On April 25th, boundary-pushing rockers Black Country, New Road brought their 2024 tour to Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. The iconic venue with an industrial interior and ceilings that reach the heavens welcomed Camera Picture and BC, NR. Neither performance left anything behind, leaving a mark on the city. The band has been all over the road this year, with stints in Australia and China. The band is preparing to open for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on their Fall world tour. All this is to promote Live at Bush Hall, the band’s recently released live LP featuring all new material. Songs from the recent release were mixed with unreleased music as Black Country, New Road performs grand psychedelia on a chilly spring night in Philadelphia.
Arms were uncrossed, and jaws were dropped. Camera Picture displayed a guitar prowess that was, in a word, stunning. Their ability to create hypnotic melodies while sitting cross-legged on stage is a sight. Their mastery of the instrument is astonishing. Camera Picture unleashed a cascade of nimble finger plucking that was captivating. Their instrumental work was mesmerizing, but when you add their songwriting abilities, the whole experience is elevated. Their vulnerability falls like a blanket of snow over the crowd, evoking an incomparable warmth. Their unique perspective is mixed with the emotional strumming to create pure magic. Combining jazz tropes with nuanced folk separates the artist from their singer/songwriter contemporaries. Camera Picture put on a performance that left an impact. Their ability to write from such a vulnerable place and set it to such eloquent guitar work is a spiritual experience.
As expected, Black Country, New Road displayed brilliance. Their expansive sonics miraculously sound intimate and quaint in a live setting. Their chemistry unraveled in a technicolored performance seamlessly transitioning between fireworks-style crescendos to soft folk-inspired tunes. There is no single star in the band; each member has a chance to take the lead. Different musicians would enter from left and right, holding their respective instruments. It is theatrical watching the band shift around before launching into the microcosm of their sonics. Even with the constant movement and plethora of band members, Black Country, New Road found a way to make the show feel personal. They create a welcoming atmosphere via complex harmonies that wash over the room like high tide.
Dynamically deep and unbelievably mystical, Black Country, New Road added even more depth to their complex recordings. A good chunk of the setlist was lifted from their 2023 Live at Bush Hall LP. Songs like “The Boy” and “Turbines/Pigs” contain soaring vocals and fairy-like melodies. The band performed a string of unreleased music that was dizzying and gothic. Their new album is already shaping into a whimsical sonic journey with plenty of wind instruments. The band could keep the audience on their toes by performing unreleased music. You never knew if they would launch into a highlight from their recent live album or pull out a song you’ve never heard. This unique approach to creating a setlist is right on par with the experimental sound the band was toying with. Their new music sounds softer, holding a universe of lush horns and gorgeous falsettos.
