Local Music Pick: Young Lions

Local Music Pick: Young Lions

In a new series, we’ll be hearing from a different person every month, reflecting on Reno music projects, current or not so current, and what makes them special and personally important to them.

Ilya Arbatman Reflects on Young Lions

“Driving up to Gilman for a show, back when I lived down in the peninsula, was always a special journey. I remember the big, dark graffiti’d warehouse that has seen so many thousands of punks over the years was pretty empty that night – I remember Jawsh was wearing a bandanna, a signature look of his back then. I had seen him play drums in a moshy hardcore band, Bafabegiya, which wasn’t really my thing, but when Young Lions came on I was rapt – it was exactly what my late teenage self was thirsty for: high energy, positive and upbeat but with just the right taste of bitterness and disappointment, guitar parts that were themselves somehow lyrical. I got the CD and remember I left it on to play through the night while I slept. Those songs are still stuck in a deeper part of my brain. It was crazy how often i would talk to people over the next few years and repeat the same conversation: “Reno bands? have you ever heard Young Lions?” and they had, and they would say “Yes, that’s hands down one of the best bands I’ve heard in a long time,” and we’d lament what a bummer it was that they weren’t around anymore. But that was the Reno way back then! Burn bright as you can until you burn out – you might not leave too many marks but the ones you do leave will remain forever.” – Ilya Arbatman

You can listen to Young Lions HERE