About
“With the band’s catchy, emotive sound — equal parts dusty alt-country and lovelorn late ’90s alt-rock — we’re surprised debut EP track ‘Let Back’ isn’t as big a hit as ‘Pumped Up Kicks’.” –L.A. Times
“L.A.’s A House for Lions showed off a robust rock sound at Rusty’s on Wednesday, adding garage ferocity to the softer, ’90s-influenced alt-rock of debut EP ‘I Want Us to Be Remembered’. The group just finished a new batch of demos, including electric scorcher ‘XOX’.” –Billboard.com
“They’re only just starting out but already they’re purring like a sleek machine with a human heart…seeing a band this good this early is a thing of wonder and ought to be celebrated.” – Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) – Q Magazine
“Purveyors of gorgeous anthemic rock” –-Kevin Bronson, BuzzBands.LA
It’s hard to believe that I Want Us To Be Remembered is A House For Lions’ first release. The band’s debut EP is the kind of indie folk rock that can make even the coldest heart melt.
In the summer of 2009, Norman had begun writing his first songs and began to seek out kindred spirits to flesh out the sound of his bare-bones experiments. In March 2010 he found guitarist Mike Nissen, who in turn introduced his friend Eric McCann to the project, adding upright bass and keys. They clicked instantly. After a hard search and hiring out the drums for a while, they added full time member Joe Luisi to round out the group. They developed a sound informed by Daniel’s roots in North Carolina and the progressive sounds of Los Angeles and the indie rock scene, fusing an art-rock sensibility with elements of alt-country. While the music has been influenced by the classics and new essentials Radiohead, Beatles, Broken Social Scene, and The Shins, their sound is entirely their own. They could easily hold their own alongside bands like Band of Horses, Dawes, and Fleet Foxes.
Once solidified, A House For Lions started playing in local indie rock venues and within six months had recorded their first EP with LA indie producer Raymond Richards (Local Natives). The EP features instruments as eclectic as the Marxophone and pedal steel guitar alongside the basic rock standards. They had also attracted the attention of producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee (U2, Snow Patrol, Weezer), who invited them to open for his project Tired Pony (featuring Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck) at the prestigious El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Since then, A House For Lions has been gathering swift momentum. The band nationally released their debut EP I Want Us To Be Remembered on March 1, 2011 and will be booking shows in and outside of Los Angeles.
