Mustard Service Returns to Miami for Zest Fest IV

Mustard Service will bring its fourth annual installment of Zest Fest to ZeyZey Miami on Friday, August 22. Attendees can expect surprise hosts, elaborate props, immersive lights, synchronized visuals, and plenty of secret stunts the band has tucked up their sleeves.

Joining them that night are Mr. Floyd Larry, a Miami-based band known for their blend of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream pop; Sam E., a Latin singer-songwriter originally from Argentina, now based in Miami; and Iliad, a South Florida indie rock group with an atmospheric sound and a steadily growing presence in the scene.

Since 2019, the Miami-based pioneers of "Zest Pop"— a colorful fusion of indie rock, electronic beats, and Latin influences — have been throwing the festival not only in their hometown but also in other cities like San Diego and San Francisco.

Now one of Miami's biggest musical acts, Mustard Service started out playing in abandoned warehouses, friends' backyards, and small underground Miami venues such as the Bridge, where they hosted their first Zest Fest, and Churchill's Pub. Churchill's, which opened in the late '70s, saw a sudden closure following the COVID-19 outbreak, though recent rumors suggest a potential reopening.
"The first place we ever played was Churchill's, back in 2017. I had no idea how to book so I just called and said 'Hey can we play?' They were like 'Yeah, we have a Wednesday open. How many people can you bring to the show?' We said we can bring 200 people. I lied. I think we just invited like 30 to 40 friends. We got paid around 20 bucks, but we still thought 'Holy shit, this is awesome,'" says Marco Rivero, lead vocalist and guitarist, in conversation with New Times.

On July 18, 2025, the band released their newest album, Vice City Magic, which introduces a more refined and introspective sound. Opening with a track entirely in Spanish, "2 AM," the record leans into lyricism and poetic structure more than any of their previous releases, resulting in what the band calls their most intimate album yet — and one that captures the heart of the Magic City.

"I grew up listening to Silvio Rodríguez, Joaquín Sabina, who are fucking incredible lyricists. So writing a song in Spanish for me always fell a little short of where I wanted it to be, just because I put it up against the brightest of all time…My mom and stepdad, who's a writer and a poet in his own right, helped me write the lyrics for '2 AM' and make it what it is," says Rivero.

Throughout Vice City Magic, the band reflects on their own experiences growing up in Miami, exploring both the everyday realities and outsider perspectives on the city. The album juxtaposes themes like addiction and uncertainty with the polished, party-centric version often sold to tourists, while also touching on the kinds of people and relationships you encounter in the city — intense, fast-paced, and often fleeting.
"Songs like 'Big Time' describe a lot about how people think of each other in Miami, like if you're not gonna make it big time with me, then I gotta let you go. Songs like 'Billy Bob' describe some of the harder parts of what someone may go through in Miami. The album, in general, depicts all kinds of different aspects of Miami that we have gone through or have witnessed," says Adam Perez, drummer.

The album's heavier tone came partly from working with producer Chad Copelin in his hometown of Oklahoma. Known for his work with Sufjan Stevens and Broncho, Copelin helped the band tap into a more serious side of their songwriting while still keeping the playful spirit that defines Zest Pop.

The band says some labels were hesitant about their sound, but they remained focused on staying true to themselves.

"This album was less worried about being different and cool and enhancing our chord progressions, and more focused on making stuff people want to listen to a lot…I think we're all pretty happy with what we ended up with. I think we wrote some hits," said Perez.

With Vice City Magic now out in the world, the band is already hinting at more to come. "Always forward, never backwards, right? We're just going to keep writing tunes, keep throwing shows. This is a beautiful prison we've made for ourselves, but a prison nonetheless; we have to keep doing this till we die. The good part is that we like doing this. Another album, another tour, another Zest Fest, followed by another album, another tour, and another Zest Fest," says Rivero.


Mustard Service & Zeyzey Present: Zest Fest IV. Doors open at 8 p.m.. Friday, August 22nd, at ZeyZey, 353 NE 61st St., Miami; zeyzeymiami.com. Tickets are $36 at shotgun.live