Black Country, New Road at Paper Tiger
Photo by Alejandra Sol Casas
Days before the release of Black Country, New Road’s second album, "Ants From Up Here," lead singer Isaac Wood departed from the band to prioritize his mental well-being. This decision compelled the English ensemble to cancel their U.S. tour and create an entirely new repertoire. Consequently, they released their third album, "Live At Bush Hall," which was recorded and videotaped live in 2023, preceding subsequent festival performances, including Coachella just a few days ago.
Addressing the audience, they remarked, "It’s our second time in Texas, but our first time in San Antonio." Their previous Texan stop was in 2022, alongside Black Midi in Austin.
For many fans, this marked their first encounter with Black Country, New Road since Wood's departure. There was a palpable nervousness among the crowd. However, by the end of the performance, it became evident that the band could forge their way into the realm of avant-jazz, post-punk, and indie rock, even in the absence of Wood.
Arriving late to the show, I caught "The Boy," a multi-chapter imaginative tale whimsically sung by May Kershaw, accompanied by dainty symphonic notes on flute and violin, depicting an injured bird seeking a mole to mend its broken wing, and encountering a boy and a deer along the way.
Rather than seeking a direct replacement for Wood, the band adopted a collaborative approach to vocals, with each member taking turns at the microphone, carving each song with newfound depth and vulnerability. Kershaw and Tyler Hyde eulogized a self-sabotaged relationship with "Laughing Song," while Georgia Ellery grappled with the haunting betrayal of trust on "Horses."
Though lacking in traditional stage presence, the band compensated with their maximalist theatrical instrumentality, featuring flutes, violin, mandolin, keyboard, saxophone, and accordion. The night crescendoed with the rhythmic intensity of "Dancers" and climaxed with the piano pounding of "Up Song," demonstrating that a band can lose its most integral member, reallocate musical roles, hastily construct an entirely new setlist, and emerge sounding all the more beautiful.
