By Steve McLean

These five guys may be Chickens, but they’re certainly not afraid to bring the rock. This Toronto-based quintet formed in 1999, but the Robinson brothers, Heywood and Preszcator were friends who grew up in the small southwestern Ontario town of Exeter listening to music wafting north from Detroit radio stations. Motor City rock outfits like the MC5, Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop & The Stooges influenced their music tastes as much as later punk bands like The Ramones and The Clash, and they put it all together by forming a band called U.I.C.

The group became a popular live draw throughout southern Ontario with its no-holds-barred performances that must have impressed anyone who squeezed into clubs to see it. U.I.C. released three potent rock albums (and a fourth, recorded in 1988 with Blue Rodeo keyboard player Bobby Wiseman, will be released later this year on the band’s Rubber Road Records label) before calling it a day.

Heywood went on to form the more country-leaning Positively Stompin’, Fred Robinson and Preszcator joined the Gord Cummings-fronted Possum, and Dave Robinson traveled the world before returning home and joining El Speedo, where he hooked up with Kenny James. Eventually the five men got back together and started jamming every week for more than a year. After throwing around countless names, they decided on The Chickens and hit the club circuit. The Chickens’ music took more inspiration from ‘60s garage rock than U.I.C.’s more punk-influenced work, and it wasn’t long before it became one of the must-see bands in Toronto clubs.

Word spread among fans, club bookers and music journalists that one of the most dynamic live acts on the scene had been hatched. Kenny James added a keener sense of melody and more pop hooks to the group’s sound, and Dave Robinson made sure that the energy level never dropped. When you hear people say that Gord Downie is the most animated frontman in Canadian rock, you know that they’ve never seen Dave’s leaps, spins and other assorted moves.

The Chickens released the Prepare To Plug In debut album in 2000, and such instantly grabby songs as Summer Of Love, American, Boss Man, Get It Right, Hardly Remember, Plastic Bags, Super Bee and White Squirrel Town helped spread the word further. While remaining a popular live attraction, The Chickens were also busy behind the scenes working on their second album, the newly released Bring It On. Nine of the 12 songs were recorded by James Heidebrecht and mixed by Ian Blurton (Change Of Heart, Blurtonia) at Chemical Sound, while the remainder of the disc was recorded and mixed by Dale Morningstar (The Dinner Is Ruined, Gordon Downie) at the Gas Station.

Bring It On shows new growth and maturity for the band members, all of whom contributed to the songwriting process. While things kick off in high gear with the straight-ahead rock of Overjoyed and Room On Fire, the group shows off a slightly gentler side of its repertoire with the rootsy pop sound of Kids Don’t Dig It. The tempo slows somewhat on Unprofessional and Never Grow Up, and Dave Robinson shows off his harmonica prowess on the darker and slightly bluesy slab of ‘70s Detroit rock, Runaway. Faithful fans will be pleased by the inclusion of longtime live favourites like Union, Lucy Goosey and Feel Alright. Not content to be rock idols, The Chickens have also become (minor) movie stars via an appearance in the Canadian-made music movie, Goldirocks.

As you can probably tell by the group’s name, The Chickens don’t take themselves too seriously. But it’s a different story with the music that they make, and you can hear the hard work that went into the recording of the new album. Acts like The White Stripes, The Hives and Jet have helped push heart-felt, garage-based rock music into the spotlight in the last couple of years, and now it’s time that a Canadian band starts doing the same. With a little bit of luck, that band could be The Chickens. Bring It On.