If you haven't heard Living with Lions by now, you're not fit to call yourself punk rock. It's most likely because the Canadian four-piece has only just begun to make a splash in the US music scene.
Living with Lions mixes quick, driving punk beats with an urgent, emotional youthfulness to create a sound that is as intense as it is deep. As part of a new generation of emerging groups blending elements of post-hardcore, pop-punk and rock, Living with Lions already has the American underground abuzz.
I Breathe the Underground recently emailed Living with Lions guitarist Chase Brenneman some interview questions. A man of few words (over email), Chase helps us walk away with at least one conclusion about him and his band: Living with Lions sure know how to party.
What occurred the night of “the most epic of parties”: the final hurrah of Dude Manor?
Our roommate Dana fell through the ceiling on our singer Matt's face. Soon after, people started running through the walls. Someone lit the roof on fire.
Having recently signed with Adeline Records, does Living with Lions have a schedule/plans for a next full length? Any new songs written?
We're just starting to write more stuff now. Everyone is really looking forward to doing our second full length. We didn't really know what we were getting into the first time around, so we're going to spend a lot of time preparing for this one. Hopefully we'll have an album's worth of stuff written by November/December.
If you had to live with a lion, what would you name it and why?
I don't know what I'd call the lion. The only thing I know is the only lion I'd live with would be high all day, everyday. I don't smoke weed...but I like people that do.
As one of the many innovative, high-energy bands coming out of Canada, how do you guys plan on making your mark in the US?
By writing good music and touring lots. We're not really looking to do anything important, we just want to live on the road and have as much fun as we can.
Living with Lions’ music is composed of a brilliant mix of explosive punk rock and emotionally-charged hooks and lyrics. When you guys sit down to write, how do you get motivated?
We never have to motivate ourselves to write, we just write when we feel like it. I think that's a pretty important part of making songs that we're happy with. Doing it at our own pace whenever we're feeling it.
What bands do you consider direct influences on Living with Lions’ sound?
A lot of punk bands from the 90's are hugely influential on us. Anybody from Face to Face to Hot Water Music to Good Riddance to Jawbreaker...we're mostly in love with all the music we grew up on.
Who acts as a sharpie “canvas” most often on the Living with Lions tour bus?
We only get to sharpie people in our old beat up van...we can pretend it's a bus though for the sake of this question.
Our bus driver doesn't let us bring sharpies on the bus anymore. Matt got carried away last time and drew all over the 80" flat screen in the hut tub room. As far as a regular canvas goes...it would probably be Donald Trump. Whenever we let him come visit us on the road for a few days. I don't think he'll be coming out anymore though. Landon colored all over his penis while he was passed out in the king size bunk. He threatened to sue, but we have pictures. We'll just blackmail.
"Won't you tell me what's on your mind? /
Safe and sound, and so secure /
Cast iron cold, invincible /
As the weakest link with the locks exposed."
- Living with Lions, "She's a Hack"
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