Dance, Dance, Dance with Horsegirl

^{Article by Ciara Rose Belfiore}

Originally hailing from Texas but now Chicago-based, rock band Answering Machines kicked off the night at the Metro. They released their debut album The Big Catch in 2024, and since then have been performing shows all around Chicago. Answering Machines delivers fast-paced punk with a pop sensibility. Their drums, guitars, bass, and overall stage presence brought an energetic atmosphere to the show. 

Lifeguard is made up of bassist and vocalist Asher Case, guitarist and vocalist Kai Slater, and drummer Isaac Lowenstein. Forming the band while they were in high school, Lifeguard has become a staple in the indie scene over the years. Like Horsegirl, Lifeguard is also signed to Matador Records. As they took the stage, Slater joked, “You’ll never be as punk as [Answering Machines]. They performed songs from their forthcoming album, many of which stick to Lifeguard’s core sound while also finding room for experimentation. On one track, Lowenstein alternated between drumming with one hand and using an electronic drum machine in the other. At one point Slater began to experience problems with his guitar, which was quickly remedied by borrowing a guitar from Horsegirl, to which he remarked he’d “always wanted to play this guitar”. Borrowed guitar notwithstanding, Lifeguard delivered the high-energy rock they're known for, inspiring most pits and dancing. 

Horsegirl consists of Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece. Like Lifeguard they’re also favorites among the Chicago scene. With their latest album Phonetics On and On they’ve headed in a new, more striped-back direction. Something they’ve said has felt like a natural progression as they’ve grown as a band. Phonetics On and On is purposefully repetitious and incredibly catchy. Chicago, their hometown, was the live debut for many of the songs from the album, making it an incredibly sentimental show. It also felt somewhat like a who’s who of the Chicago music scene. Between Lifeguard members momentarily joining the band on stage, and other local bands who were present in the crowd, it was clear the local scene’s support for Horsegirl at the live debut of their album was strong. Though they mostly stuck to songs from their recent album they also played a few songs from their earlier work like “Anti-Glory”, from their 2022 album Versions of Modern Performance. The chorus of which the crowd took quite literally, “Dance, dance, dance, dance with me”. As the polka-dot stage lights fade, they finish the show with a fan-favorite from the album, “2468”, and as they exit the stage are met with thunderous applause. As Horsegirl has grown as a band they’ve continually created new, exciting, and inventive indie. One things for sure, their future looks incredibly, incredibly bright.