All Mixed Up is a regular, grass-roots series that books local artists without drawing borders around genre or scene. The name is intentional: different sounds, same stage, equal footing. Vol.7 put that principle in plain view pairing a Brit-pop/indie songwriter Luis Zapiola, a post-rock unit Shallow Vessels, a hardcore/punk outfit Happyco, and a post-metal band Bedlam Royals. The result was a night that moved across styles and moods while sharing the same room and the same audience.
Opening Moves and Shifting Gears
Zapiola set the tone with a focused performance. Unlike his solo acoustic set this time he opted to bring in the whole band. He played his songs from his debut album, some quite well-known to the Yoko Cafe audience. Clear vocal lines, steady pacing, and enough dynamic shifts to draw the room forward rather than try to overwhelm it. It was a measured start that gave the rest of the bill room to build.
Shallow Vessels followed by expanding the frame. Their post-rock leaned on patient layering, clean guitar themes, programmed textures, and a rhythm section that pushed without rushing. The set functioned as a bridge between singer-forward pop and heavier guitar music. It kept the crowd engaged and reset expectations for where the evening could go.
Peak and Pause, A Lesson in Hardcore
Fresh off a new EP and a well-attended listening session, Happyco. opened with gentler passages before switching into sharper tempos and tougher edges. The energy in the room rose fast; the pit opened and movement spread across the floor.
Then the night changed. An audience member fell during the pit and suffered a broken leg. The show stopped immediately. Paramedics arrived; the pause lasted around thirty minutes. Once the injured person was taken for treatment, the organizers and bands opted to continue.
Restarting after an injury is never simple. The room’s mood shifted from release to caution. People kept a greater distance; movement slowed. None of that is a failure. It’s a normal response to seeing someone get hurt. It’s also a reminder: mixed bills bring different participation styles into the same space, and that shared floor needs active care—clear communication from stage and staff, quick stops when something goes wrong, and a crowd willing to look out for each other.
Recalibration
Bedlam Royals took the late slot and treated it like a restart button. It was their first appearance after a long break, and they played with tight coordination, lockstep drums and bass, disciplined guitar phrasing, and occasional vocals that sat well in the mix. The performance had the clarity of a studio take without losing live weight. As the set progressed, the distance between band and audience narrowed again. When they ran out of material, the room asked for one more; the band closed with a replay of a song. This time more familiar, direct, and definitely the last of their set.
All Mixed Up Vol.7 did what this series is built to do: put different corners of the local scene in conversation on a single stage. The night also showed how quickly a live show can swing from celebration to complication and back again. The response—stop, assist, reassess, continue—was the right one, even if it muted the room. Mixed programming broadens audiences; it also asks everyone present to take shared responsibility for the floor. Vol.7 ended with that idea intact: different sounds, one community, and a renewed sense that looking after each other is part of the show.
Words: Mai Phương
Photos: Razqoi
