True musical nerdiness unfolds in a versatile mix of free jazz, desert blues, and West African rhythms when the four American musicians in Horse Lords come together. After several unforgettable concerts at ALICE, the live-renowned band returns in October with their fifth studio album. She will perform before Horse Lords this evening.

True musical nerdiness unfolds in a versatile mix of free jazz, desert blues, and djent-inspired polyrhythms when Andrew Bernstein (saxophone, percussion), Max Eilbacher (bass, electronics), Owen Gardner (guitar), and Sam Haberman (drums) come together under the name Horse Lords. Already with their first release, “Horse Lords” from 2012, they became a well-known name in progressive and alternative music circles, securing tours with names such as Matmos, Guerilla Toss, and Guardian Alien. The album “Interventions” (2016) truly established them as a coveted name and was hailed as a masterpiece in several places. With its distinctive crossover of improvisation and composition, electronics, and hand-played rock, the album appeared on many lists of the best records of the year. Horse Lords are now on the verge of releasing their fifth studio album “Comrade Objects” (2024). The first single “Mess Mend” is just a taste of the band’s new explorations of a united musical and political vision, expressed through pulsating polyrhythms and incomparable harmonies.

Horse Lords impress not only on record. They are also known for delivering a series of astonishing concerts and several strong live videos, which have firmly established their name as a band not to be missed live if given the chance. Horse Lords have already played at ALICE several times, and now we have the pleasure of welcoming the beloved American quartet back in October when they return with a new album.

Gwenifer Raymond
Despite her Welsh background, Raymond has made a significant mark as a prominent interpreter of the American guitar tradition. In her youth, she played punk and grunge, but it was, among other things, Nirvana’s interpretation of the American blues legend Leadbelly that steered her towards American folk music – from blues to Appalachian folk, and particularly towards the path of American Primitive guitarists like John Fahey.

Her sparkling fingerpicking on both guitar and banjo draws from strong roots and solid role models, but she is also a musician with her own personal style – a style that has garnered admiration in the US, where the renowned label Tompkins Square has embraced her. Her debut album, “You Never Were Much of a Dancer,” received fantastic reviews, and the level of ambition rises even higher with her latest outstanding album, “Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain” (2020). So there is definitely much to look forward to when Gwenifer Raymond performs at ALICE this evening.