Low Moments
Low Moments formed after the demise of eastern CT sad-metal band Holding On To Nothing in 2017.
The band was originally imagined as 80s gothic rock and featured Charlie Sad Eyes on bass and vocals, Rob Birkbeck on guitar, and Lord Gregory Gates (ex Mourn The Light, Rapture Radio host) on drums. Not long after, the course was changed to a punkified River Runs Red-era Life Of Agony hardcore band. Charlie and Rob drafted Sam Sugawara and Young Laken Stokes on guitar and got going.
After playing a number of shows which were attended by tens of disappointed people, and hearing comments like "oh cool, you guys must like Bush and Fall Out Boy a lot," ** the band ended in shame and embarrassment. The only recording left from this era is "Plague, Take Me" on the Alternative Control "Volume Doom" compilation from 2019.
Sitting on a whole album's worth of songs, the band brainstormed about what to do next: fire all existing members and get better looking, more talented, younger musicians to write and play new music under a different name? Or... languish in nothingness for two years, then pick an entirely different genre that no one will understand or appreciate and dive in headfirst?
And so... in 2022, Low Moments returned to its original concept: the 80s. With 15+ songs written and recorded, the original members who were alive for the 80s will be hoisting the LM flag again to disappoint dive bar audiences near and not-so far with lofi-low self-esteem synth pop/oldwave.
In 2024, Low Moments veered in another direction: lofi slacker pop. Releasing the album "Escape Artist: Ship Has Sailed" in July, the record went on to receive nearly universal silence. Oddly, a slowed/reverbed mix of the album picked up some steam on youtube.
PS: When last heard from, Young Laken was also doing an electronic music project called Decent News.
**we definitely don't.
Discography
The band was originally imagined as 80s gothic rock and featured Charlie Sad Eyes on bass and vocals, Rob Birkbeck on guitar, and Lord Gregory Gates (ex Mourn The Light, Rapture Radio host) on drums. Not long after, the course was changed to a punkified River Runs Red-era Life Of Agony hardcore band. Charlie and Rob drafted Sam Sugawara and Young Laken Stokes on guitar and got going.
After playing a number of shows which were attended by tens of disappointed people, and hearing comments like "oh cool, you guys must like Bush and Fall Out Boy a lot," ** the band ended in shame and embarrassment. The only recording left from this era is "Plague, Take Me" on the Alternative Control "Volume Doom" compilation from 2019.
Sitting on a whole album's worth of songs, the band brainstormed about what to do next: fire all existing members and get better looking, more talented, younger musicians to write and play new music under a different name? Or... languish in nothingness for two years, then pick an entirely different genre that no one will understand or appreciate and dive in headfirst?
And so... in 2022, Low Moments returned to its original concept: the 80s. With 15+ songs written and recorded, the original members who were alive for the 80s will be hoisting the LM flag again to disappoint dive bar audiences near and not-so far with lofi-low self-esteem synth pop/oldwave.
In 2024, Low Moments veered in another direction: lofi slacker pop. Releasing the album "Escape Artist: Ship Has Sailed" in July, the record went on to receive nearly universal silence. Oddly, a slowed/reverbed mix of the album picked up some steam on youtube.
PS: When last heard from, Young Laken was also doing an electronic music project called Decent News.
**we definitely don't.
Discography
- "Plague, Take Me" single on Volume Doom compilation by Alternative Control. 2019.
- CDs and digital.
- "80s Dance Party: Picked Dead Last In The Dodgeball Game Of Life" Full Length. April 2022.
- 200 jewel case CDs and digital.
- "80s Dance Party: ...Has Probably Walked Through A Screen Door More Than Once" EP. October 2022, maybe, I forget.
- 15 handmade CD-Rs SOLD OUT and digital.
- "80s Dance Party: Aging Disgracefully" Full Length, March 2023.
- 50 jewel case CDs and digital.
- "Goth Wyfe: One Big Dark Room" Full Length, June 2023
- 25 jewel case CDs and digital.
- "Escape Artist: Ship Has Sailed" Full Length, July 2024
- 10 handmade cassettes + accompanying zine.
Reviews:
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Re: Escape Artist/Ship Has Sailed (7/24)
I was hoping to experience Escape Artist / Ship Has Sailed as it was intended by its creator, a cassette played through a dusty tape deck, pouring over the carefully crafted zine-style publication that came with the limited edition bundle, titled aptly “An Explanation”. Due to mechanical issues with my equipment, and with perhaps just a touch of the aura that surrounds Low Moments, I settled on the digital release. This was found easily on a major streaming service, and its presentation was equally professional. The scope of under-production in the recording came into focus quickly, and instead of hiding behind the distractions that live bands typically bring to sessions, Charlie presented his ideas in simple terms and leans more on substance than shiny objects. The vocal and instrument tones were worked out before the reels began to spin, and the mood mostly remains unchanged throughout. In my opinion, this continuity helps fuse each song to its neighbor, lending more time to focus on the message. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t fully understand what that message is entirely, but I don’t have to fully grasp it to appreciate the fact he’s trying to tell me about it. Spare the Shovels’ mid tempo, 1950’s flapper rock opened the gate, a straight forward verse chorus bridge chorus. ‘This will be a no frills experience’ I thought. I was two songs in, feeling I had a pretty good handle on what was going on, when Old Familiar Faces, a 4/4 romp with classic pop sensibilities and hand claps signaling hooks, deliberately fell apart as it closed. It seemed Charlie had baked in moments to filter the casual consumer in or out, which is fair and considerate. Things stayed steady from there, like the tide rolling in and falling away on an empty beach. It’s hard to ignore the irony of the birds chirping behind every song, and nowhere else does it hit as good as it does on the opening melody of Light of Day. This song stands in the lineup as a signal that the voyage is coming to an end, and also reminds the listener that these are true feelings of one man willing to pull back the curtain for 37 minutes. I appreciate how unceremoniously Escape Artist / Ship Has Sailed ends, with a 47 second wave goodbye titled Most Times. A cautiously triumphant keyboard line wanders over quarter and half note drums, with one simple line declared, “Most times I just want to be home making these stupid songs.” I happen to know he’s speaking his truth, validating every line written prior. Home recordings often come across insecure and lack intellectual depth, focused more on glitz and glamor for plays and views. That is not the case here, there is a different force driving the creation of this material, and if there’s room for Jonah Matranga’s Onelinedrawings’ “Sketchy EP#1” in pop culture, or even Wesley Willis’ “Rock N Roll Will Never Die”, I am confident that Low Moments will always have a table by the window in that restaurant, even if it’s just set for one. -The Commissioner |