Song of the Day: “Everyday Is Saturday Night” by Danko Jones
If you were hoping this Canadian power trio would finally settle down—you were wrong.
Danko Jones’ Leo Rising begins the same as all 11 prior studio albums have… like a lion roaring its way through your speakers. If you were hoping this long-running Canadian power trio would finally settle down, explore some ambient folk, or perhaps dabble in introspection, congratulations—you were spectacularly wrong. This twelfth studio album is yet another relentless dose of high-octane, no-nonsense rock built entirely from razor-sharp riffs, chest-thumping rhythms, and the kind of lyrical swagger that quite possibly teeters into glorious, self-aware cliché. It’s what Danko Jones does best: music designed to be played so loud that your neighbors begin to question their life choices.
From the immediate statement of intent in the opener, “What You Need,” to the strutting finale, “Too Slick For Love,” the album maintains a dizzying pace. The whole thing is tight and loud, ensuring every power chord hits like a body shot. Sure, the songs mostly revolve around the crucial rock themes of volume, partying, women, and the undeniable superiority of rock ‘n’ roll, but be honest… you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Danko Jones isn’t about reinventing the 3-chord rock tune… he’s about delivering those 3 chords directly to your face with maximum impact. The band—Danko, bassist John Calabrese, and drummer Rich Knox—plays with the kind of cohesion that only comes from decades of refusing to yield, delivering eleven tracks that are less songs and more concentrated jolts of pure, distilled lightning. If you like your rock served without subtlety, complication, or vegetables, then congratulations, Leo Rising is the greasy, perfect meat & potatoes meal you’ve been waiting for.
Best in Show: “Everyday Is Saturday Night”
Choosing the “best” song on a Danko Jones album is like choosing the “best” shot in a line of 11 of them sitting on the bar—They’re all good, but one maybe just has a little extra. This time I’m giving the nod to “Everyday Is Saturday Night,” because frankly, this track is the entire Danko Jones philosophy boiled down into three and a half minutes of aggressive good times. While other songs might offer the technical flash (Like former Megadeth ax man Marty Friedman’s solo on “Diamond In The Rough,” which elevates the track into a moment of pure, unadulterated guitar hero worship), this one delivers the core manifesto. It’s an infectious, thunderous anthem that completely rejects the concept of a routine. When Danko sings, “Mondays are now Fridays, Tuesdays are my birthday,” you don’t question it; you just nod, pour yourself another beverage, and start singing along. It captures the pure, unbridled joy of making every day feel like a weekend bender, and is the essential, high-grade party rock that this band was put on Earth to produce.
The Song
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/everyday-is-saturday-night/1811700524
The Album
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/leo-rising/1811700516