TRAUMA RAY _ LIVE AT THE SOCIAL
Sometimes you have to put yourself in rooms you’re unfamiliar with. Shoegaze is a genre I’m not widely familiar with. Honestly, if you were to ask me about shoegaze, my first thoughts would be Cocteau Twins or Melody’s Echo Chamber's first album (which, on second thought, might be considered dreampop). Regardless of that, I decided an evening with music from Trauma Ray and co-headliner Glixen would be the perfect bridge between unfamiliarity and the true understanding of the genre.
So we begin the night with Glixen, a shoegaze band from Phoenix, Arizona. My first thoughts as they graced the stage were, "What a cool group of people”, and I kept repeating this the entire set. This band has a certain presence that’s captivating and a sound that's loud, grungy, and glimmery. Lead vocalist Aislinn Ritchie floated across the stage with her flowing, gorgeous hair, singing the loudest yet dreamiest songs. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition between this heavier, dark fantasy-eqsue music mixed with the frillyness of the ribbons tied to the microphones on stage. Glixen’s set sounded like a daydream. It was this mix of flowing sounds with hazy vocals and a jumping crowd that was hard to keep my eyes away from. I’d been on the lookout for a new band that’s not afraid to do hairflips during their set, and Glixen proudly filled that spot on my list.
After Glixen’s set, the second headliner, Trauma Ray from Fort Worth, TX, walked on stage in front of a bright, shining banner of their metal-type font logo. The show began relatively dark; it was almost like watching a band of silhouettes play against frequent strobe lights. This is exactly how I’d imagine shoegaze to look: this foggy, dim setting with music as punchy as bright flashing lights. The show began as loudly as possible, with a guitar riff echoing in the air from their 2026 release, Hannibal from the EP, ‘Carnival’. You could feel the music vibrating through your spine and into the heels of your feet. It felt as if everyone in that audience was plugged right into the guitar amp, fizzling with the static of each guitar strum. It’s a feeling I, as someone unfamiliar with live shoegaze music, was pleasantly surprised with; the best words I can describe it as is almost a 4D experience. The music is so loud you have goosebumps throughout your skin, and you can’t help but nod your head along to the beat.
It wasn’t until we reached the song Clown, another song from their 2026 EP, that I took a moment to observe the crowd. I seemed to have missed a memo that you should arrive at the Trauma Ray show in your best clown makeup and get-up. There’s nothing I love more than a theme to an event, and it seems the fans took it upon themselves to dress in their best carnival attire in honor of the Ep’s aesthetic. The show ended relatively late in the night, and as I walked back to my car, I felt like I had experienced an excellent real introduction to shoegaze and a craving to know more. Trauma Ray’s tour with Glixen continues until the 16th of May, ending in Dallas, TX, marking the end of their 30-show tour.
Follow along Glixen and Trauma Ray!
Check out Nikki’s full gallery of the night!
