Reviews of the Hot BangReviews of the Hot Bang
“The hot bang make a sound all of their own and have already brought more fresh ideas to the table than roughly 75,000 tiresome indie bands clogging up the nation's stages."
Nik Shelton, Cambridge, Evening News July 2006
"Coming on stage to a pre recorded mix of vocals and loops, The Hot Bang make an entrance like no other during this competition. Original, interesting, eccentric, eclectic, quirky – there are many words you could use to describe The Hot Bang, but not one category you could fit them in comfortably. An odd bunch of characters, they create an even odder sound – think the quintessential bizarreness of Patrick Wolf, multiplied by gypsy punk troupe, Gogol Bordello and then divide by the diluted snarling ferocity of Johnny Rotten and the slurred lilt of Shane MacGowan and you’ll be slightly closer to imagining what this band are like. They’ve got the audience entranced with their freshness and you can’t help but feel like the contest is already over"
Rhian Daly, Moving Tone News March 2007
http://www.movingtonenews.com/features/reviews/bandcomp04.asp
"The Hot Bang turn up the heat to steal final place.
Heat four of the competition at the Junction saw the five piece win over the judges and the audience with a tight display of eclectic tunes.
Backed by a bassist, guitarist, saxophone player and drummer, front man Nick Hart swapped nimbly between clarinet, acoustic guitar, vocals and even bagpipes, all whilst supporting some garish trousers that should have had a health warning on them."
Nick Shelton, Cambrige Evening News 29th March 2007
"Tiresome is not a word that could be used to describe the final band of the night - exhilarating, breathtaking and inspiring are, however. The Hot Bang walk on stage and there’s immediately a buzz about the place. This is a band that has to be seen to be believed – a mix of folk, ska, rock and countless other genres, they create a unique sound that will leave you in a state of wonder and astonishment. Fusing such a diverse range of sounds shouldn’t work so well, but it does, pushing these Cambridge eccentrics well ahead of the pack."
Rhian Daly, Moving Tone News April 5th 2007
http://www.movingtonenews.com/features/reviews/bandcompfinal.asp
"The night, however, ultimately belonged to Cambridge based band THE HOT BANG. This group of teenagers ripped through a blistering and inspired set of folk, world and jazz influenced tunes and generated loads of impromptu country dancing all the way to the bar. Their distinctive style of ‘bagpipe pop’ went down incredibly well and drew comparisons with bands like the Peatbog Fairies. John Wheeler from Hayseed Dixie, who was the guest judge for the night, commented before presenting them with their prize that, “They’d go down well at almost any festival in Europe – hell yeah!”
The Junction April 2007
Big band night goes out with a Bang
"THE HOT BANG were crowned winners of the Cambridge Band
Competition last night after the highest calibre final in years.
The five-piece used everything from bagpipes and saxophones to guitars and clarinets to make the crowd move their feet....
A special guest on the judging panel for the evening was John Wheeler, aka Hayseed Dixie frontman Barley Scotch.
"In my opinion The Hot Bang's fusion of ska and traditional British music was some of the most interesting stuff I've heard in years,"
Nic Shelton Cambridge Evening News 5th April 2007
“… The Hot Bang won this years Red Stripe Band Competition at the Junction. They are a band that was born to do well in Cambridge. Looking like a cross between public schoolboys and mad scientists, dressed as extras in Blackadder 2 (the Elizabethan one) and playing instruments as diverse as the clarinet and English bagpipes. I see them performing at the Folk Festival for many years to come, with their quirky, mainly instrumental, experimental folky sound. But did they deserve it?
Hot Bang were a hot hit. They entered the stage to backing music (the only band to do so) and oozed confidence, enthusiasm and had stage presence in spades. Everyone was smiling and they were obviously more accomplished musicians
…and though not to everyone's taste they were different and interesting. There was much dancing.
So back to my original question; did they deserve the title and the £1000 that goes with it? Well on the night yes, and they unreservedly got my vote.”
GIGS: Camb Band Comp Final"