Lifeguard

Chicago trio Lifeguard —Asher Case (bass, baritone guitar, vocals), Isaac Lowenstein (drums, synth), and Kai Slater (guitar, vocals)— have been making music together since they were in high school, nearly a quarter of their lives. Noisy and immediate, cryptic but heartfelt, they draw inspiration from punk, dub, power-pop and experimental sounds, and bring them all together in an explosive cacophony.

Lifeguard signed to Matador Records in 2023, releasing two EPs—each finding the band refining its voice, honing succinct, hooky, and propulsive songs. ‘Crowd Can Talk‘ (initially released in the summer of 2022) and ‘Dressed in Trenches‘ (featuring five unreleased songs) were both recorded at the late Steve Albini’s studio Electrical Audio. Single ‘Ministry/Energie’ followed in summer 2024. All three band members are at the core of Chicago’s Hallogallo zine/scene, and as well in Lifeguard, their projects include Sharp Pins, Donket Basketball, Dwaal Troupe and more.

Lifeguard’s debut album Ripped and Torn arrived in 2025. Recorded in Chicago with producer Randy Randall (No Age), the album captures a claustrophobic scrappiness that evokes the feeling and energy of house parties and tightly-packed rooms, where ears are easily overwhelmed, and ragged improvisations connect with the same force as melodic hooks.

“Drawing on alt-rock touchstones such as Mission of Burma and Les Savy Fav, Lifeguard’s sound owes much to the blend of melody and dissonance that characterised Sonic Youth circa Goo, all performed with a youthful brio.” – The Guardian

“Combining post-punk’s propulsive rhythms with progressive rock’s winding melodies, Lifeguard channel the verve and manic energy of making art with like-minded peers and the rush of sharing your bespoke musical world.” – Pitchfork

“You have the screeching feedback and explosive guitar pyrotechnics of Hüsker Dü and the Wipers, the droll, dubby baselines of the Slits, the joie de vivre of Bleach-era Nirvana, the head-rush pop of Vivian Girls. There’s even a bit of Spaceman 3’s ands Animal Collective…but none of this ever sounds like a regurgitation of indie rock’s past. It sounds like a renewal, a way forward.” – Stereogum