After wrapping up a six week tour with Porches (including two sold-out NYC shows and many SXSW appearances), UK group Girl Ray capped off their trip with their first-ever North American headlining show which happened Sunday night (3/25) at Brooklyn’s Union Pool. The BrooklynVegan-presented show was sold out, the crowd was clearly happy to be there, as were the band. It was a lovely night.
Singer-guitarist Poppy Hankin, bassist Sophie Moss and drummer Iris McConnell figured out a specific sound from the almost get-go of the group: mossy, ethereal folk rock that’s decidedly English, fond of delicate harmonies and the occasional odd time signature. Here, honed by a lengthy tour and energized by New York City and the enthusiastic Union Pool crowd, Girl Ray genuinely shined.
Highlights: “Ghosty,” a deep cut on their debut album that really blossomed live; new single “The Way We Came Back“; the delicate “Waiting Ages” which is a real showcase of Hankin’s voice and guitar playing; and set-closer “A Few Months” with its groovy, funk-lite second half that got an extended workout Sunday night. (The latter also shone a spotlight on Moss’ inventive, melodic basslines.) Former member Emily Gulliksen Craste (who just happened to be in town?) joined the band for a song, and we also got a new one, named “Rock Out 2” on the setlist, that is the noisiest thing Girl Ray has done. Is this where album #2 is headed?
Opening the night was Au Revoir Simone’s Annie Hart who played a nice set of songs mostly from her solo debut, Impossible Accomplice, and was joined on a few songs by Jane Herships (TEEN, Drawing Boards). Annie also performed one song from the middle of the crowd. Annie also opens for Fujiya & Miyagi at Elsewhere Zone on Saturday (3/31, sold out).
Girl Ray’s Union Pool setlist, and a few Instagrams from the show, are below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgxWEU_Dlai/?taken-at=107729
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgxVRRIlQgq/?taken-at=107729
SETLIST: Girl Ray @ Union Pool 3/25/2018
Stupid Things
Ghosty
Just Like That
Where Am I Now
Preacher
Monday/Tuesday
The Way We Came Back
Don’t Go Back at Ten
If You Like
By the Lake
Trouble
Waiting Ages
“Rock Out 2”
A Few Months