Dear Lions
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Dear Lions

New York City, New York, United States | SELF

New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Band Rock Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Review of New NYC Bands: Dear Lions"

Mumford and Sons is getting a lot of much-deserved attention lately. If you’re a fan, we’ve got something local for you to try. Dear Lions has a similar croon, without the banjo behind, but with the same acoustic simplicity in the slower tracks and characteristic sincerity in the lyrics. They released their debut EP a week ago, and you can check it out here. - Caitlin Clive - The Deli Magazine


"Dear Lions, "Space Sister""

Hail From: New York
Song: 'Space Sister'
Album: 'Dear Lions'
Sounds Like: Jeff Buckley, The Boxer Rebellion

In Their Words: "I wrote this song at 4 or 5 in the morning after waiting tables for something like 12 hours. I was nearing the end of my rope in terms of working survival jobs, thinking about moving back home, leaving New York City. That's probably why the lyrics in 'Space Sister' have this apocalyptic theme. It was sort of like the world was ending. Luckily, I met [guitarist] Adam [Rubenstein] and we started a band." -- Singer/writer Ricky Lewis - Spinner.com


"New Song: Dear Lions: Space Sister"

A while back I was heaping praise upon Brooklyn’s The Wools, and made the mistake of saying that frontman Ricky Lewis would be doing some solo shows at SXSW. Seems Lewis is a musical two-timer and was heading to Austin with his other project, Dear Lions, a collaboration with guitarist Adam Rubenstein.

Dear Lions self-titled debut EP drops may 24th, but is available for pre-order on the cheap on their bandcampsite. In the mean time, we’ll allow you a taste in the form of lead single, Space Sister, a Smithish number about the travails of love and hard work, with a heart of pure Americana. - My Old Kentucky Blog


"Dear Lions: Self-Titled EP"

From New York City come Dear Lions, a two piece act who provide some quality laid back indie rock that the States are well known for – unlike in the UK where, for the moment at least, we seem some way off the same level.

The opening track “Katherine” has a rather doleful beginning , with an indie folk-like anthem, but gradually finds its feet and builds up to a stronger ending. “Space Sister” is much more engaging – a dreamy, wistful tune where the vocals of Ricky Lewis (which resemble those of Matt Beringer of The National) are shown off at their best. “For The Kill” is a smooth attempt at a pop song with a passing reference to Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell. “Darling” is a raunchier effort, almost something you might expect from Band Of Horses, but done a little more intensely, and features some neat bluesy guitar work from Adam Rubenstein. Closing track “Gun” appears to have been written with the intention of filling arenas but whilst it creates a steady build-up, is let down by the lack of a punchy climax.

With summer fast approaching, this is ideal music to have as a soundtrack, and is the type of act that should go down well live. Hopefully we can expect more from this duo in the foreseeable future.


Review by Tom Willmott - AmpedReviews.net (UK)


"Umbrella In The Sun"

i particularly love when music finds me. case in point, this fantastic new york band dear lions.

have fun repeating this track. over and over…and then maybe over again. - CohabitSociety.com


"Dear Lions: "Space Sister"

We've been digging on the few tunes we've heard from New York's Dear Lions, and we're glad to share the above track w/ you all today. There's a lot of influences at play here, from anglophile power-pop, to good old wholesome Americana. However you slice it, Ricky Lewis has some nice pipes, and with musical partner Adam Rubenstein, Dear Lions have crafted a solid EP which is out now. Just for added flavor, a few quotes from the press release:
To Lewis, the song exemplifies his personal struggles from working stiff to aspiring musician -- and more importantly the redemptive quality that only music can provide. "I wrote this song at 4 or 5 in the morning after waiting tables for something like 12 hours," says Lewis. "I was nearing the end of my rope in terms of working survival jobs, thinking about moving back home, leaving New York City. That's probably why the lyrics in 'Space Sister' have this apocalyptic theme". - The Stark Online


"Indie Spotlight: Dear Lions"

Sometimes it takes a happy accident to join two people together in the art of making music, and that's exactly how vocalist Ricky Lewis and guitarist Adam Rubenstein came together as Dear Lions in 2010. The resulting music offers an honest and emotive sonic backdrop, marked by Lewis' heartbreaking lyrics. The vocal sweetness of Jeff Buckley, the musical diversity of My Morning Jacket, and the tasteful rough edges of Big Star, all manifest themselves on the band's debut self-titled EP, released late last month. Dear Lions' first single, "Space Sister," has already been championed by AOL Spinner, My Old Kentucky Blog, Alternative Press and others. - BMI.com


Discography

"Lying To My Lies" EP, November 2011
All Songs Written & Produced by Dear Lions
Recorded by Dean Baltulonis
Mixed by Jorge Elbrecht
Mastered by Roman Vail at Joe Lambert Mastering
Additional Recording & Mixing by Mickey Alexander

"Space Sister" single, March 2011
(Radio: KDHX 88.1, St. Louis; Capitol Public Radio, Sacramento; 100.6 MotorFM, Berlin, Germany)
(Streaming: AOL's Spinner "MP3 of the Day", My Old Kentucky Blog, The Stark Online, CohabitSociety.com)

"Dear Lions" EP, May 2011 (USA)
(Streaming: AOL's Spinner.com, IndieRockReviews.com)

"Dear Lions" EP, Summer 2011, Arctic Rodeo Recordings (Germany)

Photos

Bio

Dear Lions began as two friends holed up in a studio benevolently on loan to them in December of 2010. After being introduced at a party a few months before, singer Ricky Lewis and guitarist Adam Rubenstein had been flirting with songs and arrangements, putting down sketches in Garageband, but when they found themselves in New York City with recording gear at their whim for a few wintry weeks of musical solitude, things changed. 

The unexpected success of Dear Lions’ first single, "Space Sister", fruit of that very first session, landed the band at SXSW in 2011, playing their first true live show. “Suddenly we had three weeks to put a band together and get comfortable enough to play in front of people”, says Lewis. A phone call to an old friend, a found flyer, and a little serendipity brought them together with Doug Marvin (drums), James Preston (bass), and Garrett Cook (guitar/keys), all unique musicians with seasoned backgrounds in their own right. Their collective presence brought equal parts ambience and power and a band was born.

Championed by RollingStone.com, Spinner, My Old Kentucky Blog, Impose and dozens of other outlets, all within their first three months of existence, Dear Lions has since been invited to open for the likes of Boy & Bear, Dan Mangan, and The Rural Alberta Advantage at some of New York's most prestigious rooms, including Music Hall of Williamsburg, Mercury Lounge, and Knitting Factory. Their single also caught attention overseas, where it was released by Germany’s Arctic Rodeo Recordings and continues to receive regular play on Berlin’s top alternative radio station, FluxFM.

Their newest offering, an EP entitled “Lying To My Lies”, is the culmination of their first collaborative recording effort, and displays a budding chemistry that is growing by the day for this still-young band. Balancing three lushly intertwined guitars with confident drums and melodic bass lines, the EP spans Americana overtones to atmospheric pop to pure rock & roll. With shades of The Cure, R.E.M., and Interpol, the songs are driven by Lewis' unique vocals and evocative lyrics. “Lying To My Lies” was mixed by Jorge Elbrecht (Violens, Surfer Blood) and engineered by Dean Baltulonis (Ra Ra Riot, The Hold Steady). The band is planning a series of live performances to promote the EP’s November 29th release.