Zoo Lion

Time has not been kind to many of the pop-metal acts who hogged the charts in the 1980s.

Those who haven’t broken up are headlining casinos or have found themselves playing the same club circuit they started out in.

Not so for Bon Jovi.

The New Jersey quartet’s career may have had some low ebbs, but these days the band is one of the top-grossing touring acts on the planet.

The band’s latest trek has already raked in more than $50 million this year — not surprising given almost every stop on Bon Jovi’s The Circle Tour has sold out.

That includes Wednesday’s Saddledome spectacle, which saw more than 16,000 fans pack into the front, the sides, the nosebleeds and even behind the stage to hear Mr. Jon Bongiovi belt out old faves and new tracks from the band’s latest album, The Circle.

The secret to Bon Jovi’s success may have to do with the fact they have never, ever been trendy.

Or too clever. Or too sophisticated.

Which is just fine for the group’s legions of fans — many of whom have followed the band since its self-titled debut in 1984.

There was a nary an American Apparel outfit in sight.

Instead, concert-goers were in the Stampede spirit, donning cowboy hats and checkered shirts and whooping it up to the band that was the soundtrack to many a fan’s high school years.

Bon Jovi’s hard-edged riff rock has changed only slightly over the years — a dash of country here and there a splash of pop there — with lyrics that are earnest enough to connect with audiences who don’t mind the odd cornball sentiment.

There was quite a bit of corn and a wee bit of cheese during Wednesday night’s show, but there were very few in the audience who would complain.

Though there was a large contingent of middle-aged women — some of whom were dressed in rather revealing and, ahem, age-inappropriate wear — there was also an impressive number of younger people who sang along to the band’s earlier hits, including You Give Love a Bad Name from its multi-platinum 1986 breakthrough, Slippery When Wet.

The crowd exploded when the singer stepped up to the mic and sang, “Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame...” prompting Bon Jovi’s excited fans to finish the line for him.

As much as they loved it, you could tell Jon B has had quite enough of the song for one lifetime.

He humoured the crowd, but sang it like he was at a karaoke bar.

The energy waned a few times during the first half-hour of the show when Bon Jovi revisited tracks from its country-tinged 2007 album, Lost Highway.

People wanted the hits —and the band gave it to them — but Jon Bon Jovi looked more comfortable and energized when playing newer, less popular material.

The band — including guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres — sounded as good as you would think a well-oiled, veteran rock band would sound on stage.

They were joined by an extra guitar player and bassist who amped up the sound nicely.

With so many familiar songs and an already enamoured audience, Bon Jovi had no need for a fancy light show or pyrotechnics of any sort.

A few risers and a couple of video screens did the trick.

Jon Bon Jovi kept his banter to a minimum, but when he addressed the crowd he was greeted with screams and possibly a sigh or two.

“Calgary!! How you feeling?! We’re Zoo Lion!”

And with that boisterous introduction, Calgary’s Zoo Lion — who won a CJAY 92 competition to open for Bon Jovi — began the biggest show of their career.

The band’s groove-laden mainstream rock seemed to go over well with the thousands of Bon Jovi fans already in their seats.

Singer Craig Aikman’s straining, raspy vocals even has shades of Jon Bon Jovi.

Zoo Lion knew this was an opportunity they couldn’t screw up and they made the most of being on the huge stage.

Three and a half stars/Sold out crowd of 16,000 - Calgary Sun

Contact: Rachel Maclean FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Backstage Communications January 17, 2009 (403) 700-8109 rachelmaclean36@hotmail.com
ZOO LION BREAKS FREE IN CALGARY INDIE SCENE
Calgary, A.B. – January 17, 2009 – Sleeping good just isn't an option for local band Zoo Lion. As they explode onto the local scene around Calgary, the four-piece organic rock group is discovering just what it takes to juggle the day job with their busy schedule of gigging. This past week alone Zoo Lion has ripped up the stages of Keyz downtown bar Jan. 10 and Jan. 12, the Wildwood in Mission Jan. 14, Dickens downtown Pub Jan. 16 and the 10th Ave. Brickyard Jan. 17. With their "hard work pays off" strategy Zoo Lion's mission is to get out and be heard. They formed in 2006 as a three piece, which includes lead vocals and guitarist Craig Aikman, drummer Tyler Reimer and bassist Matt Tysowki. They picked up lead guitarist Mark Heit after winning the 2007 Calgary radio station X 92.9 Denim Lounge Songwriter’s Showcase. After building steam for the last two years around Alberta and Saskatchewan, Zoo Lion went into the studio in spring of 2008 and hooked up with producers, Aaron Nordeen and Shawn Penner, of District Four Studio’s in Vancouver, B.C., to record their debut album Telling Your People, which was released last July. July was also the month they won the $25,000 preliminary round of the Fuel 90.3 RockStar contest at Snatch Rock Bar in Calgary. The next step for them is to hit the road touring, and they plan to head back into the studio for more recording in April. Currently, they are one of the three bands short-listed for Calgary's CJAY 92 Radio Star contest for a chance to head to Toronto for Canadian Music Week with a shot at the National Songwriting title. The winner is announced on Jan. 23. Zoo Lion has been described as an energetic live show that is truly original. Their next show is on Jan. 19 at Keyz, then they head out to Kelowna on Jan. 24 to headline the 2009 MountainStock "Victim's Against Violence" Festival. For more information check out their website at zoolionmusic.com or their Zoo Lion myspace or Face book. Craig Aikman craig@zoolionmusic.com
CJAY 92 contest — http://www.cjay92.com/node/855306 MountainStock Festival — mountainstockfestival.com - Backstage Communications

Craig Aikman was involved in some distinctly non-rock star activities when he was told that his band Zoo Lion had nabbed a once-in-a-lifetime gig.

Beamed across Calgary on CJAY 92’s morning show, Aikman’s response that the act had landed the opening spot for Bon Jovi at the Saddledome on Wednesday night may not have epitomized rock ’n’ roll cool — but his excitement was understandable.

“I’m a letter carrier and I was sorting my mail in the morning and they called me up on the phone live-to-air to let me know,” says Aikman. "They got me saying ‘Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!?!’ ”

That said, it was not a total surprise. The members of the Calgary-based band already knew they had bested hundreds of acts to reach the top 3 contenders after entering CJay’s Bon Jovi Opener Contest on Facebook.

“They took our stuff to Bon Jovi’s agent and he took a listen to them and he decided along with CJAY,” says Aikman. “In itself, that was a big opportunity to get in front of those guys.”

So Aikman, bassist Matt Tysowski, guitarist Mark Heit and drummer Tyler Reimer will have half-an-hour to wow the crowd at the Dome on Wednesday.

Forming three years ago, Zoo Lion have two albums out of straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll that doesn’t sound out of place alongside vintage Bon Jovi.

The act won CJAY 92’s 2009 Canadian Radio Star title for their song Pry. Their sophomore disc, Nothing Automatic, was released in April.

Aikman originally hails from Kamsack, Sask. and says his hometown is rooting for him.

“The local paper have called us and my parents are overjoyed,” he says. “They are coming down for the show. And we’re going back in the August long weekend to do a show back there. So they’re all excited.”

evolmers@theherald.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Calgary band Lion gets break opening Jovi/3273183/story.html#ixzz0wu0omgzI - Calgary Herald

By LISA WILTON, SUN MEDIA

An upbeat ditty about the end of the world has won the Calgary Radio Star songwriting contest.

Pry, written by local four-piece Zoo Lion, was chosen by rock station CJAY 92 to represent Calgary in a Canadian Music Week-sponsored national songwriting competition.

"It's pretty cool because it started off as just an acoustic song I used to play," says Zoo Lion singer Craig Aikman.

"Then we rearranged it for a four-piece and it turned into a high-energy song."

Aikman says Pry is about how some people obsess about the end of the world or the end of their life.



"People are always going on about it and we're saying, do you really want to know or do you just want to get on with living your life? But you can read into it what you want."

The self-described organic rock group beat out finalists Jacen Elkstrom and John Boswell to claim the regional prize.

"I like to think the judges chose us because we're a little more real, we're honest," says Aikman, who cites Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and The Tragically Hip as influences.

In addition to winning a new acoustic guitar, microphone pack and other gear, Zoo Lion will head to Toronto in March to compete with winners from 11 other radio stations across the country as part of the annual Canadian Music Week industry festival.

"It's kind of a schmoozefest," says Aikman. "But we're going to a songwriter's workshop and we'll be playing our song there. It has to be scaled back a lot, but that's OK because the song works great as an acoustic number."

The winner of the national songwriting contest will be announced on March 13.

While Aikman is excited about the trip to Toronto, he's even more stoked about hearing the song on rotation on CJAY.

"That for us is the big one," he says. "It means good exposure for us."

Zoo Lion has been gigging regularly since 2007 and its debut CD, Telling Your People, is available at Megatunes and through iTunes.

- The Calgary Sun

By Lana Michelin - Red Deer Advocate

Published: February 02, 2009 6:47 AM

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Drummer Tyler Reimer will soon head to Toronto with his Calgary rock band, Zoo Lion, to compete in a national songwriting competition.

But in the meantime, the born-and-raised-in-Red Deer musician will be playing some jazz for a good hometown cause.

Reimer said he jumped at the chance to play the drums in a Sunday, Feb. 15 fundraising concert for Memorial Centre renovations when asked by his high school buddy, Morgan McKee.

“Just the fact that Morgan asked me” was reason enough, added Reimer.

McKee is overseeing the centre’s rejuvenation as executive director of Central Alberta Theatre and Reimer said, “It’s a chance to do a good thing for the Memorial Centre.”

The Jazz At The Memorial Centre benefit is being planned to raise $10,000-$12,000 towards installing new flooring and a sprinkler system. The approximate $1 million renovation will include replacing the centre’s seats and concession area. It will be financed through government and municipal matching grants and fundraising dollars.

McKee, who studied music in Boston and regularly tours the province as a jazz pianist, will also play at the 8 p.m. event. “And I’ll sing, if singing is required,” he said, with a chuckle.

Reimer’s high school band teacher, Doug Ward, who now teaches at Red Deer College, will play the saxophone and flute and Keith Rempel, a former Red Deer musician, who now lives in Edmonton, will be on bass.

McKee said he looks forward to getting together with his musician friends for a night of light Diana Krall-style jazz, some Sinatra numbers and original tunes composed by Ward.

As a bonus, local singer/guitarist Curtis Phagoo will entertain in the lobby and the evening will include a silent auction of dinner coupons, wines and hotel packages.

While Reimer loves playing in a rock band, he said he always likes the challenge of performing jazz.

A few weeks after the Memorial Centre benefit, he will fly to Toronto with his Zoo Lion bandmates.

The band, named for a Tragically Hip song reference, won a Calgary radio station’s songwriting contest for its tune Pry (which can be heard on Zoo Lion’s MySpace site).

The quirky, upbeat rock song about the end of the world was first chosen to be among three finalists on CJAY 92’s 2009 Radio Star contest. Listeners then voted it their favourite.

Reimer said composing Pry was a collaborative effort, although singer Craig Aikman wrote the lyrics. As a result, Zoo Lion will compete nationally at Canadian Music Week March 12 to 14, where the biggest players in Canada’s music scene will gather.

Career-wise, “It can’t hurt,” said an excited Reimer. “It’s something that could help us down the road.”

The drummer studied music at Red Deer College before getting a degree at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.

Reimer returned to Red Deer after graduation and only moved to Calgary a few months ago — after 2 1/2 years of commuting to Calgary for Zoo Lion gigs took a toll.

Zoo Lion has occasionally performed at The Blarney Stone pub in Red Deer and Reimer hopes his band will make another local appearance in the spring. - Red Deer Advocate

By LISA WILTON, SUN MEDIA

An upbeat ditty about the end of the world has won the Calgary Radio Star songwriting contest.

Pry, written by local four-piece Zoo Lion, was chosen by rock station CJAY 92 to represent Calgary in a Canadian Music Week-sponsored national songwriting competition.

"It's pretty cool because it started off as just an acoustic song I used to play," says Zoo Lion singer Craig Aikman.

"Then we rearranged it for a four-piece and it turned into a high-energy song."

Aikman says Pry is about how some people obsess about the end of the world or the end of their life.



"People are always going on about it and we're saying, do you really want to know or do you just want to get on with living your life? But you can read into it what you want."

The self-described organic rock group beat out finalists Jacen Elkstrom and John Boswell to claim the regional prize.

"I like to think the judges chose us because we're a little more real, we're honest," says Aikman, who cites Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and The Tragically Hip as influences.

In addition to winning a new acoustic guitar, microphone pack and other gear, Zoo Lion will head to Toronto in March to compete with winners from 11 other radio stations across the country as part of the annual Canadian Music Week industry festival.

"It's kind of a schmoozefest," says Aikman. "But we're going to a songwriter's workshop and we'll be playing our song there. It has to be scaled back a lot, but that's OK because the song works great as an acoustic number."

The winner of the national songwriting contest will be announced on March 13.

While Aikman is excited about the trip to Toronto, he's even more stoked about hearing the song on rotation on CJAY.

"That for us is the big one," he says. "It means good exposure for us."

Zoo Lion has been gigging regularly since 2007 and its debut CD, Telling Your People, is available at Megatunes and through iTunes.

- The Calgary Sun

Booster staff

editor@jasperbooster.com

Zoo Lion is looking forward to roaming the streets of Jasper.

The Calgary-based indie band will be taking the stage at the Atha-B Night Club on Feb. 6 and 7 for two nights of heavy-hitting rock.

"We are stoked to hit a new town we have never played that is known for having a young atmosphere," said Zoo Lion lead singer Craig Aikman. "Also, people come from all over the world to live and work in Jasper — it will be great exposure."

Zoo Lion’s latest success was announced on Jan. 23 when they won the 2009 Radio Star title from Calgary radio station, CJAY 92, and will now represent Calgary in a national songwriting contest put on by Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They will compete against 11 other bands and the national winner will be announced on March 13.

With their "hard work pays off" strategy, Zoo Lion's mission is to get out and be heard. They formed in 2006 as a three piece, which includes lead vocals and guitarist Craig Aikman, drummer Tyler Reimer and bassist Matt Tysowski. They picked up lead guitarist Mark Heit after winning the 2007 Calgary radio station X 92.9 Denim Lounge Songwriter’s Showcase.

After building steam for the last two years around Alberta and Saskatchewan, Zoo Lion went into the studio in spring of 2008 and hooked up with producers, Aaron Nordeen and Shawn Penner, of District Four Studios in Vancouver to record their debut album Telling Your People, which was released last July. July was also the month they won the $25,000 preliminary round of the Fuel 90.3 Rock Star contest at Snatch Rock Bar in Calgary. The next step for the band is to hit the road touring, and they plan to head back into the studio for more recording in April.

Zoo Lion has been described as an energetic live show that is truly original. Residents of Jasper can come check them out at the Atha-B Night Club on Feb. 6 and 7, starting at 10 p.m.

For more information, visit www.zoolionmusic.com or Zoo Lion’s myspace or Facebook. - Jasper Booster

Booster staff

editor@jasperbooster.com

Zoo Lion is looking forward to roaming the streets of Jasper.

The Calgary-based indie band will be taking the stage at the Atha-B Night Club on Feb. 6 and 7 for two nights of heavy-hitting rock.

"We are stoked to hit a new town we have never played that is known for having a young atmosphere," said Zoo Lion lead singer Craig Aikman. "Also, people come from all over the world to live and work in Jasper — it will be great exposure."

Zoo Lion’s latest success was announced on Jan. 23 when they won the 2009 Radio Star title from Calgary radio station, CJAY 92, and will now represent Calgary in a national songwriting contest put on by Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They will compete against 11 other bands and the national winner will be announced on March 13.

With their "hard work pays off" strategy, Zoo Lion's mission is to get out and be heard. They formed in 2006 as a three piece, which includes lead vocals and guitarist Craig Aikman, drummer Tyler Reimer and bassist Matt Tysowski. They picked up lead guitarist Mark Heit after winning the 2007 Calgary radio station X 92.9 Denim Lounge Songwriter’s Showcase.

After building steam for the last two years around Alberta and Saskatchewan, Zoo Lion went into the studio in spring of 2008 and hooked up with producers, Aaron Nordeen and Shawn Penner, of District Four Studios in Vancouver to record their debut album Telling Your People, which was released last July. July was also the month they won the $25,000 preliminary round of the Fuel 90.3 Rock Star contest at Snatch Rock Bar in Calgary. The next step for the band is to hit the road touring, and they plan to head back into the studio for more recording in April.

Zoo Lion has been described as an energetic live show that is truly original. Residents of Jasper can come check them out at the Atha-B Night Club on Feb. 6 and 7, starting at 10 p.m.

For more information, visit www.zoolionmusic.com or Zoo Lion’s myspace or Facebook. - Jasper Booster