REVIEW: Mickey Darling 9/16/22

On Friday, September 16th, I went to go see Mickey Darling at The Echo. Might I add, The Echo just happens to be my favorite venue in LA. I, fortunately, was able to get tickets to an otherwise sold-out show. I showed up during soundcheck so I could interview them after. It genuinely felt like I was speaking to one of my best friends, and their charisma in the interview completely matched their charisma on stage. Now, I’ve been a fan of Mickey Darling since 2019, but they fell off my radar until their newest single, “SAY THAT YOU MISS ME.” So, I was extremely excited for both the opportunity to see them live, but also the chance to sit down and have a 1-on-1 with them.

The opener was bennytheghost, a Southern-California-based band. I had never heard of them prior to this show, but their indie-pop style made them a perfect fit as an opener. Their songs were undoubtedly catchy, and they had total control of the crowd. They covered Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Owl City’s “Fireflies,” and Vulfpeck’s “Back Pocket.” I’m typically not a huge fan of bands covering more than one song during a set, but it worked really well for them. They were a great opener, definitely check them out.

Then, Mickey Darling hit the stage and the room went absolutely feral. Mickey Darling has one of the best stage presences I have ever seen in my life. They threw LA merchandise into the crowd, jumped into the crowd several times, and took selfies with fans' phones. I understand why they have such a loyal fan base—it’s because they treat you like a friend. Skyler and Austin are no different on stage than how they are in conversation. They don’t put on a front; they’re just naturally that friendly, and that excited to be there.

The show itself was so fun. They take indie pop to the next level. With fantastic crowd control and stage presence, the show wasn’t just an aural experience, it was a visual one too. The biggest thing I took away from their interview was that they’re just two dudes making music, and that sentiment translated perfectly on stage. You know when you can tell a band or musician isn’t having a good time on stage and you start to feel it too? Yeah. That didn’t happen, at all. The band and the crowd were feeding off each other’s energies and it was such an awesome thing to see and feel. Beyond stage presence, their songs are genuinely a bundle of joy. They’re catchy and danceable and the lyrics are relatable, especially as someone also in my early 20s.

This set was indie pop in its true form; fun and inviting. It was a super good set, a super good band, and a super good night. They’re definitely a band to check out and keep your eyes peeled for.

Yours truly,

Jackie Greenberg