“Hi, my name is Greg. This is my first time in Glasgow — my first time in Scotland, actually.”
This is how Greg Mendez calmly opens his set at Stereo, a vegan cafe by day, and bustling music venue by night. He’s not wrong; August 18th marks his first-ever Scotland performance, to the delight of many UK fans who make it known to him pre-show.
Greg Mendez is a Philadelphian musician, known for his painfully honest lyrics and gentle melodies. His music blends indie and soft pop, tackling intimate themes such as addiction and regret. As a longtime fan, I had been curious at how this emotional depth would translate to a live performance. Although it was a no-singing-along type of crowd, concert goers appeared entranced and visibly moved by Mendez’s sound. A notable mention goes to Mary St Mary, who provided accompaniment (vocals, bass guitar, keys) which decidedly filled the room and transformed the concert. It felt less like a gig and more like a campfire gathering — intimate, emotionally resonant, and grounded by the sight of Irn Bru cans at Mendez’s feet.
His studio version of ‘Maria’, whilst touching in its own right, does not hold a candle to the live version, which reduced many to tears. Crying to lyrics that bear no resemblance to my life (“the time we got arrested at a crack den”) turned out to be a strangely cathartic way to spend a Monday evening. The only thing I could have hoped for were bean bags but I don’t think the onus is on Greg here.
Despite making music since the early 2010s and his 2023 self-titled album being named one of Pitchfork’s Best Albums of the Year, Mendez remains relatively under the radar in the UK. Mainly, I’ve been thinking about this being a classic case of a brilliant artist’s talent and mild recognition not yet translating into widespread acclaim. If Mendez’s musical cousins Cameron Winter and Alex G have found their place in the scene, isn’t it time Greg Mendez did too? Are we as an audience missing something?
Many thanks to Libby Webster at The Glow Management for this opportunity.
Image Credit to Alexa Haykal.
