Hot Hot Heat
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Some days the reaper ain't looking so grim; some days the past is the only mine that has gold.
—"Nobody's Accusing You (Of Having A Good Time)" Hot Hot Heat
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Hot Hot Heat were a new-wavy, Canadian dance-punk band from Victoria, British Columbia formed in 1999 and disbanded in 2017. They're known for their catchy, frantic songs and witty lyrics. Although not overtly popular in the mainstream, they had a few chart-climbing singles and maintain a dedicated fanbase. Extremely hook-laden songs await.
Their final line-up was:
- Steve Bays (vocals and keyboards)
- Paul Hawley (drums)
- Louis Hearn (bass)
- Luke Paquin (guitar)
Former members include:
- Dustin Hawthorne
- Matthew Marnik
- Jimmy Sweet
- Dante DeCaro
- Parker Bossley
Discography:
- Scenes One Through Thirteen - 2002
- Make Up The Breakdown - 2002
- Elevator - 2005
- Happiness Ltd. - 2007
- Future Breeds - 2010
- Hot Hot Heat - 2016
Hot Hot Heat provides examples of the following tropes:
- Black Sheep Hit: Previously, fans had loved Hot Hot Heat for their harder, dance-punk songs. Their largest hit, "Middle of Nowhere" was rather pop.
- Break Up Song: Happiness Ltd. was basically a breakup album.
- Creator Backlash: Former member, Dustin Hawthorne once said of the band's biggest hit, "Middle of Nowhere", "I hate ('Middle of Nowhere') and I wish it was never written. I can't deny that it definitely did something good for our career, for sure. But, to me, it's adult contemporary. And it's kind of funny to me, because I grew up playing punk and here I am playing this jackass-sounding song."
- Ear Worm: Too many songs to list.
- Epic Riff: A few times, notably "Middle of Nowhere" and "Bandages".
- Face of the Band: The band has gone through a lot of line-up changes, but fans seem to always remember Steve Bays. Although there may be a reason for this.
- Memetic Mutation/Running Gag: Nobody can understand the lyrics to "Bandages". Maybe they are "sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches"? To quote a band member, "That's what you're saying? I always wondered what the lyrics were to this song..."
- Messy Hair: Steve Bays, with all of his unruly ginger curls, certainly counts.
- Sanity Slippage Song: "Oh, Goddamit" qualifies. "Oh, oh goddamit, I think I've lost it. Oh goddammit - I think I've lost you."
- Sesame Street Cred: They popped up for an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!.
- Signature Style: Steve Bays' voice has led to him being described as a "headlong yelper" by Rolling Stone Magazine.
- Silly Love Songs: Love songs? Yeah. But the silly part was averted for most of their career, with their first silly, happy love song coming out in 2010.
- Wanderlust Song: "This Town" is all about leaving town.