On September 19th, 2025, the lineup and dates for Slide Away 2026 were revealed. The rock festival is scheduled for three weekends in May 2026 in the major cities of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. It is being headlined by shoegaze titans Hum, Chapterhouse, and Nothing. This festival signifies a large milestone for each of the headlining bands, marking the first time Hum will perform live since the tragic death of their drummer, Bryan St. Pere, who passed away in 2021. It is also the first live performance from Chapterhouse in fifteen years. As for Nothing, this event celebrates the tenth anniversary of their album Tired of Tomorrow (2016). All three of the bands are influential in their own right, but I want to use this article to focus on Hum, as I am most excited to see them perform in May.
In order to fully appreciate the music of Hum, one should have knowledge of the 1990s rock music scene, as well as the band’s history. The music of the 90s took a violent shift from the glitzy and glamorous noise of the 80s, as this era was characterized by emerging and experimental subgenres, including grunge, alternative rock, pop punk, industrial rock, Britpop, and nu-metal, which gained mass popularity. This new sound, especially grunge and alt rock, was defined by its raw, distorted, and sludgy melodies, as seen prominently in bands like Dinosaur Jr., Failure, and Alice in Chains. This was exactly the impression that Hum had aimed to produce. Founded in Champaign, Illinois, Hum’s primitive direction was to produce a raw, heavy, sludgy take on shoegaze and alternative rock which was evidently established in the group’s first two albums, Fillet Show (1991) and Electra 2000 (1993). These rudimentary albums had limited reach at the time. The generation’s tendency to experiment with genre fusion & blending is eminent in Hum’s music- the band’s sound is an amalgamation of alternative rock, post-hardcore, space rock, and shoegaze. Fans speculate on the bands which influenced Hum, with one facebook forum naming groups such as Rush, Failure, Slint, and My Bloody Valentine. These bands have either been featured in lead vocalist & guitarist Matt Talbott’s bar, Loose Cobra, in Tolono, Illinois, or have been mentioned in interviews with the band.
Space rock & shoegaze influences are especially noticeable in the band’s most popular album You’d Prefer and Astronaut (1995); the ethereal, distorted waves of noise in tandem with extensive use of guitar synthesizers and effects help invoke a dreamlike and cosmic atmosphere that complements the space-themed lyrics. The release of this album marked the turning point in Hum’s career; while the major-label debut initially had modest sales, the single Stars unexpectedly became a sensation on alternative radio and MTV and ended up peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band spent much of the same year and 1996 touring, until their 1998 album Downward Is Heavenward. The critically acclaimed album is considered to be the band’s magnum opus, refining their sound with intricate guitar work, denser production, and more poetic lyrics. Despite this high praise, the album sold poorly compared to its predecessor, leading the band’s label, RCA, to drop them in 2000. Following the commercial disappointment of Downward is Heavenward, Hum went on an indefinite hiatus. During this era, their reputation only skyrocketed. The band became revered as a cult classic as new generations of fans grew online. Hum’s unique blend of heavy, melodic, and atmospheric rock left a lasting impression on many newer artists, being cited as an inspiration by groups such as Deafheaven, Stemage, and most famously by Chino Moreno, lead singer of Deftones. Afterward, the group played sporadic reunion shows in the mid-2010s before shocking the music world by announcing and releasing a new album, Inlet (2020), with no prior warning. The album did very well, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Current Album Sales chart. The album was powerful and cohesive, and was met with universal praise for capturing that classic Hum sound that fans know and adore. As their most recent release to this day, the album serves as a culmination of their legacy that can be enjoyed by old and new generations alike.
All in all, the band’s lasting impact on the music industry, holding up strongly to this day, deserves to be recognized for its early innovation in the 90s Alt Rock scene. Their dense, atmospheric sound they are known and loved for has sprouted a new adoration for the genre in many fans and up-and-coming musicians. I hope to see you all at Slide Away 2026!
