Review by Pete Finn for MPM
Canadian blues rockers, Lions in the Street have released a new album, ‘Moving Along’, through Interior Castle Music it was released on Friday November 8th, 2024.
Formed in Vancouver in 2006, Lions in the Street have forged a career the hard-way, experiencing many of the lows of the music business, working secondary jobs, contract disputes, being blacklisted, and some of the highs, hanging out with Todd Rundgren, Bob Ezrin, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and the Rolling Stones’ legendary manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
For two decades, the Vancouver band’s dedication to its craft, made them obscure live masters of open-tuned ballads and coarse rockers, with almost no recordings released, although Lions in the Street released an EP ‘On the Lam’ in 2013, on British legend Sandy Roberton’s label. Roberton ran Blue Horizon, the English label that launched the 60s British Blues rock movement with John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and Rory Gallagher.
Lions in the Street consists of the Kinnon brothers, Chris on vocals/guitar and Jeff on drums, with Sean Casey on guitar, and classically educated bass player Enzo Figliuzzi. The band’s reluctance to be beaten, and the drive to make music is to be praised. Now the digital era has given their music a new life, allowing them to release largely unheard music. The result of these endeavours is ‘Moving Along’. The album contains 12-tracks which combine to produce a playing time of a little over 47-minutes.
The album opens with the title-track, ‘Moving Along’. A dirty blues riff accompanied by rapid drums and a blast of harmonica introduces the new record. It’s sounding superb, a chugging track that has the toes tapping. The energy and pace builds, the plinking piano rides on a crest of melody. A fantastic start. This track will also feature in the upcoming Paramount film “Cassino In Ischia”, starring Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell.
‘Mine Ain’t Yours’ explodes in your face, a high tempo rock ‘n roller full of passion, about standing up for yourself. It sounds like the resulting love-child from The Faces and The Rolling Stones. Chris Kinnon’s vocal draws the listener in with his enthusiastic delivery, brother Jeff’s driving beat propels the track on, the jangly guitar breaks and riffs provide the bounce.
Now, we stride into ‘Walking Back To You’, the pace eases slightly with the introduction of a slide guitar, and laid-back lyrics injected with backing vocal harmonies giving a southern rock vibe. The spine of the track reminding me of ‘Jessica’ from The Allman Brothers Band, the outro is a flowing mix of piano and guitar riffs.
‘Gold Pour Down’ is a sub-3-minute easy blues rocker, the chugging guitar riff in the background has an intricate guitar solo gliding across its surface, this combines well with Chris Kinnon’s thoughtful lyrics.
Things slow right down for ‘Lady Blue’, Kinnon’s lyrics are narrating a heartfelt story, a real balled. A rich organ sound is entwined with some classic guitar notes. The rhythm section’s beat of Jeff Kinnon and Enzo Figliuzzi have you subconsciously nodding along in time, a contemplative piece amongst its high energy predecessors.
‘Waiting On A Woman’ contains an intro that has Chris Kinnon’s vocal having more swagger than Jagger, a toe-tapping rocking blues fest, with a quick beat and clever guitars, throw in a saxophone break and the smile on your face is impossible to suppress. Brilliant.
A “Quo on speed” riff launches ‘Already Gone’, set at a classic rock ‘n’ roll tempo, the ferocity is fabulous, the conventional rule book goes out the window, the pace accelerates and breaks, you try to hang on, but don’t want it to stop. It’s great fun, an absolute shoe-in for a live set.
The guitar riff intro to ‘Shangri La’ grabs the attention from the start, the track builds as the band and Chris Kinnon join in. The track is about returning back to the rainy city of Vancouver and enduring 40-days of rain, after spending months in the Los Angeles sun. Check out the clever placement of the slide guitar and piano.
‘Hey, Hey Arlene’ is a jumpin’ ‘n’ jivin’, rock ‘n’ roller that wouldn’t be out of place in a 50’s Sock Hop. Chuck Berry inspired riffs bring this foot to the floor track to life, with the sprinkle of some Jerry Lee Lewis piano and the enchantment continues.
‘All For Your Love’ is a blues rock monster with attitude. Clipped licks with southern rock fuzz, a suitable movie track, for the scene where the hero is preparing to go and kick-ass. It has punch, Figliuzzi’s bass encourages the guitars of Kinnon and Casey to get down and dirty.
The pace slows for ‘Truer Now’, as the band bring their acoustic instruments out. Pedal steel and acoustic guitars caress the listeners ears, delicate lyrics combine with the gentle sounds to give a rich and full modern bluegrass vibe.
Lions in the Street’s ‘Moving Along’ closes with ‘You’re Gonna Lose’, the swagger returns with a nice dirty riff, Kinnon’s vocal demonstrates power and control, the band are given free reign and deliver a hard rocking and chugging jam. The outro solo is amazing and sends shudders down the spine. What a superb way to finish. WOW!
Quite simply, ‘Moving Along’ is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year. It’s the complete album, the musical direction, the performance and the production are excellent. If you have any 70’s Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, ZZ Top or Lynyrd Skynyrd records in your collection, then ‘Moving Along’ is a must, it contains the best elements of all those artists in one package. That package is Lions in the Street, it’s been worth the struggles and the wait.
Lions in the Street release their new album “Moving Along” via Interior Castle Music
