We asked Lions in the Street's Chris Kinnon about the city's hippest haunts and hottest hotties:

Managing the difficult task of sounding current yet awesomely retro, Lions in the Street's indie outing, Cat Got Your Tongue, updates the circa-Altamont '60s for the Myspace generation. Frontman Chris Kinnon gives the four-piece much of its considerable swagger.

Best local release other than yours
“Pink Mountaintops' Axis of Evol. It's awesome, awesome, awesome psych-rock. We already know what our favourite release of next year will be whatever Pride Tiger releases. There's so much good music coming out of Van City right now that you could almost say there's a scene.”

Most mind-blowing gig of the past year
“Pride Tiger, Lions in the Street, and The People Vs. at the Cobalt on August 19. It was a sweaty summer night of righteous, rolling rock. Yeah, we named our own show. Shame on us—we couldn't afford to go to any other gigs.”

What Vancouver band is overdue for a reunion gig?
“Chilliwack, or did they ever break up? The Collectors, then. The dude could sing. Also Copyright, 'cause they never let the man win.”

Who would you love to see on your Myspace Friend list?
“Pre-'75 Rod Stewart, Mick Taylor, Bobby Whitlock, Lowell George, Donald Fagen, and Rick Danko. Anyone who didn't let silly, pretentious ideas about art and originality get in the way of making great rock 'n' roll.”

John Q. Musicbiz just flew in from L.A. and he's waving his gold card around. Where are you gonna take him?
“John Q. Music Business is, we can tell you, a useless tit on a sinking ship. So we'd take him to Blood Alley, where we'd get him drunk at Shebeen [9 Gaoler's Mews] on whiskey with roofies, rough him up, then take his card and ditch him, 'cause John Q. Musicbiz brings no party and is a vibe killer. Then we head to the Pan Pacific or any expensive joint with lots of champagne and have their entire stock of expensive bubbly sent to our home address, à la Anton Newcombe. Beautiful. Thanks, John Q. Musicbiz!”

What local musician makes you wish you were a little more promiscuous?
“Easy: Dan Moxon from Bend Sinister. He's a right sexy fellow. Maybe it's the fact that he's got mad skills and writes great songs. Aside from Dan, Amber [Webber] from Black Mountain is pretty lovely, and she gave us good tips about touring in the U.S., so respect to her.”

Which Vancouver venue would you be saddest to see go?
“We've only played there once, but the Cobalt, 'cause it was such a good audience and it was so great to play with the mighty Pride Tiger. Also, the Lamplighter is far-out. There are a few good venues, it's just that they need to drop the price of booze so more people will go out at night. Expensive drinks kill the scene.”