Lowlight | Concert Experience

On a bright Sunday morning, a small crowd is spread out over the grass between Fifth and Sixth Ave in Asbury Park. A day of Sea Hear Now music festivities is underway, and the crowd beginning to file in are treated to a set from underrated indie-rock group Lowlight. 

The band are comprised of true locals - “the only Asbury Park act at Sea Hear Now” boasts singer/guitarist Renee Maskin - and as the band launched into their set you could sense their excitement and slight nerves playing such a large gig here at home. But after a few moments, any unease settled.

Lowlight specializes in synth-assisted, melodic indie rock, music you might listen to while working on an assignment or looking out the window of a train. But translated to the stage, their songs take on a stronger presence. 

It’s obvious that Lowlight is a band that practices hard together, based on how comfortable these band members are with one another. This especially showed during a second set at the Danny Clinch arty gallery, which was shorter but just as fiery and well-synchronized as their earlier set. 

A standout performance was “California Blue,” a tune about reminiscing that’s perfectly suited for a long drive and some deep thoughts. It’s some of the best vocals Maskin delivers off of their latest album, Endless Bummer, and it sounded even better the second time around, enveloping the small art gallery with this atmospheric song. 

But it was Burkholder, the closing song of their fi,st actm that really showed the depth of Lowlight’s talent. Named based on the unseen Big Lebowski character, the 80s-remniscent track showcases every band member’s skill and provides a glimpse at how much big-rock sound Lowlight can deliver.