en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/vigimael/journal The Last.fm journal for vigimael. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/vigimael/journal/2007/11/18/3dr3_hot_hot_heat_live Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:48:36 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/vigimael/journal/2007/11/18/3dr3_hot_hot_heat_live Sat 17 Nov – Hot Hot Heat

I came in late so that I didn't have to see the dreary lad-rock they'd put in for support. It turned out not to be the same band, it was We Are Scientists with Hold Steady-ish vocals instead. Not too exciting, to be honest.
However, when The Heat appeared... exhilarating stuff. Despite the initially terrible sound levels, the energy was turned on. When the sound guy had finally levelled things out, there was no stopping them. Luke Paquin is much hotter than I realised, too.
Steve Bays touched the keyboard a lot less than one would expect, preferring to waltz around (despite the lack of triple time anywhere in the set) with the microphone, making the terrible pun "Stoke... are you stoked?" between songs. His quirky bark is still in fine form, and his Jewfro is stunning.
Drummer Dustin Hawthorne didn't seem to want to rest at all, cueing in each next song immediately after the other finished, with the rest of the band always ready. Good drumming throughout, though some inconsistancies with speed. They never idled between songs.
The middlish Harmonicas and Tambourines and the better-but-not-best Naked in the City Again might not've been the best way to start, but the essential anthem Bandages and immortal call-and-response of Give Up? quickly self-rited them.
After worming my way to the front, I sang every word, clapped almost every clap and probably annoyed everyone else. I was one of those begging for You Owe Me An I.O.U., even though I doubt it'd be as good live. The song didn't turn up, but I couldn't frown about it as Goodnight Goodnight was an apt closer, and much more powerful live than on record.
Simple chant Talk To Me, Dance With Me was inflated to manic proportions, with the entire audience explaining the difference between the words 'only' and 'owner'.
Thankfully, the new album's main highlight My Best Fiend was included, with its barking "Oh-oh-oh" chorus and 7/8 hook.
Perhaps one of the softer songs, for example Outta Heart, would've been welcome, as the onslaught of fast 'uns got a little samey. The two ballads proper, Middle Of Nowhere and Elevator each made for a lovely singalong. As did brilliant power ballad Let Me In. As did EVERY song. And that's the beauty of Hot Hot Heat, they're catchier than AIDS.
The funk-rock of Conversation was apparently a live debut - strange and difficult to believe, but I'll take it as a compliment. It's not among their very best, but it was executed well.
Naked in the City Again, Get In Or Get Out, This Town and No, Not Now, the latter of which was allegedly included especially for somebody's birthday but actually on the setlist that I saw, represented the non-singles of the first album, with very repetitive lyrics and spiky music, still sounding in a similar condition to their first album itself.
As well as those already mentioned, second album picks were Jingle Jangle, Dirty Mouth and Island of the Honest Man. Shame On You would've been nice but I'm in no position to complain. Island's punchy rapping rendered it a highlight, but its new chorus drum beat slightly bluntened the song.
Personally, I would've made a few adaptations to the setlist - maybe remove This Town and Harmonicas and Tambourines and insert Oh, Goddamnit and Good Day To Die, and I was expecting more of a focus on their newest album - but it's no time to be picky, on the whole it was awesome.
Perhaps I sound negative in this review. I must clarify, that's definitely not the case.
Best moments:
Eye contact with Steve and Luke. Yum x 2.
Bandajews.
"Wouldn't mind one more night in town" becoming "Wouldn't mind one more night in Stoke" - lying to please us, awwh.
The two-beat climax of 5 Times Out Of 100.
Vocal solos in Island of the Honest Man.
Goodnight Goodnight.

I got a nice hoodie, too.
Yay.
And yes, this has been my favourite gig of all those I've been to. I must see them again someday.]]>