If there's one band in Richmond that's true to their name, it's The Hotdamns. Now I know there are plenty of punk and hardcore fans out there saying. "Not true! Not TRUE! There's ::insert band name here::." Whatever guys. When it comes to names, no one quite lives up to it like these four wonderful guys and one hell of a gal. I ran into vocalist and keyboardist Danielle Ahart in the Fan last month, and asked her about doing an interview with Magazine33. Her response:

          "Well ... can we get drunk first?"

Well absolutely. I emailed guitarist Kelsey Miller to confirm and he left me a message in reply:

          "So do we just sit down with you and get drunk or what?"

Yes sir.

And if their attitudes and saucy, salacious debauchery don't elicit a "HOTDAMN!" from you, well then their raging alt-country folk music will.

I was excited to interview the group, because I thought maybe sitting them all down together and asking routine questions would help me better understand how this diverse group of people ended up together. From this conversation, I learned one very important thing. The only way to truly appreciate The Hotdamns is to be there. Preferably 10 feet from the stage having the time of your life.

Their style isn't difficult to classify, but it can hard to describe. Alt-country, yes, definitely. But there's another dynamic behind it that lifts them beyond the ability to lump them into a category. They qualify this modestly. Online, they describe themselves as a "porch band" with "rock and roll swagger." When I asked Danielle about their upcoming album, she replied that they were considering naming it "We're Better When You're Drunk."

Which, in one respect, they are. But only because their stage presence and "brand" gets in your face and demands a whiskey or beer accompaniment (vodka is acceptable here too). The idea that "they're better when you're drunk" is completely disconnected from their incredible skill level. This definitely shows when I asked them about their worst show ever (if you've been following The Ripple Effect, you know this is one of my favorite questions). If a band truly subscribed to the "nah, we suck, you better go grab a brew" then I would have gotten an answer more along the lines of "well, this one time we decided to bring a bottle of Jose Cuervo... and couldn't really stand up to play." Instead of a show where they played horribly or were too drunk to sing into the mics, they brought up a few they'd played where no one showed up. They'd rather just have a good crowd to enjoy their great music. So they're hard to qualify. Yes, their bluegrass influence rock is SO much fun when you're drunk, but it's so good, that we'll take it sober too.

They're also a band that picked each other up along the way, which seems fitting. I don't know how to explain that part, though, really. When they described to me how guitarist/vocalist David Hughes met up with Danielle Ahart after hearing her sing and introduced her to bassist Jay Lindsey, it felt reminiscent of a time when bands were formed by discovering amazing individuals and building from raw talent. After this initial meeting, The Hotdamns picked up drummer Jeff Lay and found guitarist/fiddlist Kelsey Miller. These two additions layer on superb talent to reinforce the fact that while yes, we'd all rather be drunk with The Hotdamns, we don't need to be to love them.

I jump at every chance I get to see them perform. I missed their recent Norfolk and North Carolina shows, but when they play in Richmond, I do my best to be there. Tonight was no different. Even if I hadn't been covering the show for Magazine33, I'd still have made it. I arrived before anyone had started playing, while Pelican Johnny was still setting up. I grabbed a drink and sat down with the five Hotdamns and waited for a good time to ask questions. I've always found it harder to interview bands I know relatively well, but I figured we'd have a great time working out the intricate details. While waiting, I got to witness the most intense battle of rock-paper-scissors of my life, to determine who would play after Pelican Johnny. Jay Lindsey, rochambeau extraordinaire, won out against Matt Seymour of Pedals On Our Pirate ships (P.O.O.P.S!) to play the second slot. Post interview, photographer Megan and I sat down in our regular booth at the Camel (or so it has become since Silo Effect) and waited for the Hotdamns to go on. Pelican Johnny opened with an acoustic set that included The Kid on the upright bass. All in all, a great set (and I'm a sucker for a band with an upright), but I was getting anxious for some Hotdamns.

One of the things I love about this group is the raw standout talent they exhibit. They are, quite literally, unforgettable. They blend a unique set of elements to create a brand of music all their own. And this is where they lift themselves above the other alt-country bands I've heard in Richmond. David's vocals, which perpetually remind me of whiskey-driven rock and roll, contrast well with the percussive nature of Danielle's keyboard style (ladies and gentlemen, this girl gets busy on those keys). And then she starts singing, and you can't miss how lovely her voice is. Her keys (though lovely and provocative in their own right) take a back seat, and when she gets into it ... her voice fills every nook and cranny of your soul, and you have to believe that these crazy kids are really on to something here. Really. Mix the two melodies with the energy that drives from Jay Lindsey's bass and the adaptable and versatile nature of Jeff Lay's drum work, and you have a great set waiting to happen. Enter Kelsey Miller, stage left (or stage right). There are truly three phenomenal melodic voices at work here (Jay Lindsey and Jeff Lay form a rhythm identity all their own). David Hughes vocals, Danielle's vocals, and Kelsey's guitar or fiddle, depending on the song. They sing in a harmony that, while you can dance your ass off to it with your bourbon, you genuinely enjoy the beauty behind it without. In addition to this melodic loveliness, there's a go get 'em, eff yes! attitude out there with this band. They like to have fun, and while they're music is lovely, it does convey the rocking swagger it deserves. The music is incredible, and don't mess with it in a dark alley. It's got a buck knife, y'all.

They're a terrific act to catch at The Camel. It's a great venue for them, one of my favorites to see them play. This night was no different. When I asked, before they played, what they'd want me to tell you, wonderful readers, it's to buy their release coming out in January (apparently, all of Richmond is releasing a CD that month). It's recorded and mixed by the awesome Jay Lindsey himself, and mastered by Brent Lambert from The Kitchen in Chapel Hill. If you pride yourself on eating local and buying local, why not listen local (really local!) too?  Catch The Hotdamns at their next show, where I am sure to be, dancing my face off, with our without my bourbon. As always, I look forward to seeing you there.

Until then, check out this stuff:

The Hotdamns.com - Homepage!

Hotdamns on MySpace - listen to music!

Hotdamns Facebook - get updates about new shows!

The Camel - one of Richmond's premier local music venues

Pedals On Our Pirate Ships MySpace - check out the closer of the evening

Pelican Johnny MySpace - the opener at the show

 

 

By Author: Meredith Ripple

Meredith Ripple is a recent VCU graduate living in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom. She writes for a local marketing company during the week and frequents shows at local venues in the evenings and weekends (Cary St. Café and Emilio’s most often). Her dad introduced her to music from a very young age, ranging from the Beatles to David Benoit and she’s been hooked ever since. She’s lived in Detroit, eastern Pennsylvania and Williamsburg, VA before moving to Richmond four years ago. She’ll be covering Richmond’s active and energetic jam and folk scene for Magazine33, her first journalistic endeavor.

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