AUSTIN, TX | Diamonds in the rough. That’s the phrase I kept coming back to all night, and it’s the closest I can get to describing what Glass Mansions—and the whole bill—pulled off last Saturday (6/27) at Hotel Vegas. I don’t say that about many shows. Between work and keeping the rest of my life from tipping over, I’ve gotten protective of where I point my camera. I can’t shoot everything I love, so when I commit, it’s because I’ve weighed it and decided it’s worth it to be there. I committed to this one months ago, for one simple reason: I believe in this band.
No, we don’t really know each other—I found Glass Mansions online before I ever photographed them, something about the music grabbed me, and when I got the chance to shoot them live, I jumped. They’ve been in my regular rotation ever since, which, if you know me, is saying something.
I’m stubborn about music. I order what I know is good, like reaching for the same thing on a menu every time. Shooting live has quietly cured some of that, handing me bands I’d never have clicked on otherwise. Glass Mansions is exactly that kind of gift. When it doesn’t find me, I’m usually watching animal videos.
Getting there was its own adventure—downtown Austin was jammed with soccer watch parties, and I circled for twenty minutes before finally scoring a garage spot. Thank God.
I missed the opener, Wasted, but caught Fak35miles, and I did not expect to get into their set as much as I did. I stopped to groove a few times—and when I catch myself doing that, I know something’s happening. Normally, when I’m shooting, my brain is going nonstop—lighting, movement, settings, working around the crowd. I don’t always get to experience the music. This time I did. More than once. Afterward, their singer told me they hadn’t been together long—you’d never guess it from the chemistry.
Before Subpar Snatch took the stage, I met their frontwoman, Jess Scott, in the back waiting area. She was incredibly kind and handed me a cookie from the drummer’s birthday celebration—and I will never forget people who give me snacks. Those backstage moments are exactly what I love about local music. Toward the end of Fak35miles’ set, she hopped up to sing—the first time I’d seen her perform—and her presence pulled the whole room toward her.
Then Subpar Snatch took the stage. Holy shit. The energy jumped several notches, and the whole room shifted. It was one of those sets you can’t help getting swept into—but underneath all the intensity, there was a real sense of community. It wasn’t chaos for its own sake—it was intentional, full of personality, and the lyrics have something to say.
The music was just really, really good. Jess’s voice is incredible, and I never once hesitated wondering whether I liked a song—unusual for a band I’d never heard. Drummer and founder CeeCee Email and newest member Paris Mygatt on bass lock in tight with Jess, and watching the woman who’d just handed me a birthday cookie turn into that kind of force onstage was awesome. They’re recording a new album this fall, hoping to drop a single ahead of it.
By the time Subpar Snatch finished, the room was on fire—packed tighter, wired, ready for more. Then Glass Mansions hit the stage. And they hit hard. They opened with three of their newest singles: “Sunsetting,” “Violet,” and what has become a personal favorite, “Standing O.” Lead vocalist Jayna Doyle is dynamic; her raw, sultry voice and stage presence are a force. The band—the incredibly talented Blake Arambula on synths, guitar, bass, and keys, with drummer David J. Edwards—rounds out the heavy alt/pop sound that is Glass Mansions.
They’re hard to pin down. I call it heavy because I’m drawn to heavier music, and that intensity is what caught me first—but they wrap it in something all their own. Jayna brought Jess back up for a couple of songs, and the mayhem was gloriously out of control—untamed in the best way. Pure, unpure excellence. They also played a new one called “Mess” that instantly became another favorite—already on repeat.
Glass Mansions has a run of regional dates in August, and their first-ever vinyl release is on the way. They have already crisscrossed the country—SXSW, Warped Tour, Canadian Music Week, Indie Week Canada, South Sounds, and Florida Music Festival—and were voted a Sonic Guild grant recipient in December 2025. If you haven’t heard them yet, do yourself a favor and listen. They’re crazy good. Diamonds in the rough, indeed.
SUBPAR SNATCH
FAK35MILES
