Was It Medicine To You?

It was just over two years ago that I was introduced to Zeta when they opened for Geoff Rickly (of Thursday) and Sparta at the Fine Line. That show was supposed to be just like any other night, but it ended up being a show that I could not get out of my head and even made it into the “honorable mention” part of my 2023 wrap-up. That may not sound like a big deal, but with over 400 shows under my belt that year and having seen over 1,200 bands, it was huge that Zeta made the list. When I saw they were coming back through and playing the intimate Zhora Darling in Minneapolis, my heart skipped a beat. I was excited to see if, after a couple of years, they still had that spark that caught me the first time I saw them.

Before I tell you a bit more about Zeta and their performance on Wednesday night, let’s talk about the openers, starting with Quail. This band was new to me, and honestly, I didn’t know they were local until this morning, when I sat down to write this. However, knowing they are local changes everything. I’m obsessed with this band, and that obsession started as soon as they kicked into their quick opening set. Quail’s sound is a blend of shoegaze and post-hardcore, but simply stating that doesn’t do this band justice. It’s the stark turns of emotion and sound that made this band an instant favorite of mine. It was the way they would fill the dark venue with a lush and gorgeous sense of organic, ambient beauty, only to shatter that beauty with fits of heartbreaking and earth-shattering emotion. From rage to sadness, we got it all during Quail’s set and it was all presented in a way that set my soul on fire in a way. There may not have been much to see as far as their live show was concerned, but there was so much to feel, and by the time they were wrapping up and leaving the stage, I felt a hole grow in my heart that I didn’t even know they had filled. Quail is absolutely a band that I have my eye on and one that I hope to see again soon.

I have a love-hate relationship with the next local band that played, Popstar. The first time I saw them at the 7th Street Entry, I didn’t quite get it. I liked their overall sound, but something about their performance just didn’t sit right with me. Fast forward to just a couple of months ago when I saw them at The Fillmore to open up for Chiodos, and I was in love, shaming myself for ever questioning if this band was for me. Then there was Wednesday night, back on a smaller and more intimate stage, and I realized that Popstar is the kind of band that needs a bigger stage. I wouldn’t say that their performance on Wednesday was bad because that was far from the truth. I was instantly intrigued (as I always am) by their unique sound, which bridges the gap between nu-metal, ’90s alternative, and something more metalcore-leaning. Although there wasn’t a huge audience in attendance, the trio was giving me the same energy that I had experienced the night they played the much larger Fillmore stage, but I felt like it translated in a way that took me back to that first time I saw them. Their sound is too big for small rooms like this, and I felt that some of the intricacies that make their unique sound really pop got lost in the mix. As I said, it’s a love-hate kind of relationship, but at the end of the day, Popstar is a genuinely unique band that’s doing something completely fresh for the local scene, and they will always have my support for that. I will also say that, if you’re local and haven’t spent any time with this band, you should make a point to change that. Although I have come to the conclusion that I prefer them on a larger stage, I could absolutely see how someone could really like the power and energy that this trio brings to the more intimate stages across the Twin Cities, and it’s truly a sight to see and an energy to feel.

The night was moving quickly, and before I knew it, Venezuelan-bred Zeta was taking the stage, but I instantly noticed that they didn’t have the same setup they had had back in 2023. Instead of a four-piece, they were taking the stage as a trio. I didn’t let it get to me. Things happen, and at the end of the day, it had been years since my introduction to this band. The excitement for me was palpable as the trio took their places behind their respective instruments, and I braced for impact. That impact came, but not in the way I thought. This band was on point just like they had been the first time I saw them. Their complicated rhythms were highlighted by Mars Volta-like intricacies, and all presented with an insane amount of energy, but that energy felt a bit darker than the first time I saw them. Instead of just being lost in the insane musicianship that is behind this band, I was trying to figure out why everything felt just a bit more angsty. Every drum seemed to be hit a bit harder than I remember, and every lick of swirling notes from the guitar and bass felt like it was just a bit more on fire and played with a bit more chutzpah. That’s when the band addressed the elephant in the room.

“If it sounds like we are pissed off, it’s because we are!” shouted bassist Antonio Pereira. He went on to explain that Zeta is, in fact, typically a four-piece band, but due to everything that’s happening everywhere, their brother and guitarist/vocalist, Dani Debuto, could not join them on this tour. Antonio went on to explain that this has not been easy, so yeah, the band is pissed off because the only reason that Dani wasn’t on this tour was because of *gestures broadly to everything*. My heart both broke and felt a sense of comfort at the same time as I listened to Antonio’s words. The comfort I felt was selfish because it was more that I now knew I wasn’t crazy. Something was missing from this et, and that something was the force that is Dani Debuto. The broken-hearted feeling was because I could not even begin to imagine what this band has gone through and continues to struggle with being a band that’s not originally from the United States. I honestly don’t know the whole story; I don’t know if something happened or if it was a personal choice, but I know that this band of brothers was missing one, and that had them angry at everything, which led to a passionate and truly staggering performance on Wednesday night.

I don’t need any more black t-shirts. I have hundreds, and, truthfully, I wear dresses more often than not, leaving my shirts to collect dust and cat hair in my closet. I bought a Zeta t-shirt last night. This band deserves so much more than me buying and wearing their shirt. They absolutely deserve more than these words and the accompanying pictures. I hope they know that and I hope you take some time to check them out if you haven’t already.