 Ever wonder what would happen if The Killers and The Cranberries were to hook up? That one crazy night would quite possibly give birth to The Hots, sort of.
The Toronto based group refuses to be categorized into what they call “narrowly defined classifications”, and for good reason too. Trying to define their sound is as difficult as trying to define a chameleon's colour. With each song of their new EP “Bed for the Night” the sound shifts dramatically from strong, heavy 90's rock (sans the scream-myself-hoarse frontman) to upbeat jazz-punk and something like synthpop. The band is comprised of two guitars (MJ Cyr and Lorne Spence), a bass (Don Hanlon), a trumpet and keyboard (Tara Kannangara) and drums (Ben Standage), and it's this full ensemble that gives the band so muchflexibility in creating different sounds and moods for their songs. Lead singer MJ Cyr's vocals can be at times strong and commanding, like in their opening track “Ze Germans!”, then suddenly turn hauntingly sweet and melancholic for the next track, “Almost Anyone”. It not only makes the two songs sound radically different, but almost tricks listeners into thinking they're actually two different singers. What does remain constant throughout the entire EP, however, are the genius, complex guitar solos delivered by Lorne Spence. Spence manages to incorporate his mind-blowing solos into the overall structure of the songs, giving them a melodic purpose beyond just showcasing his obvious talent. In the third track, “Long Time Caller, First Time Listener” the trumpets join the rest of the band and the results are amazing. A mellow, rich sound that doesn't overpower the guitar melody in the least, but compliments it in a way that no synthesized instrument could dream of doing. The result is a full, textured album that reveals something new with each listen, an EP you'll never get tired of listening to, no matter what you're into. But don't make the mistake of thinking The Hots are an in-studio band. They actually belong to that rare breed of performers who are able to make their songs sound better live than they do on their album. At their latest gig at the Mod Club on February 21st they made the crowd roar with approval and left them wanting more. Their incredible energy and obvious chemistry on stage brings a new, exciting dimension to their songs that is impossible to translate to an album. This energy, unfortunately didn't translate to the keyboardist, whose cool, emotionless expression sometimes detracted from the vibrant energy on stage. However, as she is a recent addition to the band this will probably change as she becomes integrated into the group, and the strong stage presence of her fellow band members will help to mitigate the effect until she does. If you're looking for the next up and coming Canadian band, The Hots are it. With extremely catchy melodies, smart, sharp lyrics and a unique energy they're sure to take the Canadian indie scene by storm. You can catch them live at Club 279 on March 27th or at Rock Boutique on April 24th. If all else fails, you can always have a listen at http://www.myspace.com/thehotsmusic 
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