Like an oasis in the middle of the desert, Soft Blue Shimmer started their set by creating an atmosphere that I would describe as almost ethereal. Meredith Ramond, with her beautiful and delicate voice, elevated the Bottom Lounge into a realm of tranquility. It was a mesmerizing combination of peacefulness and melancholia.

Soft Blue Shimmer’s sound is difficult to categorize into a specific genre. Not that it ultimately matters, but risking criticism from genre purists, I would describe it as a blend of shoegaze with elements of alternative or indie pop. The guitar riffs are very melodic and complement the dynamic changes well. To me, those musical shifts in tempo and volume, contrasted with the soothing and steady vocal delivery, were the highlight of their set and helped me connect with their music and the tone they set.

Had I not been familiar with the next band, Portrayal of Guilt, before the show, the musical whiplash from the previous band to this one would have sent me right to the hospital. The Texas trio took us to the opposite end of the spectrum. With a chaotic blend of black metal, hardcore, and punk, they created a dark ambiance driven by heavily distorted guitars and guttural screams, with misanthropic lyrics.

Portrayal of Guilt’s music draws heavily from several genres, which makes it somewhat difficult to categorize under a specific style. That said, they take some of the best elements and make them work: the speed of punk, hardcore breakdowns for the spin-kickers, and the typical blast beats, dissonant riffs, and high-pitched gutturals of black metal. It’s the perfect amalgamation of these genres.

For the third act of the evening, Soul Glo took the stage. This band embodies chaos. Unpredictable and energetic, they brought a completely different energy to the show. Their music is fast, raw, and confrontational—pure irreverence.

Unconstrained by the stage’s boundaries, the band’s vocalist, Pierce Jordan, turned the entire venue into an extension of the stage. At one point, showing complete disregard for the venue’s barriers, Jordan jumped over and immersed himself in the audience while security ran around, trying to predict what he would do next. His vocal delivery consists of high-pitched screaming, intentionally amelodic, alternating between his regular singing voice and aggressive, at times chilling, screams.

As the show neared its end, the crowd’s energy was revitalized as Jeremy Bolm, lead singer of the evening’s headliners, Touché Amoré, joined the rest of the band on stage. They began their set, and it was evident how much of an impact this band had on the crowd. Smiles lit up the venue as fans gazed with unwavering fixation, following every move Jeremy made, engrossed by the music and lyrics of the songs.

The relationship between the crowd and performers was mutual as Jeremy performed the deeply personal and emotional lyrics with a constant smile throughout the show. It felt like the physical barrier in front of the stage formed a metaphysical mirror, allowing the crowd and band to reflect their shared connection. 

Touché Amoré did an incredible job of bringing the crowd back from this journey. It was a cathartic experience, allowing everyone to participate in an emotional experience. 

Still wearing the biggest smile in the room, Jeremy and the rest of the band said their goodbyes, and as the final chords of their set echoed through the venue, there was a lingering sense of connection—an emotional bond that transcended the music—before returning to the monotony of daily life.