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
Review and Photography by: Craig Eidell