Photos by Jessica Mejia

Saturday night was blustery, but a crowd was already a block deep to get into Bottom of the Hill to see British pop songstress Kate Nash.

NYC’s Supercute, a bubblegum trio who looked like little confections with candy bows, were introduced by Nash, who was seen sitting side-stage during the set singing along to the girls’ infectious ditties. With sweet and earnest harmonies as well as a rather mischievous sense of humor, Supercute more than lived up to their moniker. They reminded me of my little sisters, which wasn’t surprising, considering they ranged in age from 13 (June Lei on keys) to 16 (Rachel Trachtenberg on uke).

Wait a minute, wait a minute! Cue intense jealousy: opening for a kind-of-a-big-thing artist like internet sensation Kate Nash at the age of 13? Gosh, I hope the rest of her teenage years aren’t a let-down. But anyway, Supercute — who explained that they came up with their name because they like to say that they’re supercute on stage — sang original songs about candy (“Candy City”) and pigeons. The “Hula Hoop Song,” which had Trachtenberg and guitarist Julie Cumming twisting on stage with hula hoops as they sang, was especially adorable. Especially when they told us that the airline wouldn’t allow them to bring their hoops on the plane. Probably the best moment of Supercute’s set was a stripped down cover of Pink Floyd’s “Pigs,” a song they dubbed one of their favorites. What’s their age again? Their last song of the evening was “Not to Write About Boys,” a way-better-than that fantastic Brandy/Monica collaboration “The Boy Is Mine”: in Supercute’s version they fall in love with the same boy and and almost break up. And then they realize that it’s not worth it. Ah, friends 4 eva! Let’s read Baby-Sitters Club books together, girls!

A cup of tea preceded Kate Nash on stage. Nash, garbed in a short motorcycle jacket and smeared red, red lipstick, spoke softly as she greeted the audience. She opened with “Paris,” her wailing a slap in the face after her light banter with the audience. Nash mouthed the ba-dum-ba-dums right along with her keyboard, reminiscent of the energy that Tori Amos or Amanda Palmer has behind the piano, launching into a set that included magical moments like “Mouthwash” and “Don’t You Want to Share the Guilt?” Easily moving between the keys (amazing) and the guitar (slightly less so), 22-year-old Nash sang songs a little like your middle school diary set to music, but with all of that angst coloring her voice.

When Nash introduced a song about homophobia, the audience booed, and she congratulated us for not cheering. “If you’re homophobic, you’re a prick,” said Nash, and we heartily agreed. Supercute took to the stage once more when Nash sang her hit “Foundations.” The girls were dressed in matching sequined hot pink dresses and danced behind Nash, who said that she never wanted to play “Foundations” without them. Nash easily became my favorite of the musicians of her type that have come out of the U.K., like Lily Allen or Adele, thanks to her ability to make you feel as if you both are laying on the floor of her bedroom listening to some pretty intense secrets shared between best friends.

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