Pet Lions
photo: Eric Rejman
It’s not difficult to imagine in this post-modern era that rock and roll could evolve out of chance encounters on the Internet - specifically Craig’s List. But no one could have predicted the result to be as good as Pet Lions: Chicago’s newest ambassadors to outer space garage rock.
When I say garage rock, I really mean crunchy guitars playing loud tunes that make you want to dance. And when I say outer space garage rock, I mean 21st Century Pop music as it was imagined in the 60’s. True, Pet Lions are most commonly compared to the Strokes, but the similarities run thin upon first encounter with Soft Right, Pet Lions’ debut EP. For example, Pet Lions don’t rip off Tom Petty. The influence of the Kinks, the Police, and the Buzzcocks leaves Pet Lions sounding like a global band, rather than the punks next door.
Comprised of songs written by front man Karl Østby and bassist Shuhei Yamamoto, Soft Right dares to explore classic pop music, and – thanks to drummer Matt Dahl and master of texture Tom Owens- winds up at a dirty, new wave dance party. If this is the seed of a great band, sign me up. Lately, this seems to be the only thing worth investing in. Five years down the road you’ll be saying: “Brad, I told you about them a long time ago, bud.”
Take “Girls of Athens,” the closing cut on the EP. Beginning as a catchy little dance number, the song dives into glam rock harmonies before being almost completely restructured. We could have been content with Part I’s humble little ditty, but Pet Lions prove their stake by taking us to two completely different parties in one song. In Part I, Østby sings “And I can’t find anyone to dance with.” Well if the ladies of Athens, GA still aren’t dancing – or at least singing along- by the second half, he needs to get out of town.
Skating that fine line between pop music and intelligence takes a fundamental understanding that the 1, 4, 5 and forlorn stories of heartbreak are simultaneously juvenile and genius. This is no easy task, and though Pet Lions are not the first to accomplish this, they do it well. Soft Right offers a set of songs that join the timeless formula of fun dance beats, strong melody, and rock and roll guitars in an innovative, yet nostalgic way.
Check out Pet Lions (Soft Right release show) with Santa, Names that Spell, and Jared Bartman, Saturday, March 7th at the Beat Kitchen.
10 pm
$8
17+
http://www.myspace.com/petlionsmusic
buy Soft Right here: http://www.digstation.com/ArtistAlbums.aspx?artistname=Pet+Lions
or on iTunes.
