Speedy Ortiz @ The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool, 19 May

Looking for tonight’s watchword? Let’s go with LOUD. Speedy Ortiz are a beautifully complex tangle of interloping guitar freakouts, head-wrecking subtleties and winsome pop hooks, and they make it sound so darn easy. Tonight, however, that all borders on the academic thanks to a furious assault on the senses: heavy blows rain down on us courtesy of Mike Falcone’s deftly-muscular drumming, while it’s all our ears can do to keep from bleeding when the dual-axe fuzz reaches fever pitch. Needless to say, it’s magnificent.

Such intense volume can, of course, produce polarised results. The tartrazine thrills of American Horror’s fizzy pop feel a little diluted by the roar (lose!), but the nervous energy channelled in its place thankfully makes ‘em feel air-punchingly great (win!). And although Sadie Dupuis’ book-smart lyricism is buried in the mix (lose!), we’re still thoroughly immersed in those Helium-esque melodies (win!), glorious squalls (double win!) and all-round addictive songs (wiiiiiin!). By the time the band introduce their ode to Taylor Swift – “the coolest celeb” – we’re drowning in dopey grins and quiet awe. Massachusetts kids sure know how to goof off in style.

The majestic No Below is the one moment where it all lets up; a gentle confluence of nostalgic remembrance and spidery fingerwork, finally exploding into cathartic blasts of not-quite-white noise. As the fireworks subside, we shake the sunspots from our eyes and massage our ringing ears, dizzy with excitement. Speedy Ortiz are loud as hell, and right now that really does feel like victory. [Will Fitzpatrick]