Written by Amethyst Chagolla | November 22, 2025

San Antonio’s Paper Tiger transformed into a forest of musical greenery as Mypilotis and Mini Trees shared the stage for a night rooted in warmth, energy, and community. Crowds packed in close, the cool chill outside setting the perfect atmosphere for Mini Trees’ comforting soundscape.

Supporting her new LP, Slow It Down, Mini Trees — the stage name of singer-songwriter Lexi Vega — set out on the road accompanied by guitarist Chris West, bassist Zach Esposito, and drummer Mark Edlin. With the project beginning in 2018, through Vega's ambition, Mini Trees has formed a unique sound and community defined by intimacy, honesty, and gentle genre-blending.

Opening the evening, San Antonio’s own Mypilotis set the tone with their infectious energy. The band, composed of singer-songwriter Chesca Umeno, bassist Sophia Kurahara, guitarist Joey Patino, and drummer Edgar Betancourt, joined the bill after Umeno and Kurahara, longtime Mini Trees fans, reached out to see if the headliner needed support. Mini Trees happily welcomed them on board.

Chesca Umeno

Edgar Betancourt

Joey Patino

Sophia Kurahara

Photos by Amethyst Chagolla

Before the music began, both groups stood behind their merch tables, greeting fans and forging connections. Mypilotis eventually made their way to the stage casually, met with cheers, and a sea of hats and shirts bearing their name. Launching into their set, Mypilotis burst forward with singing guitar lines, bouncing bass grooves, booming drums, and melodies designed to stick. Their stage presence, scattered with headbanging and crowd interactions, brought a playful electricity to the room. For their single, “The Kids Are Alright,” Umeno began on the recorder, drawing slight confusion and laughter from the crowd before setting it aside and diving into the full song. The moment quickly turned into a full-room sing-along that felt more like a gathering of friends than a concert.

Introducing the band, guitarist Patino introduced Betancourt on drums, Umeno, aka “the one who makes everything happen and writes the songs,” and bassist Kurahara, who received immediate chants of “Sophie! Sophie!” Umeno gave an enthusiastic shoutout to Mini Trees, met with a roar for the night’s headliner. Their finale was an instrumental burst of pure energy, ending with Umeno sprinting offstage and weaving through the venue before settling into the crowd. It felt like a symbolic return from performer to fan, blending back into her own community, and a seamless handoff into Mini Trees’ set.

After a brief stage change, Mini Trees stepped into the spotlight. The opener, “Moments in Between,” washed the room in meditative drums, mellow bass, gentle guitar, and Vega’s distinct, smooth vocals. While grounded in her signature sound, the set still traced a wide arc of genres. From the introspective tone set by “Moments in Between,” she shifted into the indie-pop-leaning “Carrying On,” filled with bright synths and buoyant bass lines. As she continued performing selections from Slow It Down, Vega introduced “Close,” noting that it had only been played once before in LA. She encouraged the audience to dance with her as she eased into performing without an instrument, bringing a sense of vulnerability to the moment.

Mark Edlin

Lexi Vega

Zach Esposito

Chris West

Photos by Amethyst Chagolla

A later track opened with heavy guitar chords, immediately catching the room’s attention with a sharper edge. Noting the rock show happening next door, Vega joked, “This song is heavy like our neighbours next door,” before launching into “Burn Out.” Offering a gentle counterbalance, the LP’s closing track, “Slow It Down,” followed — drawing on folk influences and minimal instrumentation that placed Vega’s voice at the forefront, glowing with sincerity.

Before the final song of the evening, Vega paused to introduce the band, joking that she needed to do it before she forgot. She then asked the crowd to pretend they’d walked offstage for an encore, explaining that with everything plugged in, they couldn’t actually leave and come back. Laughing, she wondered aloud if it was presumptuous to assume they’d be asked for one — a moment that highlighted their easygoing, down-to-earth personalities. Skipping the usual encore formalities, the band eased into “Push + Pull,” greeted by cheers from the crowd.

Together, Mini Trees and Mypilotis brought sincerity and connection to Paper Tiger, from the first fan waiting at the merch tables to the last person leaving the venue. As Mini Trees continues her tour, she carries forward these moments of closeness, inviting more fans into the community built city by city.

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