On the surface, you might bill the recent Matador signees Lifeguard as another generic indie rock band, but their live show firmly confirms their existence as a noisy group that has their pulse on what it means to channel punk, indie, and other loud bands into something their own and full of whiplash speed and insurgent feelings (given this, it should be of no surprise that Randy Randall of No Age produced their record). Locked in and ready to go, the band ripped through their set with a fiery sense of urgency, their metallic riffs striking like a knife as their drummer bashed away with steady rhythms that kept their hurried tunes firmly in place. Youth is certainly another member of the band, but on stage the trio (who was joined for the first time by fourth member on keys and tambourine for part of the set) were seasoned pros and wasted no time between tracks, making sure the energy remained at a constant high. Living up to their debut album's name, the band's clanging guitar and thudding bass struck with wiry chaos, invoking a post-punk attitude as they ripped and tore through each number with total vigor and a clear focus. The songs also hit at a seismic volume, shaking the room right along with the passing subway cars that provided for excellent background visuals given Market Hotel's notorious location. Watching the trains sync up with the roaring force of the songs only helped to enhance the night. "It Will Get Worse," a fantastic song that explodes with righteous force, came early on in the set, but really connected with the crowd and got the energy up to a level where it would stay for the night as the band signaled to each other to keep things moving and get to the next track as quickly as possible to make sure things kept rocking. Kai Slater's ear-piercing screech added to the frequency levels and nearly matched the razor-sharp guitar lines while Asher Case's bass kept things even and on track. While the tones of the guitar are harsh and frantic, there's still the semblance of power-pop coming through as well and the band's knack to mix jangle-pop melodies with crashing drum beats makes for a thoroughly enjoyable live show and the band never takes their collective foot off the gas. Their dueling vocals, like on "Like You'll Lose" and at times dueling guitars really pop live and pull you into the middle of the song like it's happening all around you. On the record, "A Tightwire" initiates the mood from the jump, but when it comes later in their set, it thrashes with a purpose and unveils their true and total power. The band has been playing together since they were teenagers (about a quarter of their lives) and their shared connection for timing and the physicality of their music puts them in a league ahead of their peers, their show is tight and locked down, full of energy, and relentlessly rocking.
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