#isaac lowenstein

[sinceileftyoublog]

Dazy, Lifeguard, & Illusion Of Choice Live Show Review: 12/4, Cobra Lounge, Chicago

Dazy

BY JORDAN MAINZER

I'm not sure what Dazy does at a faster pace these days: tour or release tunes. Since we caught his Chicago debut of full-band arrangements in January, he's come to town twice more, including last night's stop at the Cobra Lounge. And mere months after releasing OUTOFBODY in 2022, in March, James Goodson shared songs recorded around the same time in the form of the cheekily titled OTHERBODY. The record continued the vibe of Dazy's debut LP, from the "Revolution" crunch of opener "I Know Nothing At All" to the sugary noise of "Every Little Thing". Just two months ago, Dazy shared the Ryan Hemsworth-assisted "Forced Perspective" (Lame-O), a collection of rounded country pop guitar riffs, a chirpy electric beat, and an uneasy, yet anthemic chorus.

Dazy's James Goodson

Always writing and always playing, it must be hard for Goodson to pick a setlist on a nightly basis. A year-plus removed from OUTOFBODY and over two years from MAXIMUMBLASTSUPERLOUD: The First 24 Songs, Dazy's set at the Cobra Lounge felt like as close as you can get right now to "the hits," the crowd pumping fists, banging heads, and singing along to favorites "On My Way", "Split", "The Perfect Crime", "Pressure Cooker", and "Invisible Thing". I was just as happy, though, to see Goodson lean into the sweet, softer side of Dazy. "Forced Perspective", with its curly bass and guitar scrapes, was a highlight, as was "Every Little Thing", "could be a country hit" "Rollercoaster Ride", and set closer "Out of Body". "Is that my brain hanging by a thread?" Goodson sang on "Out of Body"; as much as he may have been disassociating at the time of writing the song, his everyday anxieties have certainly provided ample creative fodder for some of the best power pop of the past half-decade.

Lifeguard

Chicago's Lifeguard opened for Dazy, which was perhaps anybody's final chance to see the band in an opening slot at a venue as small as Cobra Lounge. The hyped three-piece, formed in 2019, signed to Matador Records earlier this year. Let's get it out of the way: Yes, drummer Isaac Lowenstein's sister Penelope is in labelmates Horsegirl, and bassist Asher Case's father is Brian Case of FACS (and formerly of Disappears, The Ponys, and 90 Day Men). Thankfully, Lifeguard is a beast of its own, combining chanted vocals with clanging, metallic guitars and dexterous, repetitively pummeling drums. Earlier this year, Matador re-released the band's 2022 EP Crowd Can Talk along with a collection of new material, Dressed in Trenches. Live, Lifeguard showed what they're truly about: off-kilter time signatures, uneven song sections, moments where you can't tell when they're warming up or about to switch gears. When they played "17-18 Lovesong", Case's rounded bass and monotone vocals wiggled around Kai Slater's stabbing guitars and falsetto off-beat harmonies, though the band never let you get too comfortably hypnotized in a groove. They finished with their newest song, the uncharacteristically poppy and straightforward (yet very welcome!) "In The City". You never know what's next with Lifeguard, and they're just getting started.

Illusion of Choice

Starting off the night was another local institution, four-piece shoegaze indie rock band Illusion of Choice. Most of their songs revolved around the atmospheres you'd expect with a genre descriptor like that: Alex Rackow's distorted guitars, Judith Pelkowski's heavy bass lines, Alex Boyajian's mammoth snares, and Tyler Tumminaro's sharp, nasal vocal delivery. Occasionally, they added elements of jangly surf, but for the most part, they chugged along deliberately, like on "Circling the Drain" and standout set closer "Bad Boy". Overall, Illusion of Choice offered an appropriate middle ground between Dazy's hooks and Lifeguard's deconstructed songs.

[dustedmagazine]

Lifeguard — Crowd Can Talk/Dressed in Trenches (Matador)

Dressed in Trenches by Lifeguard

Lifeguard, from Chicago, makes a blistering post-hardcore racket, channeling chaotic, noisy energy into rigorously disciplined forms. This extremely young trio—guitarist Kai Slater, bassist Asher Case and drummer Isaac Lowenstein were all in high school when they started playing together—have a firm grip on rock history, bringing the irregular architectures of Fugazi, the unruly blare of Unwound and the blinding guitar skree of pre-Daydream Sonic Youth together in an arresting way.

Lifeguard records quickly and frequently, laying down singles and EPs typically in a day or so. For a band birthed during the pandemic, it was the only way to keep track of how their sound was evolving. They made a full-length cassette, Dive, in 2020, then three EPs in 2020 and 2021. This recording, their first on Matador, combines their most recent EP, Crowd Can Talk, with the five news songs from Dressed in Trenches. Though the songs span a bit less than a year, you can hear these artists in the process of figuring out their sound.

The (slightly) older material favors the noisier elements of their art, the screech of guitar feedback, the decaying buzz of bass pushed into the red, the thwack, thwack, thwack of unadorned drums, the clangor of two boys shouting cryptic phrases at each other. Yet there’s a form to these onslaughts, an undeniable sense to the way they’re put together. “I Know I Know” is violent but tinged with aching tenderness. “Fifty Seven” chops up phrases into oddly shaped, math-y portions, yet slips some poetry into the way Slater’s voice intersects with bristling aggression. To me, “Typecast,” sounds the most like Fugazi, exploding in off-kilter, unexpected bursts of drum and guitar; the two bands have a fierce complexity in common.

The new songs tilt more anthemic, albeit in a minimalist way. “17-18 Lovesong” runs itself continually into a wall of noise, guitars pulling up as they crash into cement. Its chant of alphabet letters (“C-N-S-A”) has a desolate dystopian vibe, but the instruments rain bright, nearly giddy fire around them. You may have heard that Asher Case’s dad is Brian Case from FACS, and in this one, you can definitely hear the family resemblance. “Tell Me When” pumps up the density of Lifeguard’s sonics, drums rumbling in continuous panic, guitar tones prisming in rainbow arcs of distorted sound, the bass nodding underneath, satisfied with what has been done. Here’s where you can hear the clearest echoes of Sonic Youth, though, Lifeguard has its own intensity and timbre.  

This is an impressive statement from a band that’s still forming itself. Its sound is distinctive and compelling, but still audibly shifting as they go. It’s hard to imagine where they might end up ten or even five years out, but my guess is it’ll be someplace cool and very different from where they are now.

Jennifer Kelly

[screamingforyears]

IN A MINUTE:

A_NEW_MUSICAL_EXPRESSS… “PARASITE” is the lead single from @davisgestiehr.online’s forthcoming EP titled ‘Mither’ (6/16) & it finds the Nashville-based singer-songwriter bringing 2 ½ mins of first_waved, goth-tinged & college_rawking GuitarPop. @futureheaven_ are here w/ “ASUKA,” the lead track from their freshly released debut EP titled ‘Colourwaves’ & it finds the Sydney-based quintet dropping 3 ½ mins of whirring, slow_diving & dream_poppin ShoeGaze. “I CRY” is the latest standalone single from @johnstonsonsss & it finds the St. Petersburg, FL-based duo of Shawn Martin & Tim Barrett unleashing 4 darkly hued mins of Nu_romanced NewWave meets post_everything NeoGothPop. @Lifeguard_band are here w/ “ALARM,” the latest single from their forthcoming dual EPs titled ‘Crowd Can Talk + Dressed In Trenches’ (7/7 @matadorrecords) & it finds the Chicago-based trio of Isaac Lowenstein (drums), Kai Slater (guitar/vox) & Asher Case (bass/vox) bringing 3+ mins of bashed-out IndieRawk. “FOLD” is the lead single from @madhoneyband’s forthcoming debut LP titled ‘Satellite Aphrodite’ (9/22 @sundaydriverecords @deathwishinc) & it finds the OKC-based outfit bringing the buzz w/ 3 sweetly spun mins of swirlingly hazed & pedal_gazed DreamPop. “YOU SHATTER” is the second single from @sweeping.promises’ forthcoming LP titled ‘Good Living Is Coming For You’ (6/30 @feelitrecordshop @subpop) & it finds the Lawrence, KC-based duo of Lira Mondal & Caufield Schnug bringing the hardened goods across a 3:16 clip of post_punking NuWave.

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LISTEN BELOW...

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[andrasta14]

🌸🌼🌷🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌸

Inspired by this post by mongoose-king. Saw it and thought it would be fun to answer for fandom characters. xd

Anyone’s welcome to play with any characters/fandoms of your choice and choose as many colours as fit for you. ^.^

Let’s see...I’ll start with the Lord John Grey series/Outlander fandom. (Mainly the LJG books, and the Outlander show rather than the books because I haven’t fully read all of them.)

Lord John Grey - white, mint, red, fuchsia, yellow, hot pink, taupe, orange, jade, navy, lavender, purple, pink, blue, peach, royal blue (damn, apparently I have a TON of feelings for John!! Shocker that. lmao) 💖

Percy Wainwright -  white, mint, red, fuchsia, yellow, hot pink, orange, jade, navy, purple, pink, peach, semi-royal blue 💖

Hal Grey - green, lavender, purple, blue, semi-peach xd 🖤

Minnie Grey - white, red, fuchsia, yellow, jade, purple, pink (thanks to her kids), peach, royal blue  💗

Harry Quarry - mint, yellow, orange, peach

Tom Byrd - white, lime green, yellow, orange, peach, semi-royal blue 💗

Benedicta Grey - white, red, yellow, orange, jade, lavender, purple, peach, royal blue 💗

Sir George Stanley - yellow, orange, jade, lavender, peach

Olivia Pearsall - mint, yellow, pink, peach (RIP)

Malcolm Stubbs - green, semi-yellow, taupe

Edgar DeVane - lime green, mint, green, taupe

Maude DeVane - green, taupe, semi-black (if only bc I wouldn’t mind xd)

William Ransom - mint, yellow, semi-pink

Geneva Dunsany - green, taupe

Isobel Dunsany - (book Isobel and show Isobel are practically two different characters lol, the latter I like, the former not a great deal) Yellow, pink (RIP)

Lady Lucinda Joffrey - red, jade, purple

Stephan von Namtzen - white, mint, red, fuchsia, yellow, peach, royal blue  💗

Louisa von Lowenstein - green, teal, semi-black

Hector Dalrymple - white, yellow, pink, peach (RIP)  💗

Neil Stapleton - orange, jade

George Everett - green, black  💀

Charlie Carruthers - yellow, pink (RIP)

Richard Caswell - lime green, jade

Michael Weber - green, teal, semi-black

Manoke - yellow, taupe, jade

Dorothea Grey Hunter - yellow, taupe, jade, pink (Bees t_t)

Benjamin Grey - taupe

Adam Grey - taupe

Henry Grey - taupe

Jamie Fraser - semi-white, green, semi-yellow and pink, blue, peach

Claire Fraser - green, semi-yellow,  jade, lavender, blue

Frank Randall - (I’ve heard book and show Frank are quite different but I can only judge by the show) semi-yellow, taupe, jade

Jonathan Randall - green, jade, semi-blue, black (don’t RIP xd) 💀

Jenny Murray - white, lime green, green, yellow, jade, lavender, pink, peach, royal blue  💗

Ian Murray Sr. - white, red, yellow, pink (RIP), peach, royal blue

Murtagh Fitzgibbons - lime green, green, yellow, orange, jade, peach

Brianna MacKenzie - white, mint, red, fuchsia, yellow, jade, purple, pink

Roger MacKenzie - semi-red and yellow.

Fergus Fraser - semi-yellow, orange, jade, semi-pink and peach

Marsali Fraser - lime green, green, semi-yellow and taupe, semi pink and peach

Germain Fraser - yellow, orange, pink, peach

Laoghaire MacKenzie - lime green, green, teal, black 💀

Geillis Duncan - green, taupe, jade, lavender, blue, semi-black

Dougal MacKenzie - green, jade

Colum MacKenzie - taupe, jade

Duke of Sandringham -  green, jade, black 💀

Stephen Bonnet - green, teal, black 💀

Ezekiel Richardson -  teal, black 💀

Denys Randall-Isaacs - taupe

Baron Amandine Claude Beauchamp - semi-yellow, taupe

[don-lichterman]

Lifeguard grow into their next underground rock vision on Crowd Can Talk

Lifeguard grow into their next underground rock vision on Crowd Can Talk

A couple weeks before Lifeguard played Horsegirl’s record-release show at Thalia Hall in June, I ran into drummer Isaac Lowenstein and bassist Asher Case while walking through the Logan Square Farmers Market with my family. My parents asked what kind of music they make, and we all had a little trouble coming up with a concise answer—Lifeguard move through lots of styles, and that’s what drew me…

[audiobookers]

New Audiobook has been published on http://www.audiobook.pw/audiobook/long-time-no-see-2/

Long Time No See

Judith Singer is back! After 20 years Susan Isaacs reintroduces us to the heroine of Compromising Positions, her first and most beloved novel, and returns to a great suspense story set in suburbia. Judith’s life has changed. She now has her doctorate in history. She is also a widow. Her husband, Bob, died one half day after triumphantly finishing the New York City Marathon in four hours and 12 minutes. And although 20 years have passed without her seeing Nelson Sharpe of the Nassau County Police Department, Judith still cannot get her former lover out of her system. Then comes a mystery. Courtney Logan, investment banker turned suburban mom, vanishes from Long Island into thin air. All eyes turn instantly to her husband, Greg Logan, son of local mobster Fancy Phil Lowenstein. But since there is no body, there is no arrest. Then Judith hears the Logans’ pool man on all-news radio, where he tells a reporter that he opened the pool and found a body. Now it’s officially homicide. And Judith comes alive! She offers her services to the police’s chief suspect, Greg Logan, but he shows her the door, thinking her just another neighborhood nut. His father, however, isn’t so sure: Fancy Phil may have other plans for Judith Singer.

[rcmndedlisten]

Lifeguard - “Alarm”

Photo by Mariana Belaval

“Alarm” is a fast and fun one from Lifeguard’s forthcoming Matador debut and double EP release, Crowd Can Talk / Dressed in Trenches, that already sounds and looks like its going to rip big time in-person. Just check out the the accompanying performance clip recorded alongside Steve Albini at Electric Audio below as further proof of what the sonic youth of the world has in store for you as they make more reps across the touring circuit. More than anything, its the young trio of guitarist and vocalist Kai Slater, bassist and vocalist Asher Case, and drummer Isaac Lowenstein’s homage to those defining magical moments from the subterranean scene’s live experiences that have the ability to whip a small crowd in a club up into a frenzy with an unadulterated electric energy that makes people say, “That was unlike anything I’ve experienced before.” And in this case, Lifeguard are the product of how great that can be when those kids feel inspired to make something of their own from it.

Dressed in Trenches by Lifeguard

Lifeguard’s Crowd Can Talk / Dressed In Trenches will be released July 7th on Matador Records.

[rcmndedlisten]

Lifeguard - “17-18 Lovesong”

Photo by Mariana Belaval

The thing that appeals to your listening experience most when listening to Horsegirl and Lifeguard, two bands at the forefront of Chicago’s next gen of rockists, is in each’s no-fear-no-rules approach to making music discordant and formless, which in turn has been rendering some of the more wilder moves in guitar rock in way too long of a time. “17-18 Lovesong”, the first preview from Lifeguard’s upcoming double EP collecting last year’s Crowd Can Talk with their newest (and first since joining Horsegirl on the Matador Records roster,) Dressed In Trenches, is just that right kind of head boggling energy that proves why a fresh perspective from the trio of guitarist and vocalist Kai Slater, bassist and vocalist Asher Case, and drummer Isaac Lowenstein is the answer to breaking indie rock out of its monotonous, middling malaise. Lyrically obtuse in its seemingly teenage romance and sonically oblique in design, Lifeguard circle electrical currents with a pull and push intensity. “S-E-N-S-A,” Slater spells out and sparks thought, before clashing all instrumentally in delightful noise not heard of since Abe Vigoda left listeners similarly vexed, and delighting anyone with an appreciation for a love song exploded.

Lifeguard’s Crowd Can Talk / Dressed In Trenches will be released July 7th on Matador Records.