Los Angeles garage rockers The Red Pears have dropped a new single and album; a double feature that packs a wild punch. “House of Mirrors,” a steady and existential exploration of the self, was released just days before the band released their 3rd studio album, You Thought We Left Because The Door Was Open But We Were Waiting Outside. With “House of Mirrors,” the band focuses on a very personal self-reflection, taking the dialogue one has in his or her head when no one else is around and turning it into a series of questions and statements to the self. The internal conversation with the self creates a private version of the psyche, the deepest part of ourselves that others rarely see. Self-development and change culminate into a nostalgia and appreciation for where you come from while you continue on the path toward further progress.
The music video for “House of Mirrors,” directed by Justin La Turno, reflects this sentiment as the band performs first in their regular clothing and instruments reflective of the clothes they wore when they were younger and first playing gigs together, then by the end of the video, the band is wearing suits and nicer clothing and playing upgraded instruments. The music video also weaves in physical markers of nostalgia as it was shot and produced with the assistance of the Mountain View High School in El Monte, California — The Red Pear’s hometown high school and where they formed their band.
The band’s full length album, You Thought We Left Because The Door Was Open But We Were Waiting Outside, is a fuzzy, guitar laced, high energy collision of sound, thought and unique expression. Blending indie rock from the early 2000s New York scene, grunge bands and glimmers of corrido and cumbia, The Red Pears expand on each genre to create something dynamic and riveting where each counterpart does his best to be a part of a greater sum. Singer and guitarist Henry Vargas traverses a range of vocal emotion whether crooning an understated confidence or belting out a biting verse with course inhibition, he always finds a sweet spot vocally to deliver each lyric; drummer Jose Corona hangs loose, ready to pivot between driving the beat or keeping everything steady; and bassist Patrick Juarez comes in to balance out crunchy guitars with a grooving bass line.
With a name comically inspired by bands such as The Black Keys and The White Stripes, The Red Pears are a witty, young and delightfully fresh band, making use out of the music that inspired them, adding a personal and new twist to a genre of music steeped in authenticity and laced with sentiments of nostalgia and reflection. Their knack for making insightful tunes comes from an inherent honesty and genuine earnestness to be themselves in the most humble sense.
“It all boils down to effort and humility,” says Vargas. “We just want to do our best and make the music we want to make. Now we have more help and resources, but it’s about continuing to push and keeping that humility.”
The Red Pears will be touring with Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing with two nights at the Wiltern Los Angeles on Nov. 20 & 21, and an Orange County date at The Observatory on Nov. 18. The tour will also see the band at the Soma in San Diego on Nov. 19.
Words: Patti Sanchez
For more on The Red Pears, make sure to visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
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