Hot Head Show

• Posted: Mon 7 Mar 2011
• By: Joe Stratton

Hot Head Show aren't a household name yet...but that doesn't mean they aren't a blooming marvellous group...

If you don't believe me then just check out the video for their recently released single Bummer vimeo.com/18244569

We could have just stopped at showing you the video of course, but then we thought why don't we put some questions to them as well....so along went Joe Stratton to interview them...

Why the name?

Ultimately we decided to have a name so that people can easily refer to us in conversation with their friends.

How was the tour with (Primus legend) Les Claypool?

AWESOME we met Bootsy fucking COLLINS, and right there in his starglasses he was all like "you guys are pushin that boat pretty far out" and we thought that was deeply excellent.

Did you record Bummer and Hotel Room with the intention of releasing them together?

Not at all. How we ended up with Bummer as one of our debut single's two A-sides I can't imagine. It's a pretty niche tune. I presume that must be why we put Hotel Room, which is basically a pop song, on the other side. Because people of a certain sort will really get off on Bummer, but everyone else can listen to Hotel Room with the girls.

What's next release-wise?

We're thinking we might do a free download single a few weeks ahead of the album, which is out on Hakisac Records this summer. The Lemon LP. But in two weeks we're going to Brighton to record a new EP that'll probably end up coming out a few weeks after the album. Doing it all on tape. Gonna be sick.

What is your least favourite aspect of playing in a band?

For a while now we've had a problem reconciling ourselves with the fact that bands are a bit lame. A group of guys doing something that's mostly musical but also inevitably involves a lot of thinking about yourselves in a certain kind of way, which can be a bit bullshitcentric.

But if you're the sort of person who's not content with just making music for its own sake, who wants to do it in a situation where the music is part of a larger psycho-spiritual entertainment equation, then the whole "we're a band" game is just what you have to do.

What's your most favourite aspect of playing in a band?

The shows that aren't depressing are almost impossibly positive experiences.

What are your biggest ambitions with Hot Head Show?

We'd like to be able to regularly make music in a situation where it's part of a larger psycho-spiritual entertainment equation. We'd especially like to do it in Italy some more, because Italy is the best country.

Beefheart or Zappa?

Zappa.

Beatles or Stones?

Jordan says Beatles. Beatamax says Beatles. Vaughn says they both blow.

Are you part of a scene in London?

Sort of. Not really. Is there still such a thing as a scene? The word feels a bit historical. I suppose Super Best Friends Club could be called a Scene.

What bands would you like to mention who have impressed you recently?

You must immediately go check out Super Best Friends Club, Les Ocelots, Soccer 96, Nila Raja, Braindead Collective, Filthy Boy, National Snack, First, Moongirls, The Dromomaniac, The Display Team, The Bellydance Superstars, Bilbao Syndrome, Stig Noise Soundsystem, Barberos, The Object War, and The Mergatroid. And if you don't own any Mulatu Astatqé recordings, you should. Vaughn would also like to recommend Tower of Power.