It’s the night of Björk’s “Under The K Bridge” DJ set, and the Uber has dropped us off at the wrong location in Queens. Getting in a return car with two strangers, we speculate on the night ahead: sets by Björk, Shygirl, and Eartheater, what r/bjork will be recounting (a lot), and who from the communities we rub shoulders with that we’ll see that night (everyone). 

When we finally get dropped off under the Kosciuszko Bridge—the right venue— the rolling thunder of the night has already begun to take shape. Groups a-plenty roam the grounds amidst the army of food trucks, snacking on elote, empanadas, fried chicken, and whatever’s being shelled out of the “Yankee Doodle Dandy” truck. A certifiable food festival abounds before transitioning into a series of bars with refreshments, including a help desk where a staff member rolls up their sleeve to show off a tattoo attributed to Björk’s “Post” album. Everyone is involved in the energy of the night, it seems. 

“I am kind of starstruck and losing my mind right now. I’m hoping to get cut halfway through her set to go check it out,” the tatted staffer said, choosing to remain anonymous.

Making our way to the performance area, one may have caught flashes of multicolor glitter, clompers by Rick Owens and Moon Boots, and archival Bjork merchandise, complemented with every manner of cocktail and an alarming amount of canned rosé (how do we stop this?) and couples getting handsy before the night’s main event. Such was the energy at the formerly abandoned industrial site – literally under an active highway. Now, the K Bridge has its own Dice page and hosts frequent events including the upcoming Ladyland festival, a Pride-timed extravaganza where the acts have included Honey Dijon, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Caroline Polachek. 

Back at the bar, as predicted, we run into one of several familiar faces that will appear throughout the night. Noir alt-pop musician Carlos Antonio and his gentlemanly boyfriend, for one, classily buy us a round of drinks and we chat about the night ahead. “It’s a lineup of electronic legends, equally eclectic and exciting. There’s Björk, who’s had this incredible staying power since the ‘80s, and then artists who are very current and continuing in her legacy,” Antonio shared. 

It’s not long before it’s time to gather the faithful in front of the altar of Björk, and sit for a most unusual Mass. The stage is packed with what can only be described as an acid-trip Rainforest Cafe, with its queen Björk in a leafy, vegetal bodysuit of her own. Cars whizz overhead and lights flash through the crowd as the ambient noise set plays out to cheers, screams, and the sways of an audience who’ve come from near and far to tap into the energy of the set. It’s a sensory overload—neon lights slicing through the darkness, and the bass thundering under our feet.

Her co-conspirators – Shygirl, Eartheater, and Sega Bodega among them – take on the mantle of gusty, blood-pumping energy with ease. Shygirl stands out especially, ripping through sped-up experiments with the Challengers soundtrack’s horniest melodies, while a revved-up remix of Rico Nasty and Boys Noize’s “Arintintin” galvanizes the crowd into a roaring crescendo of dance and sweat. As Eartheater delves into her repertoire, the crowd is taken on a journey through complex layers of sound and emotion. Her voice, at times a whisper and at others a commanding force, melds perfectly with the intricate instrumentals. Sega Bodega, with his signature blend of gritty beats and melodic hooks, ties everything together, his deft touch transforming the set into a seamless journey through soundscapes both harsh and fluid.

SNL alum Julio Torres brushes past quickly in a flurry of neon pink and sequins, as we make a pit stop at the squadron of porta potties and catch a breath amongst ourselves, Torres clearly on his way to write a Björk-inspired sketch for an upcoming project or Instagram sketch.

It’s a democratic feeling in this line, even as unglamorous as standing for a port-a-john can be. Ages young and old, manifold representations of queerdom and creeds are all here tonight, celebrating one of the grand dames of experimental music and performance. As we catch our breath and bask in the camaraderie, we can’t help but wonder: Did that concert just happen? It’s a question that lingers in the air, a testament to the surrealness of the moment, where strangers become dance partners and barriers dissolve in the embrace of an artists’ leafy green, visionary legacy, all under the Kosciuszko Bridge.