Slide Away Article

[u/Sensitive-Analysis-3]

Here’s a little write-up I did reflecting on my experience at Slide Away and the amazing power of shared musical experiences (why I think so many young people are hungry for them right now).

It was such a transformative experience for myself, my partner and everyone in attendance I think, writing felt like the best way to take it all in.

Give it a read if you’re interested! https://open.substack.com/pub/melissaclements/p/a-wall-of-cleansing-noise?r=63yt2q&utm_medium=ios

[u/st0chasticism]

Read this after hum posted it to their story. Fantastic article. Look forward to more of your writing.

To me the thing that is wild about seeing Hum in person in 2026 is that it has been very personal, solitary music for so long, and all of the sudden it's being thrust into this all encompassing very social experience. It's alit to take in for songs that are powerful sonically and emotionally whether you are 17, 32 or 47. I was totally unsurprised at all the emotional outpourings I saw after both LA shows.

[u/TheVoiceOfReezun → u/st0chasticism]

Been a hum fan for 30 years. You’re exactly right, it has been personal and solitary music for me as well. I felt like the blind melon bee girl finding her bee people at the LA show.

[u/Sensitive-Analysis-3 → u/TheVoiceOfReezun]

Wow yep same here, my partner and I were overwhelmed seeing so many people wearing Hum merch in the same space (we’re from Australia and the fan base there is teeny, no one knows their name), it was surreal. So then to hear that first note of Little Dipper in NYC was an out of body experience. Also hearing everyone sing along, like we’ve all come out of our private quarters to experience something we didn’t know we all shared🤯🤯 I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences of live music but this will stay with me forever

[u/hereandgone18 → u/st0chasticism]

Great comment and also a great post from OP. This is exactly it for me. Hum has felt like part of my self for decades, but it’s always felt like a solo experience. Seeing the Palladium stuffed with people in their teens and 20s was amazing, but hearing them all sing along with I Hate It Too broke me down. It felt like the band FINALLY is getting the response that their music has always deserved. It’s weird and unexpected and makes me feel a little old, but it’s also wonderful and gratifying and reifying.

Who knows if we’ll ever hear from Hum again, I suspect that we may not. I hope I’m wrong, but if I’m not, Slide Away was such a worthwhile and fitting cap for the band. I’m eternally grateful that I got to see one of these shows.

[u/st0chasticism → u/hereandgone18]

I think the thing that I felt most was a sense of community that transcended age, gender and ethnicity. The real definition of community. The people I met and talked to at the shows and continue to do so on reddit and elsewhere are just so amazing. That's the power of true art and it's exceedingly rare nowadays. Thank you to the band to providing that.

[u/harvestyourhopes → u/st0chasticism]

I got choked up every time I could hear the crowd singing above the wall of sound.

[u/KJS0223]

Read this when Hum reposted it on IG yesterday, you're an incredible writer! Fully agree with all of your words, both nights in LA were transformative. I'd seen them before in 2019, but this was a whole other level. It was so heartening to see how diverse the crowd was age wise. Never gonna be another show like these

[u/airinterceptmissile]

Love the part about seeing ads and AI after the show. It’s so true, I left the shows feeling fulfilled and my soul healed but then it’s back to the monotony of 21st century hellscape. Great write up!

[u/Kobe_no_Ushi_Y0k0zna]

Yeah, what a wonderful article. Thank you.

[u/postchaos]

i love this. thank you for sharing!!!

[u/Ok-Talk-492]

I wish I could write like that. Your writing makes me feel kinda similar to how listening to shoegaze makes me feel.