“Landslide”, the first single released by Lion House, a Sudbury indie-alternative band, is the kind of song that makes you want to immediately replay it, to the point where you might even put it on repeat for three or four more sittings. At once a classic pop rock song, “Landslide”, offers an intricate mix of playing that smolders and burns beneath earnest lyrics of love won and lost: “Someone help me please, What’s the trick, What’s the key. Love’s a Landslide”. Instantly likeable, the song harkens back to a time when fans would anxiously await new releases from their favorite bands. The electrifying interplay between the bass, guitar and drums, establishes a propulsive sonic collage that singer Kate Laface soars in an out of with ease. Lifting and twirling through a barrage of syncopated drum patterns, this is a take no prisoners approach to rock song writing that is welcome and refreshing.
Lion House, the band, is based in Sudbury; a thriving Northern Ontario city that has long been a bastion for great rock and roll artists and upstart bands. Together for eighteen months, Lion House boasts sophisticated instrumental talent, tight arrangements and exciting live performances. The members are Kate Laface (vocals) Ryan McIntosh (guitar and vocals), Patrick Wright (bass and vocals), and Robert Harris (percussion). They “really just like to make music, if it sounds good and feels right, we develop the song” was their comment to Great Dark Wonder, when asked about their influences, but Ryan McIntosh, guitarist, states that while they have drawn inspiration from bands like The Killers, July Talk, Half Moon Run, they have found their own unique approach and sound. Their sound is very much in evidence, not only in the push and pull of their single “Landslide”, but also in other tunes they have released on YouTube, such as “What I’ve Been Looking For” and “In Your Arms there is Refuge”. This is a band that has found a way to create music and songs out of, and from, day to day experiences, that are modern and yet “strangely familiar”. This is music built with an eye on the stars and nod to the past glories of rock and roll.
The band has become a favourite on the college scene in Sudbury and they are crowd pleasers in their dynamic live shows. “Landslide” has opened up a wider audience for their music and has been well received within their regional distribution. Lion House is preparing their second official single release,”Leave Me Alone” for early 2020, which features the three singers harmonizing and creates stronger arrangements by including horn and string sections. The band is very excited to have completed this new single. It marks a continuation of their progressive development, which promises to surprise and expand their fan base and listenership.
Lion House is also in preparations to complete their long awaited first album, as yet to be titled but expected to be ready by mid 2020. The band believes the album will showcase the multi-layered skills of the band’s musicality. Robert Harris, their drummer, who has a background in recording, is doing most of the recording. “Landslide” was mixed and mastered by Terry Benn, from Terry Benn Music.
“Landslide” not only introduces a powerful new band to the Canadian music scene; it has the potential to catapult their song writing and explosive musical talent to heights yet to be discovered. The opportunity is yours! Follow this exciting new young band at: https://www.facebook.com/LionHouseIndie/
Douglas McLean fell in love with music at a very early age and has worked as a musician and songwriter since his early teens. He has a deep love for the written word and has spent his life in pursuit of language as a means to convey what Van Morrison once called “the inarticulate speech of the heart”. He lives deep in the Almaguin Highlands with his wife and their dog. Douglas is active in local radio, recording, producing and writing, in and around Huntsville, Ontario.
His website is:
http://www.douglasmcleanmusic.com
