 Hot Hot Heat |
 Robbers on High Street |
 Hot Hot Heat |
Review and Photos by Phil Bonyata
Hoping to crest the wave of popularity of the new indie rock rage sweeping the country, Hot Hot Heat blasted south from Victoria, British Columbia to try and shake things up at The Rave last night. Frontman Steve Bays, whose hair is thick enough to support a small bird colony, broke things open with "Jingle Jangle" off of their latest release Elevator, the slow tempo opening cascaded into some fine melody. Bays' voice warbled like Robert Smith without the mascara as it searched for it's own identity. "Running Out of Time" played it's dancepop out rather routinely, although the song isn't that inventive in the first place. If anything, the band understands good hook and rhythm as displayed on "Get In Get Out" and "This Town" from their debut Make Up the Breakdown.
Bays adeptly handles the organ while alternating between energetic keyboardist and a pulsating force of energy bent on covering every inch of open stage. The band are all quality musicians making the '80s a bit more fun than The Killers can. Bays has a penchant to repeat catchy phrases a bit too much as on "Ladies and Gentlemen." On the punk-pop of "Pickin' It Up" Bays again revisits the buffet line vocals of Robert Smith. Although the fast-paced chorus melded well with the choppy rhythm section and reaching a nice climax on Bay's vocal downtunings. Closing their set with "Talk to Me, Dance With Me" and "Bandages" Hot Hot Heat aren't blazing any new territory, but are having fun rehashing some forgettable sounds that strangely now seem fresh and inviting.
New York City based band Robbers on High Street warmed the stage for Hot Hot Heat in fine fashion. The band played a spirited version of "Spanish Teeth" and a upbeat and happy "Japanese Girls" both off of Tree City. Singer Ben Trokan's gaping delivery and the piano-driven, Beatlesque melodies along with the rhythm-guitar heavy crunch have many comparing them to Texas based band Spoon. But, the energy and passion displayed on closers "Love Underground" and "Debonair" should give Robbers on High Street a place to call all their own.
Robbers on High Street
Hot Hot Heat
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