Couch Potatoes// Living Room Songs

—by jack

The four-to-seven guys who make up the rotating cast of LAKESIGNS share a big, two-story house in Chicago’s historic Pilsen neighborhood. Only some of them live there, but it’s never entirely clear to me which “some.” The best part about the house, hands down, is the big basement stuffed full of recording equipment and instruments. 

So, on a weekday evening in early winter, I lugged my backpack full of filming equipment down their windy, wooden stairs and set up to shoot the band jamming out in their basement space. 

The place was buzzing with activity. They were midway through recording their new album, and once or twice I had to stop unpacking and stand absolutely still as they finished recording some vocal harmonies. The drummer, who works in film himself, was trying to figure out the best way to not let his big kit and aggressive playing demolish my sound recording. Their guitarist was rigging an elaborate series of bare light bulbs to make the place bright enough to see your hand in front of your face.

The Lakesigns guys are one of the busiest bands I know. They intentionally set themselves up so that they can accept about any live gig with whatever portion of their band. Sometimes you’ll see them live sans saxophone. Sometimes they’re a two piece acoustic band. They’re flexible. And really good. I hope you enjoy this quartet version of their song, “Good Person,” from their new Cullerton EP.