Coming July 7 : Lifeguard - 'Crowd Can Talk / 'Dressed In Trenches'
photo by Mariana Belaval
"17-18 Lovesong"
stream / download "17-18 Lovesong"
presave / preorder 'Crowd Can Talk' / 'Dressed In Trenches'
Formed in 2019, Lifeguard are Asher Case (bass, vocals), Isaac Lowenstein (drums, percussion), and Kai Slater (guitar, vocals). At its core, Lifeguard is a punk band. Their music is loud and energetic. It’s also, at its core, visceral and hypnotic. For the Chicago-based trio that can include repetition and blasts of speaker cone-shredding feedback. Their songs adeptly balance melody and chaos, rhythm and drone. Hooks and noise are held to the same standard. Both have to stick.
They’re a young band, but they’ve already found a place at the forefront of an important emerging music community in their hometown. They are quite prolific. In just three years, Lifeguard has put out a full-length, two EPs, and two 7” singles.
On July 7, Matador will release ‘Crowd Can Talk / Dressed in Trenches’, a
composite of two EPs by Lifeguard. ‘Crowd Can Talk’ was originally released in the summer of 2022 by Chicago label Born Yesterday, while ‘Dressed in Trenches’ features five brand new and unreleased songs. ‘Crowd Can Talk / Dressed in Trenches’ will be made available on vinyl for the first time (A and B-sides of a 12”) and also on CD.
'Crowd Can Talk' and 'Dressed in Trenches' are closely related. They were recorded in separate sessions, but at the same studio (Electrical Audio) and with the same engineer (Mike Lust) and within the space of 12 months. Each finds the band refining its voice –honing songs that are succinct, hooky, and propulsive. There's a newly disciplined attention to detail. Lifeguard write together through collaboration and improvisation, but they’ve learned to streamline their sound, to make each hook, beat, and gesture purposeful.
On each record, there are echoes of underground guitar bands from decades past. This is not record-collector music, though. It’s the product of a present-day community. Lifeguard are, first and foremost, a performing band and the songs are written to stand up in that moment.
“More than old records – before that, before anything – we’re influenced by live shows and people around us,” explains Slater. “The inspiration comes from playing shows with people and having that mind-blown moment of seeing some friend play at Schubas or Book Club,” adds Lowenstein. “It’s happening on these tiny little scales of seeing kids play live and [knowing] this is something new and interesting.”
LP Tracklist :
‘Crowd Can Talk’
1. New Age (I’ve Got A)
2. I Know I Know
3. Fifty Seven
4. Typecast
‘Dressed in Trenches’
1. 17-18 Lovesong
2. Alarm
3. Ten Canisters (OFB)
4. Shutter Shutter
5. Tell Me When
Lifeguard on Tour
Friday, June 9 Genghis Cohen, Los Angeles CA
Thursday, July 6 Summerfest, Milwaukee WI
Thursday, July 20 Central Park Summerstage, New York NY (Free Show) !
Friday, July 21 Ukie Club, Philadelphia PA ^
Saturday, July 22 House of Independents, Asbury Park NJ ^
Sunday, July 23 Ottobar, Baltimore MD ^
Tuesday, July 25 DC9, Washington DC ^
Thursday, July 27 The Pinhook, Durham NC ^
Friday, July 28 The Grey Eagle, Asheville NC ^
Saturday, July 29 Third Man Records, Nashville TN ^
Sunday, July 30 Masquerade, Atlanta GA ^
Tuesday, August 1 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Wednesday, August 2 Toulouse Theatre, New Orleans LA ^
Thursday, August 3 White Oak Music Hall, Houston TX ^
Friday, August 4 The Gremlin, McAllen TX
Saturday, August 5 Paper Tiger, San Antonio TX ^
Monday, August 7 Parish, Austin TX ^
Tuesday, August 8 Sons of Hermann Hall , Dallas TX ^
Wednesday, August 9 George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville AR ^
Friday, August 11 The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS ^
Sunday, August 13 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL ^
! w/ Horsegirl, Water From Your Eyes, Iceage
^ w/ Horsegirl
Lifeguard online :
Bandcamp
Algiers, Lifeguard and Spoon at South By Something Something
Admission / capacity / age restrictions are down to the individual venues and promoters. To quote the Del Fuegos, good luck to all bands (especially these three).
ALGIERS
Wednesday, March 15
Brooklyn Vegan / Resound Showcase at Mohawk (1:30pm)
Academy Fight Songs at Mohawk (1:15am)
Thursday, March 16
Stereogum Showcase at Cheer Up Charlies (12:30pm)
Levitation at Hotel Vegas (7:00pm)
Friday, March 17
In-Store at End of an Ear (2:00pm)
Resound at Parish (5:15pm)
LIFEGUARD
Thursday, March 16
Creem at Chess Club (3:50pm)
Friday, March 17
Resound at Parish (2:15pm)
Hipster Robots at Side Bar (4:20pm)
SXSW Official show at Chess Club (8:00pm)
Saturday, March 18
New Now at Tweedy’s Bar (5:30pm)
SPOON
Thursday, March 16
Luck Reunion (Time TBC)
Lifeguard - Newly Signed To Matador, On Tour With Horsegirl This Summer
(photo by Mariana Beleval)
It is with great pride that we announce that Chicago trio Lifeguard have joined the Matador Records roster.
Formed in 2019, Lifeguard is Asher Case (bass, vocals), Isaac Lowenstein (drums, percussion), and Kai Slater (guitar, vocals). The trio is young – they met in junior high – but have already found a place at the forefront of an important emerging music community in their hometown.
They are also prolific. In just three years, the trio have put out a full-length, two EPs, and two 7” singles – on their own and also through the labels Chunklet Industries and Born Yesterday. Each release has been sharper than the last, with the band honing a distinct balance of melody and noise, rhythm and drone. You can listen to their most recent EP, 'Crowd Can Talk' (2022) here.
In July, Lifeguard will embark on a US tour with labelmates and fellow Chicagoans, Horsegirl. New music is expected in the spring.
Lifeguard on Tour
Saturday, March 4 Beat Kitchen, Chicago IL %
Saturday, April 29 The Metro, Chicago IL #
Friday, July 21 Ukie Club, Philadelphia PA ^
Saturday, July 22 House of Independents, Asbury Park NJ ^
Sunday, July 23 Ottobar, Baltimore MD ^
Tuesday, July 25 DC9, Washington DC ^
Thursday, July 27 The Pinhook, Durham NC ^
Friday, July 28 The Grey Eagle, Asheville NC ^
Saturday, July 29 Third Man Records, Nashville TN ^
Sunday, July 30 Masquerade, Atlanta GA ^
Tuesday, August 1 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Wednesday, August 2 Toulouse Theatre, New Orleans LA ^
Thursday, August 3 White Oak Music Hall, Houston TX ^
Friday, August 4 The Gremlin, McAllen TX
Saturday, August 5 Paper Tiger, San Antonio TX ^
Monday, August 7 Parish, Austin TX
Tuesday, August 8 Sons of Hermann Hall , Dallas TX ^
Wednesday, August 9 George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville AR ^
Friday, August 11 The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS ^
Sunday, August 13 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL ^
% w/ June of 44
# w/ Eleventh Dream Day
^ w/ Horsegirl
Lifeguard online :
Bandcamp
Horsegirl On Tour
Friday, March 10 Irving Plaza, New York NY +
Thursday, March 23 Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL *
Saturday, March 25 Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL *
Sunday, March 26 Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL *
Thursday, March 30 The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester NY *
Friday, March 31 The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester NY *
Saturday, April 1 The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester NY *
Saturday, April 15 Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Indio CA
Saturday, April 22 Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Indio CA
Friday, July 21 Ukie Club, Philadelphia PA ^
Saturday, July 22 House of Independents, Asbury Park NJ ^
Sunday, July 23 Ottobar, Baltimore MD ^
Tuesday, July 25 DC9, Washington DC ^
Thursday, July 27 The Pinhook, Durham NC ^
Friday, July 28 The Grey Eagle, Asheville NC ^
Saturday, July 29 Third Man Records, Nashville TN ^
Sunday, July 30 Masquerade, Atlanta GA ^
Tuesday, August 1 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Wednesday, August 2 Toulouse Theatre, New Orleans LA ^
Thursday, August 3 White Oak Music Hall, Houston TX ^
Friday, August 4 The Gremlin, McAllen TX
Saturday, August 5 Paper Tiger, San Antonio TX ^
Monday, August 7 Parish, Austin TX
Tuesday, August 8 Sons of Hermann Hall , Dallas TX ^
Wednesday, August 9 George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville AR ^
Friday, August 11 The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS ^
Sunday, August 13 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL ^
+ w/ Unwound
* w/ Wilco
^ w/ Lifeguard
stream / purchase 'Versions Of Modern Performance'
Horsegirl Online
Website
Bandcamp