When in doubt, turn to the youth; they’ll always let you know exactly what is happening. And on a warm spring evening in May, the youth in question lined the streets of Soho, dressed in oversized denim and faded graphic tees, signaling that the next profound happening had already touched down, coming in the form of three barely-legal bandmates from Northern California.

Ahead of the release of their debut album, Silhouette, Midrift, the burgeoning rock band made up of vocalist and guitar player Gus Merkam and brothers Manoa (bass) and Kai (drums) Neukermans, stopped off in New York to host a pop-up show at the bubbling hub that is 66 Greene. Entering through the store's steel threshold earlier in the day, the musical wunderkinds still carry a wide-eyed sincerity befitting a group whose oldest member has only been able to buy beer for about a year — yet the sonic profile they’ve honed feels more characteristic of an established touring act.

This balance of sonic maturity and an unjaded disposition is the key to Midrift’s early successes, attracting admirers of every age — young, old, or somewhere in between — and giving everyone a reason to latch onto some aspect of their identity.

As the sun began to set, peeking between the buildings of Lower Manhattan, the queue of overly eager fans continued to grow, each hoping to squeeze in to catch even a glimpse of the trio’s performance. Just a few moments prior to Midrift taking the stage, the doors swung open, giving way to a rushing stream of bodies that began jostling their way into the narrow space.

Just as the crowd's energy shifted from engaged anticipation to outright impatience, the three emerging musicians appeared before the manic throng. With the strike of a single note, the match was finally lit, turning the once stoic storefront into the electric epicenter of rock music’s future. Inciting an end-to-end moshpit that continued for almost an hour, the Midrift members played their way through a setlist that included shoegazy records like "unrequited" and “into place,” along with tracks like “reaching for you” and “over anything” off the upcoming project.

With each rhythmic downbeat and moody vocal run, the crowd properly responded, lurching back and forth in a trance-like state and engaging in an unconscious dialogue that showcased both the band’s precocious stage presence and the audience’s clear devotion to the music.

Concluding the intimate performance with a forceful drum solo that seamlessly bled into the band’s hit songs “Twin Flames” and “it still feels real to me,” making it clear that Midrift not only captured the attention of those standing before them, but also that of an industry that is difficult to impress – and even harder to break into. With their almost riot-inducing display within the walls of 66 Greene, it seems the kids will be just fine after all.

Listen to Midrift’s debut album Silhouette on June 5.