You have to like a band whose unashamed love for the classic sounds of the Stones or Black Crowes bursts out of every track. They swagger and posture with the best of them. They also put a big old smile on the face and a swing in the hips of even the hoariest of correspondents.
A four piece comprised of Sean Casey – Guitar, Enzo Figliuzzi – Bass, Chris Kinnon – Lead vocals, guitar, Jeff Kinnon – Drums, this bunch of Canadian rockers has been around for a fair while, starting off by being signed to the notorious TVT label (alongside NIN, Pitbull, Little Jon), then moved to 604 Records (Nickelback) and took Allen Kovac on as their manager – not a popular move in the music biz at that time. They were out in the rock & roll wilderness for years before making something of a comeback playing regular gigs since around 2010. Now the streaming platforms revolution has given Lions in the Street a new life an audience, allowing them to release largely-unheard music—finally finished and remixed/remastered.
And what a fine album this is. Yes, they wear their influences proudly on every sleeve, but the music is superb and really, that is all that counts.
Chris Kinnon’s vocals are like a throaty Mick Jagger and Sean Casey’s guitar licks are very much in the vein of Keef (mid-seventies Keef at that), but the songs are fresh and have an awesome punch – it really is some of the most enjoyable music I’ve heard this year.
The title track hammers along with driving piano, a great riff and howling harp.
My personal favourite is ‘Shangri La’ – a belter that has an incredible groove to it.
Frankly, every track could be a single and a winner at that.
