the City Streets

CITY STREETS
These Things Happen
(Independent)
****

Holy shit, where did these guys come from? If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time to a Minneapolis basement circa 1985, the City Streets might be the band you’ve been waiting for. And sure, the Replacements similarity may be apparent from the first few chords on, but it’s not to say the band is riding on Paul Westerberg’s coattails, happily picking up nostalgic drunks along the way. We’ll look at it more as a passing of the torch, and it bears mentioning that the City Streets have developed a sound of their own, a rock ’n’ roll spirit from a time when that meant something to be proud of.

Hyperbole this isn’t, I genuinely haven’t been won over during the course of an album so convincingly since Exile on Main Street finally managed to convince me that the Stones weren’t just a bunch a tired culture rapists. Forget the loftiness of the comparisons–just pick it up and find out for yourself.

JAMES STEWART
- See Magazine

CITY STREETS
Thu, Sept 14, Sidetrack Café

A tour kickoff can be a glorious thing. It gives the band a chance to hold the debt-slide at bay for at least the first few days of tour as they pull in a decent chunk of change as well as a morale boost from a hometown crowd. Or better yet, a chance to set a precedent for the entire tour. But then sometimes you play a tour kickoff and then sit around town for two weeks, like the City Streets. With tour stories that put everyone else’s to shame (FBI agents, showcase crashing, debauchery), the evening doubled as a sendoff as well as maybe a last chance to see the band in one piece.

Kettle Black had come all the way from Vancouver to open the show, but due to some dodgy road conditions coupled with electrical problems, the solo act was not able to play. Also from Vancouver were the Feminists, what seemed a strange name to give to a band consisting of three dudes and one girl. Their uplifting brand of quirky pop music kept the crowd entertained, but was unable to drum up any real enthusiasm on this wet Thursday.

City Streets took to the stage and got to work playing selections from both of their releases (last year’s These Things Happen and this year’s free online release If You Don’t Like The Clash You’re a Bad Person), as well as a handful of new songs. What strikes me most about the City Streets is their ability to marry the drunken charm of their music with what is fairly sophisticated songwriting and nimble performances, especially in the case of drummer Mark Chmilar.

Even while having shots poured into their mouths mid-song without dropping the beat. Even while being hounded all set by an incredibly drunken fan that left a trail of broken glass in his wake.

There was a real sense of excitement as the band played, with people dancing and singing along, cheering in recognition of the opening chords to their favourite songs. In the annals of Edmonton music history, there will undoubtedly be a large space set aside for the City Streets.

JAMES STEWART

- See Magazine

# 3. City Streets playing at the Likwid Lounge, Oct 3. ... howling away on guitar at some epic noise, the stage was littered in broken glass and the club itself teetered on the brink of pure anarchy. That's pure rock 'n' roll. -Tom Murray - Tom Murray-The Edmonton Journal

"This group is Alberta's only hope. "Concentrated Living" is their latest album and if their brand of Power Pop is any indication of their live performance, then we have lots of hope for them. (along with their home province)."-CBC Radio 3 - CBC Radio 3

"The City Streets are getting the most play of any artist I have ever seen on CJSR. As someone who doesn't lean to well on the "Pop Rock" side of things, Concentrated Living is phenomenal music. I was shocked at how much I liked it."- CJSR 88.5fm music director Aaron Levin - Aaron Levin-CJSR Music Director