Mintfield/ Sherrie/ Knotfall
PhilaMOCA
531 N 12th St.
Philadelphia
May 19, 2026
Today, shoegaze (along with its fraternal twin dream pop) is well-regarded as a creative revolution in rock. Originally coined as an insult in the early ‘90s and wielded by the notoriously crabby British rock press, the subgenre has had a surprisingly long shelf life. Albums like My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, Slowdive’s Souvlaki and Whirlpool by Chapterhouse are now considered classics. More than three decades have passed since British shoegaze reached its creative height. But that scene still provides a blueprint for countless new bands willing to explore the endless tonal possibilities of a guitar and a floor full of EFX pedals.
On Tuesday, May 20, about 25 people braved the muggy, 90 degree weather to get a glimpse of shoegaze’s present. Local bands Sherrie and Knotfall touched down at PhilaMOCA to support Mexican shoegaze/ dream pop trio Mint Field. Sherrie set the bill off first with a lovely, and wistful dream-pop tune. I try not to be the old guy comparing younger bands to old bands, but Sherrie reminded me of the fun and playfully light sound of ‘90s indie-rock legends Velocity Girl. While the bands broke down and set up, a trippy soundtrack of deeply pulsating ambient sounds played over the house speaker system and set the tone for the next band.
Philly’s own Notfall followed with a blistering set of heavy songs that bridged the gulf between shoegaze’s gauzy textures and the visceral fury of emo. Running through a number of tunes from their fantastic new album Shoreline, Notfall's performance of songs like "Beyond Memory" and "August in the Water" were gorgeous and arresting. Next up, Mint Field closed the show with a set of profoundly atmospheric songs. Simple keyboard chord progressions and dreamy surf guitar gave way to enchanting whispered vocals. The music was all achingly slow and soft as waves of vocals and guitar washed over the crowd. While all of these bands have pulled from similar influences, each has injected the shoegaze sound with their own unique attributes. While the British press might have initially tried to dismiss the O.G. shoegazers, the music still holds up. And now, we enjoy a nearly bottomless creative well that new bands can still drink from.
