Hot Snakes Kick Off in North Denver

Reunited recently, the seminal post-hardcore noise outfit Hot Snakes showed The Oriental audience why they’re still around…

Ok. Spells, for my money (and yours, too, if you know what’s good for your ears and your soul), is one of Denver’s funnest bands right now – STILL. But more on that later. First some fun news about Hot Snakes.

But that’s why they were asked to play an opening slot for Hot Snakes last Thursday night at The Oriental Theater – a gig that many a local band surely coveted. Hot Snakes kicked off the US leg of their hot tour supporting last year’s Jericho Sirens (their first album in 14 years) with a furious, ferocious, and (sadly) too fast hour-long set in North Denver at the storied club, and the crowd loved every minute.

Have been making noisy, fast, rock n’ roll together for 30-odd years …

Which makes sense, since the two anchors of the group – guitarists John Reis and Rick Froberg – have been making noisy, fast, rock n’ roll together for 30-odd years, and founded influential punk/post-hardcore outfits like Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From the Crypt, and The Sultans. These guys arguably formed the bridge from hardcore to emo, or from Sonic Youth to Sunny Day Real Estate, via heavies like Fugazi.

Froberg stood strong at stage right for most of the set, looking like he’d just as soon be complaining about young punks who’d never heard of Bad Brains ruining his lawn. But he played a beat up Telecaster into a sound that felt like Thurston Moore and Ian MacKaye wrestling all over the neck. His gravel screech recalled some of Mark Arm‘s howls from time to time, but he definitely owned voice, leading the band like tank over the almost all-male audience.

Froberg stood strong at stage right for most of the set, looking like he’d just as soon be complaining about young punks …

Meanwhile Reis played a Colin-Newman-meets-Andy-Gill-inspired choppy grunge at stage left, often looking a spitting image of Billy Zoom with shorter, browner hair. Legs spread apart, his hands moving completely independently of the rest of his being, his face only slightly – and madly – contorting, he never missed a note or a beat.

Despite the band’s complex rhythms and wicked-crazy chord changes, Reis kept a smile on his face and seemed to gaze out on the audience half the time, simply enjoying the ride he was effortlessly piloting. Drums – split between Mario Rubalcaba (from Rocket From the Crypt, and others) and Jason Kourkounis – provided the asphalt. But everyone in the place enjoyed the wicked spin.

So – back to Spells.

Matching outfits. A manic comedian, Ben Roy – for a singer that spends literally the entire set in the pit with the crowd – because he’s a “…f**kin’ man of the people.” Usually, he’s joined by the rest of the band there, too – including the drummer, kit & all. Punk-as-fuck songs like “80% is Good Enough,” “Poor and Weird,” and “All Hail Getting Old.” And the crowd favorite “Slice Away” singalong. What’s not to like?

From the minute Spells takes the stage, the five-piece takes control. Simple, straight-ahead punk rock, flailing on your eras and up in your face for a good, heart-pounding 30 minutes. It’s better than an hour at the gym, and more fun.