The Sirens of Doomgaze: Faetooth Crushes Marquis Theater

By: Leo Murrell and Leah Turturro

Thursday, May 7, 2026 was an evening filled with all-encompassing instrumentals, passionate vocals, and unique performances. Three alternative bands from across the country shared the stage at the Marquis Theater and completely entranced an all ages crowd.

The first opener, Nightosphere, out of Kansas City, warmed up the crowd with long, sprawling songs that balanced melancholy with intensity. Their tracks “Foxfire” and “Dead Man’s Curve” from the album Katabasis featured haunting vocals and immersive instrumental passages that completely filled the Marquis’ intimate show space. The three-piece embraced flexibility throughout their set by frequently switching bass and guitar duties between members while alternating lead vocals from song to song.

Following their performance, as I spoke with several crowd members about how Nightosphere’s music made them feel,the word that came up most often was “ethereal.” Other show-goers pointed to the band’s instrumental switches and praised the group’s energy on stage. Nightosphere delivered a chill, atmospheric take on doom metal that contrasted perfectly with the next opener’s far more kinetic sound.

Latter, an integral part of Chicago’s noise rock scene, completely blew Denver away. Their viscerally poetic lyrics, raw vulnerability, and explosive stage presence quickly sparked a mosh pit. Lead vocalist Meredith Haines channels personal experiences, including past relationships and living with chronic illness, into every performance, creating a cathartic atmosphere that openly welcomes emotion from the crowd.

Meredith Haines rocks the Marquis Stage out

Latter’s set was as visual as it was musical. Meredith incorporated her background in modern dance to physically embody the band’s music, adding another layer of intensity to the performance. Every member of the four-piece seemed perfectly locked in with one another as they powered through an aggressive set that ended with one of their standout tracks, “My Body is My Sickness.” During the final song, Meredith emerged from backstage carrying a plastic chainsaw and wearing only a hospital gown. Throughout the performance, she used the props to cultivate a chaotic and deeply emotional tribute to those living day-to-day with chronic illness. The set concluded with Meredith tearing apart the gown with the chainsaw while the rest of the band erupted into soul-shaking instrumentals. By the end, show-goers described the experience as “fantastic” and “crazy” as they prepared for the night’s headliner–Faetooth.

Haines with the chainsaw.

Closing out the night, Faetooth exceeded expectations with crushing scream vocals, smooth guitar riffs, and energizing drum work. The Los Angeles-based trio, consisting of bassist/vocalist Jenna Garcia, guitarist/vocalist Ari May, and drummer Rah Kanan, embraces “fairy doom” in its purest form. Formed in 2019, the group set out to explore identity and vulnerability through the mystery and dark beauty of the natural world. Their sound blends sludge, shoegaze, black metal, and doom metal into the genre they now define as fairy doom.

This was my second time seeing Faetooth live; the first was in Sacramento back in 2024. With the release of their 2025 album Labyrinthine, their music feels like it is constantly evolving as they deepen their connection to nature, identity, and each other. Much of the set pulled from Labyrinthine, including tracks like “Iron Gate” and “Hole,” though they also performed material from “Remnants of the Vessel”. Garcia and May especially impressed the crowd with their blend of harsh doom-inspired screams and soft, poetic vocals, a combination that fully embodies the band’s dark, nature-driven aesthetic.

If their Denver performance was any indication, Faetooth’s 2026 tour is only pushing the band deeper into the immersive and emotionally charged sound that continues to define fairy doom. Their major 2026 North American headlining tour runs from April through at least early September with more than 25 dates across the U.S. and Canada. Between North American stops, the band is also scheduled to appear at international shows and festivals throughout Europe and the UK this summer, bringing their unique sound to audiences across borders.