Lions in the Street
Lions In The Street

The Rock and Roll...if it didn't exist, it would have to be invented, paraphrasing a famous advertisement, and never has the term Rock and Roll seemed more fitting and pertinent than when listening to the self-titled debut album of the Vancouver-based Canadians Lions in the Street. This album was released in November 2009, and I recently received a signed copy after a quick and pleasant email exchange with the band, particularly with guitarist and vocalist Chris Kinnon.

The band consists of Sean Casey (acoustic and slide guitar), Enzo Figliuzzi (bass), Jeff Kinnon (drums and vocals), Chris Kinnon (lead guitar and vocals), and we can comfortably define them as a stellar mix between the Rolling Stones and the Black Crowes. I think once you've listened to the album, which I absolutely recommend, you’ll agree with me.

A darn fun and captivating album where classic Rock and Roll with a clear '60s influence merges with the wild and electric blues of the '70s, featuring at times rough and distorted guitars paired with slide guitar duets and stunning solos and riffs in perfect harmony. A keyboard in pure honky-tonk style and the harmonica create suggestive bluesy atmospheres, as if we were facing a true southern band.

Right from the opening track, Moving Along, with a dirty and distorted yet incredibly charming riff, we find ourselves enveloped by a dusty and magnetic sound. However, it’s with the following Let Gold Pour Down that the evident and noble influences of the Stones and the Crowes emerge, with a cadenced rhythm typical of the lauded bands mentioned. Throughout the album, fast tracks and suggestive ballads alternate between dirty, electrifying rock/blues and a captivating, engaging country rock, led by Chris Kinnon's voice, which I don’t hesitate to describe as an intriguing mix between Mick Jagger and Ian Atsbury... listen, for example, to Waiting on a Woman, also graced by a quick but spot-on sax solo, then tell me if I’m wrong.

A truly engaging and fun album for those who love pure Rock 'n Roll made with great passion and irreverence, without particular inventions but indeed an album that directly touches the heart of those who cherish rock in its most spontaneous and genuine form.
Perhaps the only criticism I have is that, at times, they tend to resemble the Stones a bit too much, but if they manage to find a slightly more personal style, I'm sure they’ll garner great acclaim and satisfaction.

I close with a special thanks to the band for their kindness and courtesy, thank you so much guys!  

On the band’s website, which you can visit by clicking below, you can listen to several tracks to get an idea of the band’s sound, and you can also purchase or download the album at a price that’s really within everyone’s reach.
http://www.lionsinthestreet.com/fr_home.cfm