Acres of Lions are a four-piece Canadian alternative rock band from Victoria, British Columbia, that consists of Jeff Kalesnikoff, Tyson Yerex, Dan Ball and Shane Deyotte.
The quartet formed back in 2006 and after years on continuous touring and relocating, the band signed to Cordova Bay Records. Their début release, ‘Working’, pushed the band into new places within the industry, including festival performances, releases in Japan and an international fan base.
However, the Canadian rockers are back with their début UK release ‘Collections’, which is released on the 26th November via Fierce Panda Records and Alcopop. The quartet have recently been performing across London, so Fortitude Magazine decided that it was a good time to catch up with the band.
Jeff and Dan gave us a bit of their time to discuss a little more about them, Canadian music scene and why London is so special. This is what they had to say:
Hi, first of all, pleasure to be talking to you guys, how are you all today?
[JEFF]: Erm, I’m doing very well.
[DAN]: I’m actually a little tired, but I’m super stoked to be playing here tonight.
Do you mind explaining to our readers, how Acres of Lions came to form?
[JEFF]: Well, it’s been a long time coming. Me and Dan have been friends since high school. We grew up together and like any musically inclined teenager, we started a band.
We played around our town, Castlegar British Columbia and Nelson British Columbia; we kept at that for a few years following High School. We made a bunch of friends in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, from touring around the province, which made us venture over to the island where we met Lewis, our original drummer, and Tyson whilst we were bumming around looking for a job.
[DAN]: Oh yeah, basically me and Jeff’s parents lived 45 minutes apart and we decided this just wouldn’t do. So, we moved in together at Victoria and we started to play together as we just wanted to play. We didn’t have any goals or plans, we were just like “we used to play, so why don’t we still play?”
So, we all worked out which covers that we could play and it went from there.
[JEFF]: The thing is, we just worked really hard at it. I think the basis of us coming together, we all tried to go to school, but it just wasn’t our thing; so we just wanted to make music for a living. We weren’t seeking fame or fortune or anything, we just wanted to do the classic story of getting a rock band together and touring the world.
You signed a recording development deal with Cordova Bay Record in 2008 and, in 2009, you released your début record ‘Working’. How was it having a record label single-handily supporting you into the industry?
[JEFF]: I’d say it was a pretty amazing feeling. I feel like dancing right now (in reference to the over dramatic electronic drum beat in the background). No, it was a pretty amazing experience having Cordova Bay working with us. Mostly as they sought us out, because we were touring a lot that year, so it was nice to see our hard work being rewarded.
[DAN]: That period of time was a bit of a whirlwind. We were playing lots of gigs and shows, then Cordova Bay came out of the blue like “we want to work with you guys”. We didn’t even know where it would lead or what it would do, but we were just happy and stoked.
It was from that moment that we took everything FAR more seriously.
[JEFF]: Definitely. It was the point when we stopped being kids about it all and focussed on setting our goals. It’s the time when we’d book tours ahead of the time and not take anything for granted. We would use the tools of the label and use it to book festivals, like New Music West, etc.
It became easier for us to tour across Canada, so we couldn’t be more grateful. They made it happen.
Your album, ‘Collections’, is set to be your first UK release, via Fierce Panda and Alcopop, which comes out at the end of the month. How did it feel knowing that your music has finally ventured into the European market as well?
[JEFF]: Is there a sound that can be wrote down that could describe that?
[DAN]: I don’t know, just make a sound …
[JEFF]: ARRRRGHHHH … No seriously, it’s a very joyous experience. Fierce Panda have always been a part of our band since the very beginning, so once Alcopop got on board it kind of board; it kind of blew up for us.
We realised that we could finally go over and met our fans here in the UK, whilst actually experiencing a tour! Everything we had been working on over the last few years seemed to have been, not successful, but going places.
That was something that really made us want to continue. It’s not easy being a full-time touring band nowadays, everything is so DIY. You have no option, well barring record labels to some existence; it’s up to the band to decide.
You worked with the incredible Mike Fraser for the album, notable for his work alongside AC/DC, Aerosmith, Metallica and many more. How did this come about?
[JEFF]: Initially, we didn’t work with Mike. Obviously, we really crank his work in our van. But, we thought it would be good to put some money into our budget and get him to mix our single, ‘Reaction’.
We were going to make him do the 4th track on the album, ‘Kids’, but we kind of ran out of money. He did the mixing in 3 days.
[DAN]: He did such a great job. I feel like although ‘Reaction’ is the single mixed by him, it doesn’t feel weird with the rest of the album. If anything, the album seems mixed to the single. Plus, it’s nice to throw his name onto our résumé.
It’s not hard to work with guys like that; you just have to ask them ….
[JEFF]: … Whilst having a bit of coin to back it up.
However, it was earlier this year that people finally experienced at Acres of Lions show. Many American bands say they notice differences between English fans and their own crowds, is this similar between us and your Canadian loyal?
[BOTH]: A little bit …
Barring the accents …
[JEFF]: Well, barring the accents and the strange money. It’s funny just watching me going into a shop. I have to sit there and count all the coins to know what I’m doing. Whilst, almost dying every time we cross the street.
The only thing I notice and this is not an insult to our Canadian fans, but UK fans turn up to a gig to listen and appreciate the band. You get to grips with our image, what we’re about and everything. Most shows, that we’ve played anyway, they just stand there and watch whilst going crazy once we’ve finished a track.
Whereas, in Canada, it’s like a party experience from the get go. There are no negative connotations.
[DAN]: You do seem to stand off a little more at first, but once you get to know you guys and chat; you’re a friendly bunch. I feel like Canada and the UK share so much culture. You’re all caring and happy to be here.
You’ve performed several London shows over the last few days, in promotion for the forthcoming record, what is it about the capital that you find so fascinating?
[DAN]: I just like that it’s always busy. You get off the packed tube and everyone is going somewhere, you just wonder what you’re doing and want to be productive. I just like that it’s an open city and everyone is so interested in understanding where you’re from, why you’re here, etc.
However, it’s a big melting pot. I meet more people from around the world than people actually from England.
[JEFF]: I find it so interesting and historic, from just film and entertainment to World War’s; I find it an inspiring place. It’s a beautiful city and I’m glad to see it still flourishing. Another reason it’s so inspiring is the fact that we’re working on a new album …
Co-incidentally, we were about to talk about what happens next for you guys, does that mean after you odd Canadian performances that you’re back in the studio as soon as possible then?
[JEFF]: Yeah, it is basically for writing. We get back to Canada and open for a band called Neverending White Lights, so we’re going to be so jetlagged. But, yeah, that’s the plan up until Christmas.
We are spending the next week finishing the writing and pre-preproduction, then we head the studio with Brian McTernan (Moneen/Circa Survive).
Our final question; other than yourselves, what band or artist would you advise everyone to check out?
[JEFF]: That’s a great question, I always get tongue-tied.
[DAN]: Well, our favourite bands are usually the bands we tour with, so definitely Said The Whale.
[JEFF]: I’m pretty sure that he’s already been here, but Dan Mangan. He is a great guy from Canada. Are we sticking to a Canadian theme here?
Please don’t say Justin Bieber …
[JEFF]: Oh no. But, “Hey Justin Bieber!”
[DAN]: Well, we found a great British band here called Tellison. We saw them live in Bristol and they just ripped it. They blew us away.
[JEFF]: I have to agree. They definitely proved that the spirit in live music is still alive here. But, yeah, Said The Whale, Dan Mangan and Tellison.