Finding the right words to describe shoegaze as a genre is nearly impossible. Ethereal doesn’t quite cut it; atmospheric is too vague; and dreamy implies a lightness that shoegaze avoids. Rather, shoegaze can be emotional, noisy, harmonious, and mystical all at the same time. Shoegaze seems to transcend the boundaries of traditional alternative rock, while somehow still maintaining a cohesive presence that pleases the ear. Perhaps the appeal of shoegaze is its inherently enigmatic nature.
Consequently, we (Claire and Emma), apparently desperate for an enigmatic experience, attended the September 21st show at The Bishop Bar featuring up-and-coming Midwest shoegaze group She’s Green accompanied by local Bloomington mainstays Mourning Star and Just Penelope. On a rainy and slow Sunday, we couldn’t have asked for better. All three bands fit together perfectly – melancholic shoegaze from Mourning Star, bright indie rock from Just Penelope, and celestial serenades from She’s Green expertly complemented each other. The Bishop Bar knew what it was doing bringing these groups together – the show drew a surprisingly large crowd for a Sunday evening. As part of this uncharacteristically large crowd, we knew we had to relay the experience to encourage you to explore these incredible bands as they bound toward success. So, here is how our night went.
The night began with a haunting performance from Mourning Star, a band that Emma interviewed after their EP release last December. Rising to the stage without introduction and slamming out some released and unreleased tracks, the band enchanted an eager crowd with their loud and captivating instrumentation. Mourning Star’s moody performance called to mind the darker ends of Souvlaki combined with vocals reminiscent of Mazzy Star: a mystifying experience all around. After playing both a cover and their top song, “flowers for yr friends,” Mourning Star left the audience with a longing for more. The band also plays consistent live shows locally in Bloomington, so keep an eye out for updates. Mourning Star will be a wonderful band to watch flourish.
Following Mourning Star, another newly-renamed local Bloomington band took the stage. Just Penelope, originally called Muzzle, debuted their new persona at The Bishop Bar with a stunning set. Accompanied by dazzling projections, Just Penelope dazed the crowd with unreleased music that had a bright, warming effect. The sounds created were what we would call sandy and melodic, creating a mellow but intriguing atmosphere. Just Penelope also delighted the crowd with a live rendition of their recently-released single “June, July,” a punchy indie rock tune that we’ve had on repeat. Seriously, check it out if you haven’t already – it’s incredible. Through broken guitar strings and sweltering stage heat, Just Penelope lifted the crowd and left a delicious taste in our mouths – one of lemon, clover, and the mysterious sweetness of summer.
But the glimmering highlight of our night was the hourlong set by headliner She’s Green. The 5-piece group, hailing from Minneapolis, plays a melodic and glowing variant of Midwest shoegaze headed by vocals from Zofia Smith. The group released their home-recorded first singles, “river” and “smile again” in 2022, and their debut EP, Wisteria, in summer 2023. Wisteria is transcendent. Each track plays like a storybook, with Smith’s airy voice guiding listeners through a perfectly layered backdrop of glare and noise. Wisteria strikes a perfect balance of melody, glare, and rhythm, resulting in 21 minutes of the most irresistible and (bafflingly) catchy shoegaze we’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.
She’s Green has played live around the Midwest since 2022, but are setting off on their first US and UK tour this November (with some solo shows in the Northwest, and shows supporting Drop Nineteens, Blondshell, and Softcult). And if our experience on Sunday was any indication, this is a group absolutely worth making time for.
By the time She’s Green took the stage, standing room inside the Bishop was comfortably full. Bathed in minimalist purple and blue light, they immediately got to playing. The set was about an hour long and included favorites off of Wisteria, a few singles, and (to our delight) two unreleased tracks. The understated yet forceful quality of Smith’s stage presence added, somehow, even more emotional resonance to a crop of already stunning songs. As the Star Tribune recommends in their artist profile, “bring earplugs and maybe a tissue for their set.” Nowhere was this more evident than in its triumphant conclusion. exited with a striking rendition of a track we’d been hoping to hear all night – “Mandy” off of Wisteria. The powerful crescendo to this song already feels like a gut punch through earbuds, so you can imagine how impactful this was to hear live. After some tears, the night came to an end.
Aside from the ringing in our ears, we have one takeaway from this performance: keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to see these groups!!! They all have a bright few months ahead: with their tour, and, hopefully, some local performances from Just Penelope and Mourning Star.
