands that same year. Plus, I got the chance to see two more local artists, Trash Date and FruitPunchLoverBoy, open for the evening.
All three bands rocked the show, playing to a packed and energetic crowd. It was the homecoming show of Early Eyes’ tour and it was clear they had a lot of close friends and super-fans there to show support. Their music took on a much rock-ier sound than in their recordings and by the end of the show, a small but mighty mosh had broken out near the stage. The craziest part of the night was probably my confusion/astonishment as I slowly realized that all three bands shared a bassist, Megan Mahoney. After the show, I learned that they are a part of over eight bands! What an icon.
If you’re feeling bummed that you somehow still haven’t seen Early Eyes in concert, don’t worry– they’ll be playing a show in Minneapolis as a part of Art-A-Whirl on May 20th. You can keep up to date with all the bands’ shows this summer by following them on Instagram: @trashdatetrashdate, @fruitpunchloverboy, and @earlyeyesband.
