The Ukie Club in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties has seen plenty of chaos in its long history. But nothing could have prepared the aging hall for the emotional, genre-bending hurricane unleashed by Novulent on Thursday night. The Houston-based artist, backed by a formidable live band, delivered a staggering 22-song set that blurred the lines between sludgy shoegaze and hard-hitting pop punk catharsis.

From the second the opening distortion of “RIP” hit the floor, the venue transformed into a sweat drenched mosh pit. Novulent, shifting between wielding a heavily pedaled guitar and seizing the microphone like a Gen Z prophet, drove the young crowd into a frenzy with early heavy hitters like “Kisses From a Devil” and “Closure.”

The genius of the performance lay in the whiplash transitions. Just as the audience was head-banging to the metallic churn of “Evil Eye,” the set pulled back, diving into the introspective, Auto-Tuned melancholia of fan-favorites “Unknown Feelings” and “Soul Ties.” These tracks, particularly the devastating clarity of “My Other Half,” allowed the vocals to cut through the din, momentarily transforming the mosh pit into a massive, communal sing-along about bad decisions and broken romance.

The second half was a relentless march through the viral anthems that made Novulent a streaming star. “Molly & Sex” and “Savior” hit with the necessary punch, fueling crowd-surfers who seemed determined to touch the peeling paint on the ceiling. By the time the final official track, “Scars,” concluded, the air was thick with humidity and spent adrenaline. But the true, stunning highlight came with Novulent raw take on Coldplay’s “Fix You.” It was a tear-down-the-wall moment, a soft, heartbreaking declaration that proved the noise is just a mask for the vulnerability underneath. Novulent isn't just making noise; they're soundtracking a generation's beautiful, chaotic collapse.

Set List:

RIP

Kisses From a Devil

My Other Half

Closure

New Low

Unknown Feelings

Inner Peace

Soul Ties

Overwhelming

2002

Euphoria

Molly & Sex

Always Been You

Suicide Note

My Lover

Evil Eye

Savior

Cursed

Sex Toy

Last Dance

Scars

Fix You

Next Stops on Tour:

10/10 Washington DC

10/11 Somerville MA

10/13 Toronto ON

11/29 Dallas TX

Gallery

Review and Photography by: Craig Eidell

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