All Mixed Up has long been a staple of the local scene, with the premise of showcasing and promoting local independent artists. Keeping things unpredictable, they blend different genres into a single lineup, challenging audiences beyond their usual tastes and helping bands find their crowd. While Vol. 8 featured heavier acts like happyco. and Bedlam Royals, Vol. 9 took a more melodic, alternative direction, with a range of genres from dream-pop to electronic rock. The set this time brought together four bands, starting with the dream-pop band Drive Lullaby, followed by the alternative rock band Vers de Société, then the modern Vietnamese rock band Não Cáo Vàng, and closing with the electronic rock band My Broken Society.
Drive Lullaby: A Humble Beginning
The gig had a late start, with only a small flow of people coming in. Drive Lullaby opened with a mellow set, welcoming the modest crowd. Despite the sparse turnout, he still managed to create a warm, inviting atmosphere with his flowy, vibrant sound. Drive Lullaby’s songs stay true to the dream pop genre, emphasizing elements like soft, breathy vocals, ambient pads, and steady beats. A key highlight of his music, and a core feature of dream pop, is the wide use of effects such as reverb, delay, and chorus to create a hazy, ethereal, dream-like atmosphere. The heavily treated guitar tones reverberated across the room, adding a sense of comfort and coziness.
This was Drive Lullaby’s first time playing at All Mixed Up, especially as a relatively new act. Previously, he was part of another local band that performed back at All Mixed Up Vol. 1, when it was still held at Indika. His songs were laid-back, with simple lyrics touching on everyday life. One of the highlights of his set was a song he wrote for his girlfriend, who stood nearby in the crowd, making the moment feel especially romantic, sweet, and wholesome. He ended with a track that plays on Andy Warhol’s name, an artist he admires and hopes to one day meet, hinting that he, too, wants to be famous.
Vers de Société: Political Punchlines
Next up, Vers de Société made a bold entrance, with the drummer taking the spotlight through his outgoing energy, strong voice, and leading presence in the band. The crowd picked up a bit, moving closer to the stage and becoming more engaged. Between performances, the drummer introduced each track and its themes, switching between Vietnamese and English to show that the songs were intended to be understood in both languages. From their sound and lyrics, it became clear why the name Vers de Société fits. The French term refers to witty, poetic, and often ironic reflections on social issues, which is exactly what the band leans into.
Their songs frequently touch on political topics, openly expressing their beliefs and frustrations with different aspects of society. With that defiant and confrontational edge, their style naturally leans toward punk. The gritty, raw drumming, paired with rough guitar tones and an unpolished vocal delivery, all point in that direction. That said, not every track was as intense. The band also moved into softer moments, bringing in synths and the female vocalist, which added a more melodic and balanced layer to their set. They ended on a strong note with “Straight Talker” (“Nói Thẳng”), a track calling out the hypocrisy of political leaders today. Before wrapping up, they left the audience with a blunt, unfiltered statement: “fuck fascism, fuck Trump, fuck Netanyahu,” and, as they implied, all the same kind of leaders. It was, in a way, “ironic” to see a band with punk energy play to a not-so-punk crowd, but somehow it all came together and worked.
Nacava: Fiery, Feel-Good Rock
Continuing the night, modern Vietnamese rock band Não Cá Vàng (Nacava for short) came in with a fiery opening, kicking off with a tight, confident guitar lead. It was their first time at All Mixed Up, but they knew exactly how to lift the room, their high-energy entrance even drawing more people into the space. They kicked things off with their newer track “Đành Thôi,” a fun, charismatic, almost “cute” take on love. At the center of it all was the lead guitarist, who liked to play around with quirky, familiar riffs before each song, adding a playful touch to the set. Not only that, it really felt like he was the heart of the band, expressive in his playing, full of energy, and clearly having fun on stage.
Nacava’s sound leans into a classic, feel-good rock style, with lyrics around romance and everyday moments. Alongside their rock ’n’ roll sound, Nacava would shift into acoustic moments, bringing the focus to the singer and his guitar, and easing the mood into something softer, more homely, with a slight hint of melancholy. Nacava’s music might not try to be unique or experimental, but they know how to win over a crowd. This was made even better by how solid they sound live. They closed with an extended solo blending into their original song, full of upbeat shredding and Slash-style flair, pushing the energy to a peak as the audience cheered and moved along.
My Broken Society: A Dark Ending
The night closed with My Broken Society, an electronic rock band that stood out as the most experimental and distinct of the lineup. Their sound pulls from indie, electronic, rock, and industrial influences, blending programmed riffs, synths, and electronic beats with the familiar rock backbone of distorted guitar and bass. One of the most highlighted elements was their bass tone, heavily distorted, tightly controlled, and almost robotic. Alongside that, they introduced harsh sounds and metallic, noisy textures, hinting at their industrial roots and lending the set a darker, more dystopian feel.
It’s very new to hear this kind of experimental, industrial-leaning sound in the Vietnamese scene, adding much-needed variety for locals to discover. In line with their direction, the lyrics touch on fragments of memory, doubt, and quiet protests, shaping an atmosphere that feels more subdued and sentimental, a stark contrast to the previous performance by Nacava. This mood carried over into the crowd, who stood quietly, taking in the performance without much movement.
All Mixed Up Vol. 9 offered a refreshing change of pace, trading in heavier sounds for a more melodic and alternative lineup. From the dreamy warmth of Drive Lullaby to the sharp edge of Vers de Société, the crowd-lifting energy of Nacava, and the darker, experimental tones of My Broken Society, the night moved through a wide range of moods. Each band was set on stage for approximately half an hour. It was a compact show; however, each act delivered enough to show the audience what each act was about. Even with shifts in energy and style, the lineup stayed true to what All Mixed Up does best, bringing together different sounds in one space and giving both artists and audiences the chance to meet somewhere new.
