Sweat, Noise, and Shoegaze: Novulent Takes Over Polaris Hall
Words & photos by Jenny Shackleton
Novulent’s sold-out set at Polaris Hall in Portland felt less like a typical tour stop and more like a snapshot of a subculture fully in bloom. The room was packed wall-to-wall with Portland’s alt-goth Gen Z crowd, faces framed by heavy eyeliner, streaks of neon-dyed hair, and carefully curated thrifted layers. The atmosphere landed somewhere between fashion show and communal ritual. Even before the first note, the energy felt thick and humid, amplified by one of the hottest nights Portland has seen so far this year.
When Novulent finally emerged, shirtless and covered in torso tattoos, studded belts, chains, and spiked bracelets, the crowd erupted. The look could have felt overly staged, but instead it reinforced the DIY authenticity that has driven their rapid rise. Holding an old-timey handheld microphone, Novulent leaned into the lo-fi textures that define their sound, blending hard rock, shoegaze, and Midwest emo into something immersive. The vintage mic added a surprising warmth, softening the distortion and giving even the heavier moments a hazy, dreamlike quality.
The set leaned on fan favorites, with tracks like “Scars” drawing some of the loudest singalongs of the night. It was a reminder of how quickly Novulent has evolved from making songs on BandLab at 17 into a defining voice in the hyper-online shoegaze and alt-rock scene. Songs from VOL. 3 carried particular emotional weight, tracing the messy and intense arc of young love in a way that clearly resonated with the crowd.
Throughout the night, the audience shifted between bursts of moshing and slow, collective swaying. Bodies pressed together in waves as the temperature climbed. Sweat dripped, makeup smeared, and the air thickened, but no one seemed to mind. If anything, it heightened the sense of release. By the end, Polaris Hall felt transformed into something raw and communal, a space where Novulent’s deeply personal music collided with a generation eager to see themselves reflected in it.
Jenny Shackleton (she/her) is a photographer based in Portland, OR, originally hailing from Philadelphia, PA. Her love for live music started over 15 years ago after seeing the Jonas Brothers perform on their Burning Up tour in 2008 and the rest is history. As a naturally shy person, it’s surprising she feels so comfortable at concerts with hundreds of people attending, but has always believed that they are special, somewhat liminal, spaces. Everyone is there for the same reason: to have the best night and see artists pour their souls’ onto the stage. That is what Jenny likes to capture in her photos. Jenny enjoys spending time outside with her partner and their dog, watching movies, and owning way too many sneakers.