Horsegirl "GRWM"
For 2nd album "Phonetics On and On" & Chicago release show
In February 2025, the band/musicians I’m most excited about is Horsegirl. Their second album comes out Feb 14th. Chicago album release show is Feb 22nd. I wanted to put this post together in the lead up.
“Six Degrees” of Horsegirl
Learned about Horsegirl in a typically roundabout way. I like telling these stories.
I got tickets to Kate Bollinger’s 2024 headline tour supporting her new album. Sharp Pins was opening for her in Chicago. I looked them up. Found out Sharp Pins are Kai Slater’s solo/side project. He’s also in Lifeguard. Lifeguard’s Wikipedia page mentions their bassist and drummer were originally in Horsegirl. I looked them up. And followed Horsegirl on Instagram.
Initial Listen
Can’t remember if I’d listened to anything by them at the time. I probably did. I would have applied “The YouTube Test” (that I may explain at some point). And that would have led me to watch the music videos for Anti-glory and Billy. That sounds familiar, so that’s probably what happened.
“The Chicago Way”
I would have stopped there. Though I was a little more interested since they’re a Chicago band, and it did feel like I was missing out on the local music scene. I’ve come to think of them as the Chicago version of something like the London band Red Ivory.
In that sense it’s fitting that I first heard of Kate Bollinger when she was opening for Liz Phair (who’s from Chicagoland). I had considered driving to Kalamazoo or Madison (where Kate was going to open) to see Liz again after the Chicago show (where Blondshell opened). I didn’t end up doing that, but did listen to Kate’s setlist in case I did. That’s how I ended up going to Kate’s headline show the next year, when Sharp Pins opened.
Cryptic Posts
At some point I probably noticed Horsegirl were posting again/regularly on Instagram. Looking back, I have a vague memory of the post below captioned “What is Horsegirl up to?” Though probably more the caption than the image.
Now I recognize that as the backdrop for the “2468” music video. The video was not released at the time. But you can see the backdrop in the thumbnail for the music video below. Thinking of it now, it does still feel like an ambitious song. Much more stripped back and spare. So you hear the instrumentation more starkly.
This would be followed cryptic posts, not captioned. Culminating in this, captioned “See you tomorrow.”
First Single, Album/Tour Announcement
The next day they would post on Instagram the single cover for “2468,” the album cover for “Phonetics On and On” and a still from the “2468” music video. “2468” would be their first single of that album, released with the music video on the same day they’re announcing the album.
That same day, they also announced their headline tour to support the album in the post below. This includes the album release show at Metro in Chicago, with support from Lifeguard and Answering Machines.
Metro Presale
On the day of the announcement, tickets for the Metro show were probably not on general sale yet. But there was a venue presale coming up. I managed to sign up to the Metro list in time to get their presale code. That e-mail included the graphic below. Presale password was “HGMETRO.”
I got a presale ticket. It turns out I need not have been in such a rush - as of this post, there are still tickets available.
Album Producer and “EPK”
I suspect at the time I was planning around the fact that the album would be out a week before the show. Which meant I would have to do some intensive listening leading up to the show. I would also have been on the lookout for further singles. In part because I really liked “2468.”
At the time, I would have also looked up Cate Le Bon, who produced the album. I had not heard of her, or her music career. The main thing I remember from looking her up is that per her Wikipedia page, “Her stage name is a tribute to English musician Simon Le Bon” of Duran Duran. Resisting the urge to post a link to “Hungry Like The Wolf.”
Around this time, Horsegirl posted some footage of them on the road for a recent tour.
They also posted a “Behind the Song” video for “2468.”
Broader Listening, Setlist, Singapore
At some point I probably also found their KEXP set. Where they’re playing tracks from their first album, “Versions of Modern Performance.” This is probably where I start wondering if Penelope is playing a guitar like a bass. In a sense similar to Sleater Kinney. Because that doesn’t look like a 6-string bass. But on recordings, it sounds like a bass.
As I put together a potential setlist (since updated) based on previous shows, I noticed the cover of their first album. And recognized the back of the old (1st generation) Singapore 20 cent coin. This is the album cover.
Below is an image of the coin, from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
In putting together my guess at their setlist, I assumed they would likely play the whole album - most of which won’t come out till Feb 14th. I did include the songs from the first album they had continued to play recently. Though recent sets seemed to include songs that I’m now seeing will be on the new album.
Julie
Their second single from the album is Julie.
Not long before all this, I had seen The Breeders play. Julie reminds me of their song “Walking With a Killer.” Even the style of the music video is similar. This song wasn’t played during that set, but the song shows up regularly on their setlists.
This is the “behind the song” for Julie.
At some point, I started referring to the song as “Horsebear.”
I do like the story of how they ended up omitting the rhythm (I’m assuming) guitar part. And how they weren’t able to do better than the first take of the “effects guitar” they layered on top.
What I really wonder is how they’re going to play this live. Whether there will be a synth/keyboard for this. I’m assuming Penelope can be on bass and sing. While Nora does guitar. Wondering if the audience will want to clap along.
Switch Over
Third single is “Switch Over.” This feels more of what fans of the previous album might be into. In the video, I do like the vaguely Lynchian doubling and appearing/disappearing. Also the part where Penelope gestures to herself to shift a bit to the right/left.
Am I wrong to think the building they’re in looks very much like Chicago architecture? If only because I suspect New York buildings would not necessarily have that much space.
Behind the song. I did like Cate’s note - “speed it up.”
It feels like this is the album they discover the use of hand claps as percussion. They use it well. I wonder if the audience will clap along in an appropriate way when they play. With this song it would probably be less likely to overwhelm. With Julie, I’d worry they’d drown out the singing.
This is the playlist for all the music videos and “behind the songs” for the album.
Frank Black x2, Metro Posters
I went to both nights Frank Black was at Metro for the 30th anniversary of Teenager of the Year.
I was there in line before doors open both nights, and there were posters promoting the Horsegirl show. This is in the display right outside the main doors.
This is in the alley.
Handbills, Pre-Setlist
Apparently there are hand bills promoting the album. I have not seen any in person.
The Harry Potter doodle makes me feel better about occasionally referring to Penelope as “Hermione-hair.”
This is the stub setlist for the album release show that I’ll fill in later.
I may add to this/fill in sections in the lead-up to the album getting released. And I have.
At some point I added Lifeguard and Answering Machines songs to the list. But Lifeguard’s setlists seem to include a number of unreleased songs. And Answering Machines only seem to have the one short album released. I’m tempted to ask for setlists. But in Lifeguard’s case, I’m not sure it would help. And similarly with Answering Machines. If it’s not released, there’s not much I can do about it.
This may be for another post, but I’m now thinking of the 2 print interviews I read with Horsegirl. And the idea of Horseparents.