Horsegirl Tickets

There were kids lined around the block; it was the summer of 2021 and Horsegirl was headlining Schubas Tavern. Their eyes were glowing and true as rockets of noise filled the room. There were legs and arms and bodies and hope and suddenly, there was a home for all of them, and they realized that this would be the hour from which their future sprung forth. Even from these early moments, Horsegirl possessed an honesty that has resonated with listeners. It is a spirit they have honoured on their second album, ‘Phonetics On and On’, an exploration of the lines between pop, minimalism and playful experimentation.

There is something about the bitter cold in Chicago that unites the city in January— the two weeks in 2024 that Horsegirl spent recording ‘Phonetics On and On’ were some of the coldest days in Chicago that year. With the heating off in The Loft to avoid sound interference, the band was bundled in multiple sweaters and sitting on their hands between takes. Working closely with musician/producer Cate Le Bon (Deerhunter, Kurt Vile, Wilco) Horsegirl found focus and intimacy in the studio that can only arise when it's simply too cold to step outside. Abandoning the heavy saturation and character studies of ‘Versions of Modern Performance’, Le Bon leads them into new, bright, clear, sonic territories that highlight the inventive nature of these new songs.

After playing together for four years, Horsegirl explores the limits of the trio configuration within ‘Phonetics On and On’ — what if instead of filling out songs with distortion, they utilized the expanse that the three of them didn't occupy? This question seems to be the motivating force behind the record, and the songs are a testament to experimenting with space and texture while maintaining a pop song at the core. New tools help bring this world to life; violins, synths, and gamelan tiles are all woven into the record with complete effect.

Since their debut release in 2022, much has changed for the band. In the fall of that year, they relocated to New York City, where Penelope and Nora were to attend NYU. It was the first time the trio had written music outside of Penelope's parents' basement. You can hear the push in a new direction by virtue of their new environment, but through this time of unparalleled change, the band turns inward. They write with unanticipated honesty, leading us through scenes of girlhood and youth. Friends gathered around the kitchen table, smiling. Silent walks down cold streets as words freeze in air. Quiet mornings reading in bed with your partner sleeping beside you. The indelible truth is that Horsegirl is a band of best friends; being around them you can see that love in their eyes and it is always a joyous thing to witness.