Horsegirl, Able Baker, sylvie lou

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courtesy Horsegirl

Horsegirl

As part of a short Midwest tour, Chicago trio Horsegirl makes their first trek outside the Windy City to help reopen beloved Madison venue High Noon Saloon. Still in their teens, the group was recently signed to independent powerhouse Matador Records; the few recordings available so far are a perfect mixture of atmospheric, harmony-laden and noisy. Catch them before they blow up. Madison is well-represented on the bill by the catchy rock songs of Able Baker and slowcore pop of sylvie lou.

$13.

media release: Chicago’s Horsegirl, the noisy rock trio of 17-18 year olds Penelope Lowenstein (she/her), Nora Cheng (she/her), and Gigi Reece (they/them), announce their first tour and first performances outside of Chicago. They’ll play select cities across the Midwest, including debut appearances in Madison, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee, plus a hometown show to cap it off (all 18+ or all ages). Additionally, they’ll make their festival debut this September at the Pitchfork Music Festival. This tour builds off of the excitement following Horsegirl’s recent Matador signing announcement and the release of their “Ballroom Dance Scene” b/w “Sea Life Sandwich Boy” 7”, which sold out within 24 hours.

  Horsegirl operate as a true unit, with a young and punk-minded aesthetic. Since forming almost two years ago, Cheng, Lowenstein and Reece have spent countless after school and weekend hours honing their collective vision, live and on record. There’s an edginess to their overall lyrics and sound, which feature dreamy guitars and distinct dual vocal melodies by Cheng and Lowenstein, and the propulsive rhythmic drums of Reece.  

Raised in Chicago, Lowenstein and Cheng met through a local music program, where they initially bonded over their similar taste in records. After frequenting local shows together, and Reece joining one night, they quickly became friends who fell in love with discovering music, sending each other songs and videos from now defunct DIY bands and scenes. After a brief time in a Sonic Youth cover band, and one open mic later, Horsegirl was formed. Since then, they’ve played local house parties, art museums, and all ages venues.

  Praise for Horsegirl  

“No artist has introduced themselves more strongly and with greater immediacy than the arty, wise-beyond-their-years nu-gazers of Horsegirl.” - NME  

“Synthesizing a wide range of inspirations from Sonic Youth to Swirlies to the influential ‘80s and ‘90s indie output of New Zealand label Flying Nun, Horsegirl’s music is aurally complex without being pretentious, thoughtfully produced sans excessive polish.” - NYLON  

“[Horsegirl’s] songwriting shows a confidence and flair that you’d be happy to find in groups twice

their age.” - WNYC New Sounds  

“On [‘Ballroom Dance Scene’], guitarists Lowenstein and Cheng’s sleep-smeared murmurs stumble into each other atop Reece’s steady drum work. The words and phrases that float to the surface sound like entries in a haunted dream journal” - Pitchfork  

“Fantastic”

- NPR Music’s All Songs Considered on “Ballroom Dance Scene”  

“Horsegirl’s members are still in high school, but this Chicago trio sounds like they’ve been plotting their rise forever.” - Paste