People I’ve Met: An Intimate Beginning at Mercury Lounge
- Fernando Flores
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Inside People I’ve Met’s EP Release Show at NYC’s Iconic Mercury Lounge
Photos and Article Contributed by Fernando Flores.
There's something about seeing a band at the right moment. Before things get too big and the room gets too crowded, it makes the show feel more personal. And at a venue like Mercury Lounge that has helped launch names like Lady Gaga, nights as intimate as these might be a famous piece of history later. Tonight, People I’ve Met feel like they are right on the edge of glory days.
A Slow Burn to Stardom
The alt-rock trio consisting of Moses Martin, Andy Suster, and Orlando Wiltshire is emerging strong, building something intentional, and choosing to first perform it live in such an infamous venue. Before getting where they are now, their story starts in the middle school jazz ensemble in Los Angeles. An unlikely beginning, but one that explains a lot. As the year went by, the band reunited on the East Coast for college, where their sound began to sharpen.
The slow boil of gradual development carries into their debut EP Bunny, released May 1, 2026. The project didn't arrive all at once. And unfolded over time. “Promise” Came first in December 2025, followed by “For Hire” in January, then “Loving One” in March. Each track added another layer, giving a sense of direction without fully revealing the whole picture.
Now, with Bunny, that picture feels more complete. The two new tracks, “Bastards” and “I Want It I Want It” round out the release, pushing their sound further without losing that sense of openness. Moses Martin has described their goal as creating music that feels like a world you can step into. It's an ambitious idea, but it comes through. The songs take their time. They stretch. They leave space where other bands might fill it.
Tonight’s show at Mercury Lounge is all about the celebration of the release of the new EP Bunny. Fans line up full of excitement and giddy knowing that they are going to be amongst the first to listen to People I’ve Met perform the new EP live. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic!
Openers Bring The Power
One by one the venue filled up with fans from all around. Moments before the first performer steps on the stage, the fans are already filling the venue with good vibes and strong energy.
Rose Paradise, who waits not one second in showing us her extreme talents. She captures the attention of every person in the venue with her deep soulful melodies. The crowd ever so mesmerized by her music sways to the melody and not once turns away from her incredible performance.
Up next, Nudey steps on stage with complete raw energy and amazing vocals. They bring the indie rock scene to Mercury Lounge. One can tell the amount of love and effort they put into their music and performances. All around the venue crowds of new and old fans just vibe out with their music. Every second kept the audience hooked with the talent Nudey clearly has.
Anticipation Peaks for The Main Attraction!
Once the opening acts finish the crowd is even more excited to see People I’ve Met Premiere their new EP live. Suddenly, a roar fills the crowd as People I’ve Met hits the stage. From the first nodes, there's a quiet confidence in the room period it doesn't hit all at once. It builds slowly, almost patiently, like the band knows exactly where they're going even if the audience is still catching up.
What stands out most is how unguarded everything feels. There's no sense of over-polishing, no attempt to smooth out every edge. It gives the music a kind of restlessness like it is still evolving even as it's being performed. Hearing songs from Bunny live shifts them slightly. Tracks that feel distant on record become more immediate in a room this size. You feel the changes in tempo, the pauses and the tension.
The standout moment was when Orlando played the starting notes of Bastard from their new EP. Although the song just came out, it was a quick fan favorite. The whole room starts dancing and completely vibing with the upbeat hypnotic tempo of Orlando’s drums. The moment felt so magical that the room filled with a completely different type of energy throughout the entirety of the song.
The dynamic between the three of them is part of what makes it work. Suster’s bass holds things together without drawing too much attention. Wiltshire’s drumming moves between restraint and intensity, guiding the pace without overpowering it. And Martin stays at the center of it all, moving between distance and vulnerability. Each one of them brings their own flair to the band and to their performances. They have the capability to easily become fan favorites of a crowd that might be just hearing about them now.
Future Outlook for People I've Met
So, it's easy to see where this is heading. Festival slots Reading and Leeds are already lined up, and the rooms will only get bigger from here. But tonight isn't about that. Not really. Tonight is about proximity and celebration. About catching a band at its root before everything expands.
Walking out, there's a lingering feeling that’s hard to pin down. Not just that the music was good but that you witnessed something at the right time. With the Bunny out now, People I’ve Met feel like they're stepping into something new. Still evolving but moving forward with intention.
It’s refreshing to see talent like this. Not something that’s recycled but a band that brings their unique flair to the table. People I’ve Met is sure to become a quick fan favorite, another big name in the Mercury Lounge Hall of Fame.