CD REVIEW : RED LIGHT FEVER
Apr. 30th, 2009 at 1:28 AM
What a welcome return for Justin Hawkins. After a year or two away from the Rock music scene, Hawkins back with his new band, HOT LEG. This is their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Red Light Fever’. Hot leg are the perfect cure if not the remedying solution to the credit crunch with ten tracks of falsetto bouncing rockers which i missed since The Darkness imploded after their sophmore release.
To start things off let’s get things into perspective; not only are Hot Leg better than The Darkness, they seem to be gelling together more as friends and appear to be getting on swimmingly, so hopefully they’ll be around for many years to come. Justin and the boys storm their way through 10 tracks of blistering fun-filled, rock-fuelled, wrecking ball rockers, barely stopping to reload and filling your ears with tasty ear candy. Swooping block harmonies, adrenaline filled guitar, brilliant drums and bass expert musicianship and they’re most definatly not afraid to use keyboards to their campest abilities! Of course, if you didn’t much care for Justin’s falsetto. Then obviously you’re not going to like this.
The first track “Chickens” pretty much confirms that Justin hasn’t changed his song writing style. Then you have “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore” whilst Justin and his former eurovision partner Beverlei Brown give the late Ike Turner and currently living Tina Turner a run for their money on “Ashamed”. The band rock out with no sweat on “I Met Jesus” adding their “Queens” we will rock you vibe on the epic “Trojan Guitars” and 80’s influences onto “Cocktails” and of course “Gay in the 80’s”.
The glitter and gold, black panther pantomime is gone too, replaced with hot off the heels musianship which the band so obviously has and had in the first place. Being out of the public eye is allowing Hot Leg to build up a strong following, hopefully they will have a few albums under their belt before the fickle world of main stream music. Bands that make it too big too quickly rarely last because they lack the substance that only comes after years a graft. Gimmicks grab attention, but become old quickly.
Hot Leg sound brilliant. They look well too. And as the fan-base swells, we’re reminded just why we went ga ga with The Darkness in the first place. This is something to get people up and moving, down and talking, driving and head banging. They will build up their sound and confidence. They will gradually filter into the soundtrack of our lives, and for Justin Hawkins‘ fan base that never left his side, they will be grateful that he’s still rocking and rolling like a madman. If you liked The Darkness, you will definitely love HOT LEG. Cheers to Justin and the band on job well done.
Saturday 25/04/09 Day Two, Camden Crawl
Part of the review, below.
I have to say – Justin does not look worse. Anyone who saw photos back then will agree that he looks healthier and all round fab, now. And who said he’s not famous? EVERYONE knows his name.
You have to finish the festival with a laugh so when we spot Justin Hawkins (of Darkness fame) new band Hot Leg are playing at the grim smelling Underworld it seems appropriate we go see the man who had it all and then threw it away. For the record he looks worse for all of that Darkness nonsense, looking like a cross between a drag queen and a glam rocker (possibly the look he was going for). The funniest bit is that it’s bloody enjoyable – Hawkins retains his take-the-piss attitude and you won’t see a mosh pit or stage invasion like it at the Camden Crawl for years – he may not be famous anymore but when he dusts off the catsuit he can still rock like the best of the 80s rockers.
Camden Crawl Review: Saturday Highlights
The Hot Leg bit of a long article.
Hot Leg (Listen: See them 1/6 @ Indig02)
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness leads what is hands-down the best half hour of the weekend. They sound studio-quality, with every soaring falsetto note and searing guitar solo finding its mark. They also sound exactly like the Darkness, which is exactly what the audience wants. Only these choice snippets from Hawkins’ unfazed banter can begin to do the show justice: “There is a man in a one-piece trying to top the crowd.” (Remarking on a sozzled serial crowdsurfer in a red jumpsuit who, at a distance, could be mistaken for a member of Datarock.) “No, you idiot, how are they going to see you if you’re in there with them?” (Chastizing a disobedient member of the crowd who was meant to stand on stage shirtless.) “I think you know the rules about getting off the stage during Hot Leg.” (In asking a woman to either leave the stage or remove her shirt, as per their rules.) “WE ARE HOT LEGGGGGG!” (In a song.) Why, oh why wasn’t everyone here? (Alice Shyy)
Red Light Fever
Justin’s Herculean effort is marked and approved by a Hercules Moments review.
Linking this in…
The Underworld, Camden Crawl, 25.4.09
Fee’s videos:
VisibleNoiseRecords The Streaker moment!
The dark side of the moon
Former Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins will headline this year’s Moonfest music festival in Westbury.
Moonfest was cancelled last year when Wiltshire Police won a court order eight days beforehand, after security fears over the festival, due to be headlined by Pete Doherty’s band Babyshambles.
This year’s festival will take place at Storridge Farm, Westbury, on August 30, and will be headlined by Hot Leg, fronted by Justin Hawkins.
Festival organiser John Green said the event will have a 2,500 capacity. He is in consultation with the police and the licensing authorities regarding the festival and has described their reaction as very positive.
But managers at Brokerswood Country Park, in 80 acres of woodland between Westbury and Rode, said they had hoped to be involved in the discussions, after they complained about last year’s event.
Pauline Flemming, office manager at Brokerswood, said: “We haven’t been contacted by anyone with regards to the event this year.
“We were rather hoping that Mr Green would contact us so we could work together.
“Our residents are in tents not in houses so they are more susceptible to loud noises. We would like to negotiate the 4am finish time.”
Mr Green said: “Justin Hawkins will be making a spectacular entrance. Hot Leg are an amazing band and have got a great following so I’m really excited about their performance.
“We’ve also got some up-and-coming local bands as well as cover bands on the line-up so there’s something for everyone.
“There may be another special guest on the main stage, to be announced. It’s not just a music show it’s going to be an entertainment show.”
The event will also include a fun fair, trade stalls and a display by 76-year-old former helicopter freestyle world champion Dennis Kenyon, who has performed helicopter stunts in various James Bond films.
Mr Green said: “He is going to prove that a helicopter can be flown upside down.”
The festival, which also features local band The Volt and Bath outfit Ulysses, will finish after a set from dance act Eat Static.
For details visit http://www.moonfest.co.uk.
Hairspray and headbands
Total advertising, but rather lovely beings having their locks preserved for posterity.
Hot Leg support Cancer Race
From Justin’s blog.
Leonie Set To Run The Race For Life!
Your friend and mine, the inspirational Leonie ( http://www.myspace.com/208109842 ) is preparing to run the Race For Life and she needs our help! Visit http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/hotlegsupportscancerresearch for more details on how to sponsor our hero… Great cause, great.
Festivals Abroad dates
The following two are confirmed so far.
| Fri 19th Jun 12:00 am | Kobeta Festival, Bilbao | |||
| Sat 11th Jul 12:00 am | Rockweekend, Kilafors |
Spotlight On: HOT LEG
Spotlight On: HOT LEG
Posted by Alex Harisiadis / April 6, 2009
Some people will argue tooth and nail with me about this, but I think THE DARKNESS were one of the best bands of the last 10 years. They were loud, they were garish, and they wrote great poppy, cock rock songs about the stupidest stuff known to man. All in all, they were a phenomenal party band.
Of course, it came as no surprise that singer Justin Hawkins (he of the soaring falsetto) quit THE DARKNESS because his coke addiction got out of hand. Of course, rock n’ roll is filled with stories of redemption and, accordingly, Mr. Hawkins has returned with his new band entitled HOT LEG. Pastepunk’s good friend and former Punkrocks.net editor-in-chief Kevin Wade alerted me excitedly about the existence of this band and I had to check it out. Needless to say, within 30 seconds of hearing an excerpt from the song “Cocktails” on the band’s Myspace, I was hooked. Mr. Hawkins is back with his in-your-face sexuality and all the cock rock riffs, 80’s attitude, and hairspray you can handle. Don’t be fooled though – these are well-written and well-produced jams that ably continue the party rock legacy established by THE DARKNESS.
Swing on over to HOT LEG’s Myspace to check out a few tracks from the band’s debut album Red Light Fever. http://www.myspace.com/hotleg
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