MUSIC : THE LION I’S : Reggae Rockers : The Ventura County band will be opening act at La Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara.
So where’s the beat? Right here with The Lion I’s, a group of seven Ventura County locals who do reggae right. They do original rockin’ reggae that keeps the dance floor packed whenever and wherever they play.
So infectious is The Lion I’s beat that they could probably make a statue of a guy yawning in the opera get up and dance.
Along with Raging Arb & The Redheads, The Lion I’s are probably the best draw among local bands. They play the usual places, such as Charlie’s in Ventura. But they also have played The Ventura Theatre, a few places in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and also at the recent Fiesta del Sol at the Ventura Marina.
This Saturday, the band will open for the Jamaican reggae hot guy, Halie Maskel, at La Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara, home to hardwood floors, cheap beer and killer burritos.
The Lion I’s feature Bobby Galyan on vocals, Guy Jeans on keyboards, Dave Spasiano on guitar, Robert Cadeel on drums, Brian Conaway on sax, Bruce Conaway on bass and Tony Soria on trumpet.
“When we first started, Bobby and I used to do all these old blues covers,†said Jeans, who is studying to be an elementary school teacher. “Then we met Dave and started doing a lot of parties, at least, until the cops came. We met Bruce and Brian, hit it off real well, and they joined and the band became better. Tony is the newest member. He joined two months ago.â€
“We became a reggae band because we all like reggae,†Galyan said. “We all like Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, the English Beat and Bob Marley. We only do about four covers--we’ve got over 20 originals, maybe three albums worth of stuff. We practice twice a week and play at least once a week. We’re working on a tape right now, or maybe it’ll be a CD. Anyway, whatever it is, it’ll have about 10 tunes on it.â€
“We just want to get a tape out and get signed,†Spasiano said. “Right now, everyone has a day job. I’m a Realtor, and a waiter at night. Guy delivers gum to machines; Bobby’s in construction.â€
The band is an example of democracy with a beat. “Everyone in the band has input, but I do a lot of music, and Bobby writes a lot of the lyrics,†Jeans said.
Some of the tunes that inevitably pack the dance floor are “Closer,†“Time Will Tell,†“Gimme Some Time†and “Who to Trust.†All of these songs are at least five minutes long, sometimes longer, and guaranteed to get the dancers in shape--or kill them off.
“We haven’t played our best gig yet,†Galyan said, “but last December when we opened for Bamiki Bandula at The Ventura Theatre, we sounded pretty damn good. We love that big stage.
“When we play, we want people to have a good time,†Galyan said. “I just tell everybody to chill out. We don’t want no violence; violence can ruin a band.â€
* WHERE AND WHEN: On Saturday, The Lion I’s will open for Halie Maskel at La Casa de la Raza at 601 E. Montecito St. in Santa Barbara. Tickets are $10. For more information call 965-8581.
