First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia knows how to get down every single time a show happens there, and the energy was unreal for Glixen and Trauma Ray's Co-Headliner Tour. Accompanying them for the first half of the tour are Her New Knife and Knifeplay, who are both based in Philadelphia.
Up first was Knifeplay. With the setlist on the ground appearing small, the 4 songs held the fans' attention for a full 30-minute set. This 5-piece band incorporates a lot of subgenres into their music, giving off the perfect blend of shoegaze and indie. What was also interesting about them was their incorporation of different instruments and accessories you don't often see in shoegaze bands, like a tambourine and even a guitar slider. The setlist featured "Stone So Big," "Promise," "Little Candle," and "Tears." All 4 songs had moments when they would start slowly and pick up the tempo in an instant, and fans were all there for it. Overall, this was an amazing start to the show, and it left everyone pleased and excited for what was to come.
Up second was Her New Knife, with an explosive set, and this is where the crowd surfing and mosh pits really started to go up a notch. This setlist features 2 new unreleased songs, "purepurepure," "scratch," "12r," and "Debris Star." What really stood out in this performance was the lead singer, Edgar. Fans were in awe of how quick and energetic he was during his set. For the last song of the set, Her New Knife invited Nora, the drummer from Knifeplay, onto the stage with a smaller drum kit. The band and the fans went ballistic during this song, with everyone giving it their all.
From Fort Worth, Texas, Trauma Ray formed back in 2018, mixing modern shoegaze, grunge, and 90s alternative rock. The band recently released a brand new EP in February of this year, "Carnival."
After the 2 incredible openers, it was time for the headliners, with Trauma Ray taking the stage first. The band started with "Hannibal," "Ember," and "Chameleon," and fans didn't waste any time jumping on stage and stage diving. The audio mixing for this live performance added a whole new level to the fan experience, with loud and powerful guitar riffs and vocal harmonies filling the church basement.
Throughout the set, Trauma Ray would encourage fans to make sure they take care of one another while moshing, which was a nice gesture. Fans would make sure every single lost phone and even keys got back to their rightful owners. The rest of the set included a few more songs off their EP and more, like "Méliès," "ISO," "Funhouse," "Clown," "Bishop," and "Bardo."
Forming in 2020 and from Phoenix, Arizona, Glixen is most known for blending pop vocals with heavy grunge riffs. Some of their most recent projects include their 2025 EP "Quiet Pleasures" and two singles released this year, "Medicine Bow" and "Unwind."
Last but not least, Glixen took the stage, and fans couldn't be more excited. Although most of the time a four-piece, for most of their set Glixen added another guitarist. Starting with "All Tied Up," "Lust," and "My Blue Heaven," the set had a slower start, but don't let that fool you; Glixen ramped up the pace. With lead singer Aislinn, starting off being stationary on her guitar, she soon switched to her guitar and began hyping up the crowd. Soon after, the mosh pits grew once more, and even more crowd surfing ensued.
The rest of the set featured "Splendor," "Sick Silent," "Unwind," "Medicine Bow," "Lick the Star," and "Shut Me Down." What really stood out during this show was near the end of the set, especially during the last 2 songs. For "Lick the Star," it has a soothing and slow start, but after a minute or so, it ramps up significantly. And for the final song, "Shut Me Down," it is 4 straight minutes of rocking out. Aislynn got back on her guitar, and the rest of the band gave their all for their final number of the night, and fans reciprocated that energy in a heartbeat.
"Once in a lifetime" are the words I would use to describe this show. It's not often you get four incredibly talented shoegaze bands under the same roof in one night. With this tour continuing until May 16, there are many chances for you to get to a show that you won't regret going to, with 2 more openers, Keep and Money, taking the place of Her New Knife and Knifeplay on April 26th and onward. The sheer energy from the bands and the fans was incredible to watch. Not to mention this all took place in a church basement.
