Chicago band Lifeguard make music that 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 of Chicago. Over the past three years, the trio comprised of Asher Case (bass, vocals), Isaac Lowenstein (drums, percussion), and Kai Slater (guitar, vocals) has put out a full-length, two EPs, and two 7” singles.

On July 7th, Matador Records 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 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.

“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.”

Lifeguard
CROWD CAN TALK/DRESSED’ IN TRENCHES’
Tracklist
Matador Records

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 2023 Tour Dates

July 6 Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
July 20 New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage #
July 21 Philadelphia, PA @ Ukie Club ^
July 22 Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents ^
July 23 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar ^
July 25 Washington, DC @ DC9 ^
July 27 Durham, NC @ The Pinhook ^
July 28 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ^
July 29 Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records ^
July 30 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade ^
August 1 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn ^
August 2 New Orleans, LA @ Toulouse Theatre ^
August 3 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall ^
August 4 McAllen, TX @ The Gremlin ^
August 5 San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger ^
August 7 Austin, TX @ Parish ^
August 8 Dallas, TX @ Sons of Hermann Hall ^
August 9 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge ^
August 11 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck ^
August 13 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall ^

# w/ Horsegirl, Water From Your Eyes, Iceage

^ w/ Horsegirl

Pre-order ‘CROWD CAN TALK / DRESSED IN TRENCHES’ by Lifeguard HERE