Hot Hot Heat

In 2000 the band changed direction to a more melodic, pop-influenced style, losing Marnick and adding guitarist Dante DeCaro. Strongly influenced by the New Wave sound of 1980s bands XTC, The Clash, and Elvis Costello and the Attractions, the new lineup quickly released a series of 7" singles and toured extensively in Canada and the American Pacific Northwest, joining up with similarly-styled indie rock bands such as Les Savy Fav, The French Kicks, Radio 4, and Pretty Girls Make Graves, and opening for established Canadian rockers Sloan on a national tour.

The band's touring exposure attracted the interest of Seattle record label Sub Pop, who signed Hot Hot Heat in 2001, leading to the early 2002 release of EP Knock Knock Knock, produced in part by Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie. That release was followed up quickly by the band's first full-length release, Make Up The Breakdown, produced by Nirvana and Soundgarden producer Jack Endino.

That album quickly found critical acclaim, and its singles "Bandages" and "Talk to Me, Dance With Me" received regular airplay on MTV and radio, including influential Los Angeles, California station KROQ, on whose charts both reached No. 1.

In 2003 the band released a full-length album of tracks recorded prior to their Sub Pop recordings, Scenes One Through Thirteen, on the OHEV Records label. Reflecting the band's transition period between their original sound and the present, and thus very much unlike what fans had heard on Knock and Breakdown, Scenes met with mediocre sales.

In 2004 Make Up The Breakdown won "Favorite Album" at the Canadian Independent Music Awards by popular vote. The band has recently completed work on their new album, 'Elevator', with guitarist Dante DeCaro announcing his departure from the band in October 2004, but staying to complete the album. Dante handed over to replacement guitarist Luke Paquin when the band started their 2005 tour.

Discography