Black Country, New Road - Bowery Ballroom

First, though, was Horsegirl, a much feted new noise pop-rock trio who have landed on the storied label Matador. Their set was almost as mindblowing as BC,NR's, searing yet melodic songs that at once attacked and soothed through the twin guitars of Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein, the latter's resembling a bass for most of the show. The group often began their cuts with instrumental freakouts before settling on pretty, My Bloody Valentine style - though radically unique! - eye of the storm vocals traded between the guitarists.

BC,NR's entirely new set was heralded first by Paul Williams's "You Give A Little Love" and then the band's own breakneck "Up Song", a rousing chorus that defiantly announced "Look at what we did together! BC,NR! Friends forever!" in an explicit symbol of the band's newfound creativity and energy. Their fresh cuts primarily build upon Ants From Up There's styles in ever more tender and beautiful directions, defined by the now six-piece's rotating vocals, never having a singer do two songs in a row. Most radical to my mind are the stardusted faerie tale lyrics of pianist/keyboardist May Kershaw, whose "The Boy" was defined by storybook chapters. Later, her "Turbines/Pigs" sequence started with her solo, spinning her yarn for the rest of the band who were sitting down like at kindergarten storytime, before they slowly joined her song with their respective instruments in an apotheosis.

Bassist Tyler Hyde sung most songs and proved the most standout, leading "Up Song", the finale "Dancers", and four other cuts. Saxophonist/flutist Lewis Evans rounded out the leads with his own couple of tracks; I particularly adored his "The Wrong Trousers". And so, even though we were deprived of violinist Georgia Ellery's "Geese", the band was done after "Dancers"... except that Tyler announced that they had a cover they could play as a sort of encore. She thereafter led the band in an explosive, eclectic version of the new Billie Eilish cut "Happier Than Ever", joined by the entirety of Horsegirl singing along and jumping for joy in the middle of the stage.

Can't wait for LP III!