Guitars squealed and shrieked on Sunday night as Cornell University hosted a co-headlining indie rock show between industry veteran Yo La Tengo and Pitchfork darling Broken Social Scene. Though the two groups rock from different ends of the counter-culture spectrum, they are united by meshing spiraling guitar lines which deflect off walls of distortion.

For many bands approaching their 24th year of songwriting, fresh material and nerves can quickly turn sour. Yet Yo La Tengo broke the curve with its 11th album, last year’s stunning “I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass.” Though the trio woke up the crowd with a stirring, feedback-heavy rendition of 2000’s “Cherry Chapstick,” much of the evening’s material sprung from its most recent release. Tracks like “Mr. Tough” and “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind” have spent enough time in the band’s canon to be considered road-tested and were able to rest comfortably alongside its classics.

Overall, Yo La Tengo was able to keep its energy at a high level by frequently switching instruments while juxtaposing gentler tracks with more aggressive affairs. Singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan focused on inventive — if not indulgent — guitar work, coaxing screeches out of his axe to create a thick layer of sound. Working to keep a beat was the crack duo of Kaplan’s wife, drummer/singer Georgia Hubley, and bassist James McNew.

The set’s best moments showcased aggressive soloing against the sturdy rhythm section, such as on the penultimate tune “The Story of Yo La Tango,” which found the gang wrestling against dynamics as Kaplan squeezed all the life out of his guitar.

Yet the set did not lack fun, as the band closed with fan favorite “Nuclear War,” a goofy and loose call-and-response percussion exercise which evolved into an audience sing-along. Though the set dragged a bit in a slow and murky middle, these final two standouts reinvigorated the crowd.

Next up was Broken Social Scene. An always-shifting collective of Canadian rockers, the group has rotated several members in and out of its ranks through the years, developing a strong collaborative roster, which includes members of Stars, Metric and Feist.

The band is now touring as a sextet while touting its latest project, a ‘solo album’ by member Kevin Drew titled “Spirit If...” The disc is marketed as the debut of the group’s leader while employing the band’s members to lend their hands in recording and performance.

How does this project translate live? Unfortunately, Broken Social Scene found itself slightly neutered, as Drew’s solo work is not as captivating as much of the group’s general output. Things began smoothly enough with “Lucky Ones,” a standout from Drew’s disc. The set quickly became muddled, as Drew’s voice was often inaudible among the band’s triple guitar assault. When voices were heard, it sounded like his bandmates were rusty on harmonies.

Predictably, the crowd went wild every time Drew shelved his solo material and dived into Broken Social Scene’s vast array of solid group work. The punching riffs of “Cause = Time” were among the most inspired of the night, while the lengthy “It’s All Gonna Break” shifted moods enough to shake the oft-dormant crowd into a frenzy. Credit the active yet steady heartbeat of drummer Justin Peroff for keeping these challenging songs afloat.

Too often Drew’s solo compositions left the group sounding a little too much like a poppish bar band. Outside of the charging and immediate “Farewell to Pressure Kids,” the bulk of Drew’s solo outings failed to light a spark with even the bandleader’s biggest fans. Even a participatory sing-along to “When It Begins” failed to inspire many in the packed gymnasium.

Ultimately, it is clear that Drew is brimming with talent, but should have heeded the lessons of Yo La Tengo: Feel free to experiment as long as the deviations remain within the comfort zone of your best-loved work.