Hot Panda

Artist Information

Biography

This vivacious group have the ability to harness the spirit of indie punk with melodic and textural maturity. Described in Esquire magazine as 'caustically charming', the band draws influence from jangly lo-fi indie pop, atmospheric psychedelic jam bands, 90s power rock, and, like everybody else, The Beatles and Radiohead.

Since their signing to Canada's Mint Records in 2008, the band has released three critically acclaimed full length albums (2012's 'Go Outside', 2010's 'How Come I'm Dead', and 2009's 'Volcano, Bloody Volcano'). The band's releases have debuted at #1 on Canadian college charts, #19 on the CMJ Charts and earned them a 'Hot Track of the Week' selection in Rolling Stone Magazine (Chinatown Bus), an iTunes track of the week selection (Start Making Sense), and won 'Album of the Year' at the 2010 Edmonton Music Awards (for How Come I'm Dead?). Their most recent record 'Go Outside' was named #18 of the top 200 albums of 2012 on Canadian college radio. 'Go Outside' also appears on Air Canada's enRoute Inflight entertainment system.

Their journey, as it goes, has seen Hot Panda drive four tour vans into the ground. They have taken their ferocious live show across North America over 10 times, as well as completing multiple tours of Europe which has included supporting slots for The Von Bondies, Transmusicales 2012 in Rennes (with Ms Mr, Melody's Echo Chamber), France; Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, May 2012 (a festival at which the likes of Jeff Mangum, The Cure, M83, Franz Ferdinand and Refused were performing); The Great Escape in Brighton, The Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Liverpool's Sound City, and Glasgow's Stag And Dagger Festival. The band has also played some of North America's premier showcase festivals, including South By South West in Austin (where they were selected by Esquire Magazine as one of fifteen hot new emerging artists of the 2011 festival), CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, Pop Montreal, Canadian Music Festival and North By North East in Toronto, Sled Island in Calgary, and Halifax Pop Explosion. In 2010, they even had the privilege of performing at the Olympic Winter games. They've been happy to share the stage with bands such as Art Brut, The Raveonettes, Grimes, Japandroids, Chad Van Gaalen, Tokyo Police Club, Electric 6, PS I Love You, Julie Doiron, The Sheepdogs, You Say Party!, and many more.

After playing a sold-out show at Transmusicales in December of 2012, the band has been chosen by NME as one of the best bands of the festival, one of the top 10 bands to follow in the new year by French publication L'Express, and mentioned not once, but in two different contexts by French publication 'Les Inrocks' as a group to follow. The band also appeared live on French National Radio (Le Mouv), and the full HD video of their Transmusicales show is being broadcast on both French and German national television. And to the pleasure of their teenage selves, Hot Panda has recently been name dropped by Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida as "interesting new music" on spinner.ca, which, you know, for Canadians growing up in the 90s, is pretty darn cool.

Hot Panda are currently writing and recording new work, to be released in a city near you in the near future!

Some videos:

Hot Panda on 'le Mouv', French National Radio December 2012:
http://www.lemouv.fr/video-hot-panda-see-you-all-around-en-mouv-session-depuis-les-trans-musicales-de-rennes


Hot Panda's Full-lenth HD Transmusicales 2012 show:
http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/Hot_Panda_Trans_Musicales_Rennes/


Hot Panda at Primavera Sound, Barcelona May 2012 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci8GD0oWVkA

Hot Panda at Great Escape in Brighton, May 2012 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg4SE7Lse7g

Future Markets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke3du31qLz4

Shoot Your Horse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0n63svwb7I

Evil Nature: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgZ0HyhONIA

Instrumentation

Chris Connelly - Vocals, Guitar
Catherine Hiltz - Vocals, Bass, Trumpet, Cello
Aaron Klassen - Vocals, Drums

Discography

• "Go Outside" (Mint Records, July 17, 2012)

• "How Come I'm Dead?" (Mint Records, October 12, 2010)

• "Volcano...Bloody Volcano", (Mint Records, February 10, 2009)

• "Cold Hands/Chapped Lips 7" - (Mint Records (June 2008)

• "Whale Headed Girl EP" - Independant (2007)

Official Website

http://www.hotpanda.ca

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook

Audio

• Future Markets
  Listen   Download
• 02 Language
  Listen   Download
• Evil Nature
  Listen   Download
• Mindlessnesslessness
  Listen   Download
• Shoot Your Horse
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Mindlessnesslessness
• Evil Nature
• Cold Hands/Chaped Lips
• Whale Headed Girl
• Future Markets

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• NME- "The Best of Transmusicales 2012" [+ Show ]
  

  Anyone that has the audacity to cover not one, but two Nirvana songs IN A ROW ('Breed' and 'Territor...Anyone that has the audacity to cover not one, but two Nirvana songs IN A ROW ('Breed' and 'Territorial Pissings' in case you were wondering) and pull it off has got to be doing something good. Hot Panda, despite playing at about 3am on the last day, did exactly this. The Canadian quartet have been going for years now, but never really made much of a mark over here. Channelling scrappy, indie-punk sensibilities a la a less annoying Johnny Foreigner, but headed up by Chris Connelly's androgynously nasal, innately tongue-in-cheek vocal, this is something that deserves to be remedied.

• Les Inrocks - Cinq groupes à suivre (Five groups to follow) [+ Show ]
  

  On était passés à côté des deux précédents albums des Canadiens de Vancouver : honte à nous. Une cho...On était passés à côté des deux précédents albums des Canadiens de Vancouver : honte à nous. Une chose est sûre, on n’est pas passé à côté de Go Outside, sorti cet été. La progressive Future Markets, la viscérale One In The Head, One In The Chest ainsi que les titres plus anciens (la géniale et furieuse Mindlessnesslessness, notamment) sont des sortes de perfections de chansons, en équilibre acrobate mais jamais précaire entre coups de fouets électriques (Jack White a du couver ces guitares anguleuses et ces voix volcaniques) et cabaret des curiosités pop, entre souffle tempétueux et odeurs suaves de pâte à modeler psychotrope. C’est joueur et ça tape, ça ne fait aucun mal mais beaucoup de bien.
  Le 8 décembre, Hall 3

• L'Express - Trans Musicales 2012: 10 noms à retenir impérativement (10 essential names to remember) [+ Show ]
  

  Le trio de Vancouver a dans sa besace des pépites indie rock qui rappellent par certains moments les...Le trio de Vancouver a dans sa besace des pépites indie rock qui rappellent par certains moments les Pixies, mais ce n'est pas forcément pour leur répertoire que l'on se souviendra d'eux. En fin de concert, le chanteur raconte à la foule (en français) son séjour à Bourges quand il était plus jeune. "C'est là bas que j'ai découvert la guitare. J'ai appris un morceau que je n'ai jamais joué depuis. On va l'interpréter ce soir". Et d'enchaîner pied au plancher Breed et Lithium de Nirvana, 21 ans après le passage aux Trans de Kurt Cobain. Souvenirs, souvenirs...

• The Quietus - Festival Report: Les Transmusicales de Rennes [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda in Hall 3 initially seem way too slight but gradually turn out to be the best jagged indie...Hot Panda in Hall 3 initially seem way too slight but gradually turn out to be the best jagged indie pleasure of Les Trans...

• Critique de concert Hot Panda, Trans Musicales de Rennes 2012 (5-star review) [+ Show ]
  

  Les qualités explosives de ce panda très chaud sont multiples... Tout d'abord, le propret, jovial et...Les qualités explosives de ce panda très chaud sont multiples... Tout d'abord, le propret, jovial et très expressif chanteur possède une voix lui permettant de vociférer comme un damné de la Terre, avant de chanter d'une belle voix douce la seconde suivante. Ne pas oublier son jeu de guitare, qui est schizophrène à souhait ! Ensuite, la très remuante bassiste se comporte comme une véritable furie, mais elle est aussi capable de souffler dans une trompette en jouant parfaitement sa ligne de basse ! Enfin, last but not least, le batteur est allé visiblement à la même école que celle fréquentée par le survolté Dave Grohl de Nirvana, c'est dire. Et pour couronner le tout ces gens savent écrire de très bons et très surprenants morceaux !

• Le Hall 3, phare de nos nuits Transmusicales! (Beacon of our nights at Transmusicales!) [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda arrive sur scène, le batteur affublé d'un masque de cheval, et le chanteur attisant la fou...Hot Panda arrive sur scène, le batteur affublé d'un masque de cheval, et le chanteur attisant la foule en annonçant un « rock'n'roll show ». Le décor est planté, mais on ne s'attend pas encore à pareille réussite. Eux non plus, apparemment, tous démonstrativement heureux de se retrouver devant un public aussi nombreux et fiévreux. La transformation sur scène de leur pop bricolée en power pop envenimée est manifestement la preuve que ce groupe a de l'intelligence et surtout un énorme potentiel.

• SPIN review - Hot Panda, 'Go Outside' [+ Show ]
  

  Vancouver weirdos turn Destroyer's blues into noisy brilliance with big fuzz, fucked beats, body ove...Vancouver weirdos turn Destroyer's blues into noisy brilliance with big fuzz, fucked beats, body over brains.

• Vice review - Hot Panda, 'Go Outside' [+ Show ]
  

  It pains me to say anything nice about these Canadian art-punks, but they’ve really done it this tim...It pains me to say anything nice about these Canadian art-punks, but they’ve really done it this time. And, all I can do is slow-clap and tell them, “That’s a lovely penis on the cover of your album.” I honestly didn’t like their first albums at all, but this one takes the wereallywishweweresonicyouth in a better, more independent direction. My advice? Don’t put the album on for a date. Some of the songs are almost soft and sweet, and you’ll get all in the mood and stuff, then they’ll freak out with some noisy distorted guitars and keys and you’ll spill that chocolate body butter all over your sheets. And, you just bought those sheets.

• AllMusic - Go Outside Review (4/5) [+ Show ]
  

  On their earliest recordings, Hot Panda built a signature sound out of their technical ineptitude, b...On their earliest recordings, Hot Panda built a signature sound out of their technical ineptitude, but now that they know what they're doing with their instruments, they've let humor and a sense of adventure take the place of their former lack of ability. Hot Panda's fourth album, 2012's Go Outside, opens with the noisy and chaotic "One in the Head, One in the Chest," which recalls their early days as scrappy aural pranksters, but the clouds of sound float by with assurance and the rhythms are steady and forceful -- this is noise pop from folks who know what they're doing, and on much of the album Hot Panda seem to be having a grand time seeing how far they can stretch themselves from this opening salvo. The playful "Maybe Now?" sounds like it could be a radio hit (well, maybe if it were a bit less cryptic) with its chiming guitars and upbeat percussion, the title song suggests some sort of goof on Dirty Projectors' off-kilter layers of sound (only with a bit of added smirk), "Littered Coins" sounds almost lush with its strings and Europop synth punctuations, and the cool pulse of "Future Markets" suggests an experiment to make an EDM record without drum machines or sequencers. Go Outside is less messy than one might have expected from Hot Panda, but that hardly means they've gone slick; now they have the chops to make the most of the pop instincts they've always had, and when they bend them to the nervous new-new wave clatter of "Negative Thinking Patterns," the mutated power ballad-guitar showcase of "Boats," or the nerd-funk grooves of "See You All Around," it sounds as if Hot Panda are having as much fun writing and playing this music as folks will have listening to it -- and that's a significant good time.

• 15 Breakout SXSW Bands To Add To Your Ipod Now [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda File this one under "caustically charming." The Canadian co-ed four piece comes alive o...Hot Panda
  
  File this one under "caustically charming." The Canadian co-ed four piece comes alive on high-energy numbers like the nervy "Mindlessness" which devolves into retro-bass funk after a while, and the hand-clappy "Cold Hands/Chapped Lips," a celebration of prolonged adolescence having to do with much more than jerking off.
  
  
  Read more: http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/sxsw-bands-to-see-2011-5408007#ixzz1IwVKETZf

• VICE EXCLUSIVE: HOT PANDA- "FUTURE MARKETS" [+ Show ]
  

  This song has that sort of restrained, through the teeth aggression that is felt mere moments before...This song has that sort of restrained, through the teeth aggression that is felt mere moments before the brick goes through the window or the bowl of noodles hits the wall behind your girlfriend's head.
  

• Q Magazine - Hot Panda "Go Outside" [+ Show ]
  

  The Extensive North American tours (10 at the last count) that Vancouver based Hot Panda have embark...The Extensive North American tours (10 at the last count) that Vancouver based Hot Panda have embarked on in between recording has clearly helped to hone their sound. Once Making a virtue of their lack of virtuosity, on this third album in three years the four piece are now an accomplished if spiky group at home whether playing rough-edged guitars or glockenspiels. They're not afraid to chime in with a cello to express anger on the barely restrained Future Markets where others might attack with apocalyptic noise, a road eventually traveled on furious closing blast Negative Thinking Patterns. In Chris Connelly they also have a lyricist willing to tackle global politics (the aforementioned Future Markets, political extremism on One In The Head, One In The Chest) and personal relationships and depression. Their steady rise continues. ****

• More Music From The Inbox [+ Show ]
  

  Artist: Hot Panda Album: Go Outside Pop filled distortion is the best way I can explain Hot Panda...Artist: Hot Panda
  
  Album: Go Outside Pop filled distortion is the best way I can explain Hot Panda. At first listen there’s a lot of volume and noise but you can also hear a lot of melody and catchiness to their tunes. Sounds Like: They could be friends with Jack White

• Go Outside With Hot Panda [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda's cool factor is on the rise -- and not just because of the flying penis on the cover of t...Hot Panda's cool factor is on the rise -- and not just because of the flying penis on the cover of the band's latest album.
  
  The Edmonton art-pop expats, now based in Vancouver, are earning praise for Go Outside, released Tuesday on Canadian indie label Mint Records.
  
  "Vancouver weirdos turn Destroyer's blues into noisy brilliance with big fuzz, f***ed beats, body over brains," writes Spin.com's Chris Martins. "This is noise pop from folks who know what they're doing," reads a review on allmusic.com. "Hot Panda find their stride," writes Discorder magazine's Angela Yen, describing the band's third endeavour as gritty, funky and spastic.
  
  Hot Panda's singer and guitarist Chris Connelly, who brings the spaz with his undulating vocal delivery, simply describes the 11-song effort as their first as professional musicians.
  
  "We feel like a real band, like we're a good band now, whereas before we could be good at times, but there was an inconsistency," he says.
  
  "We worked way harder on this record than any other record. We rearranged songs so many different ways and tried to have fun with them -- like 'Let's slow this one down. Or play it with a waltz beat.' I felt it made us understand the songs better and helped us realize what about them made them really work."
  
  Six years ago, when Hot Panda began, Connelly and drummer Maghan Campbell were still figuring out their instruments -- and keyboardist Heath Parsons and Catherine Hiltz weren't even in the band. (They came on board in 2009, just in time to record the group's second album, How Come I'm Dead?) After countless gigs across North American and Europe -- France, in particular, is in love with the Pandas -- Connelly and his crew are now a lean, mean music machine, ready to take on the world like the naked man leaping into a pool on the cover of Go Outside.
  
  Think of the album cover photo -- taken by Robert Fougere, another Edmontonian in Vancouver -- as an update to the naked baby on Nirvana's 1991 breakthrough, Nevermind. (A few U.S. chains refused to carry the grunge trio's album until stickers were used to cover the baby's penis, while maplemusic.com is doing the same with Hot Panda's Go Outside. Connelly says the band is fine with the retail site's decision.)
  
  "We were looking at Robert's photos and this one jumped out at us," he says.
  
  "You look at it, then look away and think: 'Can you see his penis?' and then look again. 'You totally can!'
  
  "The image also resonates with a lot of what the album is about -- being yourself, putting yourself out there in a positive way. Throwing yourself out there, unapologetically, to the rest of the world."
  
  The rest of the world seems to be embracing Hot Panda's joie de vivre in tunes such as the funktastic "Future Markets," the get-out-of-your-slump title track, and the hidden electro-pop extro, "Negative Thinking Patterns." Connelly and his bandmates are getting the best reviews of their career and their itinerary is filling up for the rest of the year, with upcoming tours in Canada and the U.S.
  
  They're also heading back to Europe this fall, after playing high-profile festivals such as Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain, and The Great Escape in Brighton, England earlier this year.
  
  Sadly, a thief broke into the band's van in Cardiff, Wales, smashing a window and stealing a bag of Connelly's guitar pedals. But he says the tour was otherwise filled with memorable shows.
  
  "Even if people don't know who you are in Europe, they're ready to see you because you're Canadian," he says.
  
  "It's amazing the amount of people who told me that if a band is from Canada, Iceland or Sweden, they'll go out to see the show because it's probably going to be good."
  

• Hot Panda @ CMW 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Background/Composition: This Edmonton quartet have never scored below an 80 on a CHARTattack Rock '...Background/Composition:
  This Edmonton quartet have never scored below an 80 on a CHARTattack Rock 'n' Roll Report Card (and usually get over 90 per cent). Their Volcano... Bloody Volcano debut album spawned a spinoff hot sauce, and their latest full-length How Come I'm Dead? marries their bombastic stage personas with a unique brand of eccentric pop.
  
  Grade: 92
  
  Comment:
  It's refreshing to watch a band who dig their own music as much as Hot Panda.
  
  Keyboardist Heath Parsons was either very high, or was in the midst of a transcendent religious experience. Singer/guitarist Chris Connelly was preaching like he was a junior member of White Cowbell Oklahoma. It was a half sexy, half frightening freak-rock spectacle.
  
  Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
  80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
  70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
  60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
  50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
  00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.
  
  Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
  
  Oral And Visual Communication
  Eye Contact: G
  Pronunciation: E
  Stage Presence: E
  Stage Banter: E
  Image: E
  Appearance: G
  Use Of Stage: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  When you're this excited about what you're doing, it's easy to get a crowd excited, too. Hot Panda convinced about half of the stagefront audience to bust a move, and near the end of the set, Parsons donned a horse head mask, jumped into the crowd, and started a mini mosh pit. Amidst the chaos, Connelly took time to playfully mock select associations: "Are there any influential bloggers out there?"
  
  Musical Analysis
  Level Of Participation: E
  Problem Solving: E
  Teamwork: E
  Work Habits: E
  Organization: E
  Audience Participation: E
  Sound: E
  Composition: E
  Songs: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Hot Panda have mastered in-your-face showmanship without sacrificing musicianship. At one point, bassist Catherine Hiltz — who was performing through a bout of mono — was playing trumpet and bass at the same time. Mind: blown.
  
  The centrepiece of their latest album, "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex" was devastating up close and in person.
  
  Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
  Charisma: E
  Problem Solving: E
  Teamwork: E
  Sexiness: E
  Haircut: G
  Indie Rock Footwear: G
  Nods To Disposible Fashion: G
  Cool Equipment: E
  Level Of Inebriation: E
  Actual Ability: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  The extravaganza crossed all lines of good taste as it came to a close. Hiltz forced Parsons to give simulated oral pleasure to the headstock of her bass. Parsons followed it up by (capably) playing guitar behind his head for half a song.
  

• HOT PANDA- GO OUTSIDE [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda - 'Go Outside' by AshMeikle on 15 July 2012 in Albums & EPs Record Label Mint Reco...
  Hot Panda - 'Go Outside'
  by AshMeikle on 15 July 2012 in Albums & EPs
  Record Label Mint Records Rating 8/10iTunes download
  
  
  
  Most amble slowly into a swimming pool, slowly dipping their genitalia into the icy-depths of its waters whilst grimacing as if they’re being tortured to within an inch of their lives. This isn’t the case for the testicle-baring diver on the cover of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada’s Hot Panda’s new album ‘Go Outside’. Looking like he’s just vaulted the diving board, he’s artfully gliding through the air as his testicles act as more of negative to his aerodynamics than adding style to said manoeuvre. Showmanship aside, for a second, Hot Panda’s new album comes out like a myriad play pool; a low-tempo Django Django with the reins firmly fastened on. The watery vocals of Chris Connelly are strangely hypnotic, no more than in the stunning ‘Future Markets’; written about the demise of the current financial market, Connelly bellows “Now who’s leading who?” This is followed by the lo-fi ‘Littered Coins’ and the elegant swing of the ebullient ‘Holidays’. ‘Winter Song’ playfully skits between melancholy indie whilst interspersed with flagrant pop licks. The Pixies-influenced ‘Go Outside’ and the rather jaunty ‘See You All Around’ do nothing but heighten the quality of this album. It’s not completely balls-out record but it’s a more coherent offering than previous releases by the former Canadian noiseniks. Ultimately, it’s an album that should get more recognition that it probably will.

• Hot Panda- How Come I'm Dead? [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda: How Come I’m Dead Particularly irksome for me is when I come across a band like Hot Pand...Hot Panda: How Come I’m Dead
  Particularly irksome for me is when I come across a band like Hot Panda, an album like their sophomore LP ‘How Come I’m Dead’, sit down to listen to it and realize that such original artists go virtually unrecognized outside of music journalism and / or music elitist circles.
  And it’s a goddamn shame that Hot Panda doesn’t enjoy the kind of populist and commercial success that utterly generic Rock-flavoured acts sop up. Hell, I’d be happy if Hot Panda were listened to by the crowds that enjoy their peer-groups like MGMT, Amazing Baby, Quest For Fire, Sound of Animals Fighting and the few other acts out there pushing the boundaries of Rock out even farther beyond the Pale.
  Meanwhile, formerly innovative acts like Interpol get stuck into a musical rut that continues to be exuberantly fawned over, while the new contenders, up-and-coming pioneers wait patiently for their turn onstage.
  I can’t even begin to properly describe the music of Hot Panda. Folk-Rock-Experimental-Stoner-Pop? Brit-Mathcore-Jazz-Blues-Glam-Rock? Prog-College-Radio-Punk-Country? Retro-Acid-Singer/Songwriter-Coffeehouse-Rock? You can’t pigeonhole this type of music, and nor should you be able to. That said this will either be hit or miss with most listeners, just because of its nature. But if you have an open mind and an open ear I encourage you to give this a listen.
  On their second album, ‘How Come I’m Dead’ Hot Panda have crafted something eclectic, hypnotic music lucid-yet-trippy vocals and just downright spooky aural effects added to most tracks create a lighthearted take on freakout music. You can detect elements of latter-day Radiohead, early Mars Volta, The Cramps, David Bowie, Madness, Joy Division and others in the music. It is a hodge-podge of sounds and styles, a patchwork quilt musical Frankenstein.
  And it’s bloody brilliant. From the spooky, trippy opener, “Membership Fees” on, you know that you’re in for something out of the ordinary here. “Evil Nature” follows up with some trippy 1960s Hipster sounds, and then the Brit-Poppy sounding “Pools”. My personal favourite on this album is “Fuck Shit Up”, a poetic piece of genius that only highlights the caliber of work here on the album.
  As is often the case with an album I truly enjoy, I could easily offer an opinion on each song here. However, instead of trying to summarize the album, I’ll just wholeheartedly encourage all of you out there to go and pick up Hot Panda’s ‘How Come I’m Dead’ for yourselves.
  Hot Panda: How Come I’m Dead
  Mint Records
  Steve’s Rating: 10/10
  

• Hot Panda, How Come I'm Dead? [+ Show ]
  

  The introductory salvo of Hot Panda’s How Come I’m Dead? (Mint Records, 2010) – entitled “Membership...The introductory salvo of Hot Panda’s How Come I’m Dead? (Mint Records, 2010) – entitled “Membership Fees” – is pretty telling. The first impression is rumbling drone, joined by single guitar notes and a lurking chorus of strings. At first the guitar seems to be in a moderated, 4/4 cadence, but it’s soon taken out of context by vocalist Chris Connelly, making the notes sound draggy and nearly atonal. This is familiar ground, and we’ve been here before, most notably under the guidance of Kim Gordon. But then something new happens, something that presages the record to come. The drums kick in slightly ahead of the beat, turning what was droning, jangling miasma into…a groove.
  
  Soon, the introduction has been made and we’re off on an adventure, blending wiggly, danceable beats with noisy, goofy instrumentation and what I believe music critics have come to call “knowing pop structure”. Not many bands can pull off being this strange and this catchy at the same time – lately, Dinowalrus is the only thing that comes to mind, while looking farther back I’d point out The Fall and The Deadbeats. But that’s the thing. Many bands these days remind me of The Fall with their discordant, anti-melodic vocals and artfully asymmetrical guitar shred-throughs. Those bands just make me want to listen to The Fall. Hot Panda makes me want to listen to more Hot Panda.
  
  References can be tricky, because they help us paint a picture even though they can sometimes hold us back. The last relevant one in this review is Talking Heads, whom Hot Panda borrows from not so much in their sound as in their sound’s attitude. The feel is one joyful exploration, of wide-eyed looking-out that isn’t afraid to fall down and look the fool. This is something that seems a little scarce lately, although to be honest I’ve been in Alaska all summer and I may have missed a sea-change – in recent weeks, it seems like every new record I hear is bouncy, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (shout-out to Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s Let It Sway!). It’s good to see that a band can combine the we-don’t-care-what-we-sound-like swagger of the Brooklyn basements with the we-just-want-you-to-have-a-good-time vibe of a children’s television show.
  
  Standout tracks include “1995”, which makes the reasonable assertion that the year in question ‘looks good / in hindsight’ and its immediate neighbor “Masculinity”, which proclaims ‘I can’t grow a beard / but at least I can act like a man!’ But standout tracks aren’t the issue, it’s the spirit of the record that I’ve come here to praise. Hot Panda claims to play ‘rock and roll that’ll make people dance and feel happy…simple stuff!’ and they do it admirably. They sound like the kind of band you’d like to have in your backyard, tearing it up while you bite into the most delicious pancakes you’ve ever tasted. They sound like the start of a weird, sunny day. Get into it.

• Indie Pick Of The Week: Hot Panda [+ Show ]
  

  AUG 16 Indie Pick of the Week: Hot Panda by Marya McLaughlin in Quick Chats & Interviews, Sonicb...
  AUG 16
  Indie Pick of the Week: Hot Panda
  by Marya McLaughlin in Quick Chats & Interviews, Sonicbids Blog, UncategorizedComments Off
  Hot Panda is all about keeping it simple. Hailing from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, the boys and girls of Hot Panda say they started this band just to make people want to dance and be happy. And for the past few years they’ve been traveling through North America and Europe doing just that, playing with the likes of the Von Bondies, Art Brut, Tokyo Police Club, and more. We had the chance to chat with singer/guitarist Chris Connelly about social media, an amazing European experience, and what’s next for Hot Panda.
  When/How did you first start playing music?
  I came from an all sports family and didn’t try playing music until I was 15. It was with an electric guitar. I played a bunch of punky kind of stuff at first because you didn’t have to be good to do it.
  What’s the best gig you ever played?
  The first show we ever played in Europe was amazing. It was in Hamburg with The Von Bondies. We had just landed in Europe, and everyone was deliriously tired and everything was very surreal. Right before we took the stage, the promoter told us that The Beatles and The Clash both played there. The show was great; we were introduced to German beer and ended up eating bread and cheese in this lovely couple’s living room at 4AM. They barely spoke English and I think one of them was an ambulance driver.
  How has social media effected the way you market/promote your music?
  Personally, I’m very bad at promoting and using the Internet. I can barely use Facebook. But, I honestly don’t know how DIY bands in the 80’s did things without the Internet. They must have really wanted it. But, for better or worse, we do have a Sonicbids, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and all that stuff.
  What’s your prediction for the next big advancement in how we find/listen to/share music?
  I think there’s so much music out there and less and less money to spend promoting it and what’s going to become important is only what’s right in front your face. Local scenes, local bands, what’s playing in your city. The Internet gives you everything, but it also makes people cynical. Seeing is believing, that’s how you convince people of things now-a-days.
  What’s your next big gig coming up? When/Where?
  We’re releasing an album “How Come I’m Dead?” on October 12 so we start touring at the end of September. If you live in Canada or The States maybe we’ll have a memorable gig for you sometime in the fall!
  To see their upcoming fall tour dates and hear more from Hot Panda, visit here.
  

• Hot Panda How Come I'm Dead? [+ Show ]
  

  Despite the title, Edmonton’s Hot Panda is very much alive. The quartet’s sophomore release finds th...Despite the title, Edmonton’s Hot Panda is very much alive. The quartet’s sophomore release finds the quartet in the vital and creative throws of their youth. Their distinctive core sound allows them to experiment and explore musically without losing their sense of themselves as a band. The songs on Why Am I Dead? are diverse and dynamic without being inaccessible as an album. There is the art rock intro “Membership Fees” for the VU set and the oddly aggressive, humorous and very catchy hip hop rant “Fuck Shit Up/ Hell Hey Hex” for those that like to drive with the windows down. The country duet “Shoot the Horse” is a sweet piece of Canadiana with Leonard Cohen-esque male vocals contrasted by a beautiful female voice and capped off with a guitar solo that pays tribute to Neil Young. Mixed in with all that are a few more commonplace, melodic indie rock tracks like “Start Making Sense” that will have everyone singing along with Chris Connelly’s simple yet shrewd lyrics. Why am I Dead? proves to be an ironic title for such a vibrant, lighthearted and intelligent album from a band who obviously has a blast making music.

• How Come i'm Dead review [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda How Come I’m Dead? By Alex Hudson The album may be titled How Come I'm Dead?, but Hot...Hot Panda
  How Come I’m Dead?
  By Alex Hudson
  
  The album may be titled How Come I'm Dead?, but Hot Panda aren't lifeless, not
  even close. On this, their second album, the Edmonton, AB foursome are restless,
  never sticking to any one sound or style for long. The album's 14 tracks range
  from gut-busting garage ("Fuck This Shit/Hell Hey Hex") to spaghetti western
  ("The Ghost") to hyper-caffeinated circus punk ("1995"), all tied together by
  yelping vocals and manic keyboards. This eclectic collection was captured by
  Vancouver, BC production team JC/DC (the New Pornographers, Destroyer), who
  recorded the entire 48-minute album in just a week. The speedy genesis resulted
  in an in-your-face sound that can be a little exhausting in large doses, but
  this tirelessness is what makes the band so entertaining. If Hot Panda had toned
  down the madness, the results wouldn't be nearly as fun. (Mint)
  

• How Come i'm Dead review [+ Show ]
  

  By Myles LaCavera In the great words of Patches O’Hoolihan; “If you can dodge a wrench, you can ...By Myles LaCavera
  
  In the great words of Patches O’Hoolihan; “If you can dodge a wrench, you can
  dodge a ball!” In the case of Hot Panda’s How Come I’m Dead?, if you can dodge
  “Membership Fees (Intro)” you’ll get to stay in the game. The Edmonton natives’
  opening track is certainly one that tests your resolve but once you’ve made it
  through the hazing you can (un)settle in to an album that is quirky, dodgy, and
  pleasantly grating. I’m not sure that this is an album I’ll love to hate or
  hate to love just yet but it definitely has me by the ear. It has a bit of Iggy
  Pop’s piss, a few tools from Joe’s Garage, and is back handedly filled with
  hooks. One listen to track 5’s bizarre synth and slinky bass will have you
  humming “The tigers on the freeway are gonna fuck shit up”. I know, brilliant.
  I can’t help but be reminded a bit of Razorlight when “Start Making Noise”
  rumbles in and Chris Connelly’s audacious vocals piss the band off enough to
  revolt with a wicked, screeching crescendo. The only disappointing moment of
  this manic-depressive-off-his-meds track is the manic Arcade Fire ending (I’m
  talking the bouncy end of “Wake Up”, and yes I know AF pulled that from
  somewhere else but not being able to find the source is driving my half crazy).
  
  Not only can you lose your bearings within a track but some sneaky disc-at-once
  work will have you carrying on a couple tracks before you realize it. Hot Panda
  take the back door into “Clever Fox”, an excellent 6:03 rambling post-punk to
  punk manipulation of time that places Mick Jones vocals into the drone of
  “Interpol”ation. Capturing all post-industrial madness in one word –
  “Mindlessnesslessness”, Panda head off on another tangent. This time through
  gramma’s musty basement where a dusty old organ is turned to 80’s art house
  freakstomp and a vocal performance you could liken to Liam Lynch’s chorus on
  “United States of Whatever”. Maybe from sheer exhaustion the band does find
  time to wind down in Spaghetti Western “Shoot Your Horse” and the undulations of
  “Late Night Calling (Outro)”, which is thankfully far less demanding than the
  intro.
  
  No matter where I go I’ll be selling this band short because there are just some
  bands that reference just about every friggin’ piece of music, intentional or
  not, since man stretched a skin over a piece of tree bark. The plus side for
  Hot Panda is that it works for them. I’ve been on a pretty good stretch of
  discs lately but How Come I’m Dead? appeals to that little part of you that you
  hide from every one else. Entertain that guy every once in a while, it’s
  healthy – throw some wrenches his way.
  

• Hot Panda- How Come I'm Dead? [+ Show ]
  

  ne thing Hot Panda’s sophomore album, How Come I’m Dead?, does not lack is exuberance. The Canadian ...ne thing Hot Panda’s sophomore album, How Come I’m Dead?, does not lack is exuberance. The Canadian foursome misleadingly open their latest with some heavy organ and off-key chanting on “Membership Fees (Intro)”, but once that track comes to a close, Hot Panda go great guns until they reach the ethereal outro. More impressively, Hot Panda naturally flow in and out of all styles of high-intensity rock without overreaching. “Evil Nature” moves from blasts of noisy shredding to blissful pop without skipping a beat. “Pools” is a giddy shot of swaggering bravado. “Mindlessnesslessness” is spastic electro-pop in the vein of Brainiac. This is rock music with an abundance of attitude to match the plentiful hooks, the sort of thing we used to expect from guitar-driven bands as a requisite.
  
  Of course, Hot Panda are not, nor do they claim to be, reinventing the wheel. There’s very little about How Come I’m Dead? that brims with ingenuity, but this is one field where enthusiasm counts for a lot. Combine that with the band’s instrumental dexterity and their knack for stylistic diversity, and the consistently winning results should come as no surprise to anyone. They push foul-mouthed, demented blues (“Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex”) in one breath and move on to wiry post-punk blaspheming (“Start Making Sense”) in the next, and get away with it on the sheer strength of their will and fervor.
  
  There are moments on How Come I’m Dead? that are a bit out of place. The segue from the midtempo glide of “Poor Little Ambulance” to “Clever Fox” seems forced, an attempt at thematic resonance on an album that needs no such pretensions. Hot Panda can stretch, as the beautiful country shuffle of “Shoot Your Horse” more than attests, but stone-faced seriousness doesn’t suit them.
  
  What does suit them is twitchy yet nimble song craft sold with equal parts churlish sarcasm and confident bluster, and How Come I’m Dead? offers up plenty of it. A crass attitude can often be seen as a shortcut to rock ‘n roll legitimacy, but Hot Panda’s disposition comes across as genuine, and they’ve got the hooks to match their style. For a band that lacks, at least for the moment, an altogether original sound, Hot Panda’s approach is still refreshing. And from the sound of it, they’re only getting started.

• How Come i'm Dead review [+ Show ]
  

  Fire Note Says: Edmonton's Hot Panda delivers another fun and diverse indie record experience. A...Fire Note Says: Edmonton's Hot Panda delivers another fun and diverse indie
  record experience.
  
  Album Review:
  I am not sure if there is a genre for free-flowing indie, but if there was, Hot
  Panda's sophomore album How Come I'm Dead? would seem to fit the label. Much of
  this "let it happen" vibe is on purpose, as the album was recorded in less than
  a week and most of it live off the floor with few takes or overdubs. This
  spontaneity transfers well to disc on How Come I'm Dead?, as the record can give
  you a dirty blues rocker like "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex", while two songs
  later, they present a simple little hum along track like "Poor Little
  Ambulance". The record keeps you consistently anticipating what comes next but I
  can tell you that it might sound a little metal at times or switch in to a
  psychedelic mood that lets your mind drift for a couple minutes. This is the
  same musical freedom Hot Panda offered on their debut but here, regardless of
  style, the songs themselves are stronger and more direct. How Come I'm Dead?
  should appeal to a wide range of music aficionados and you can't go wrong with
  Hot Panda if you are looking for a group that is a bit more unique and outside
  your normal listening patterns!
  
  Key Tracks: "Poor Little Ambulance", "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex", "Evil Nature"
  
  Bands With Similar Fire:
  Daniel Johnston
  The Unicorns
  Harlem Shakes
  

• Hot Panda @ CMW 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  Background / Composition: They're three lads and one lady (with a guest trumpet/xylophone player) f...Background / Composition:
  They're three lads and one lady (with a guest trumpet/xylophone player) from Edmonton who make sweet, insidiously hooky indie rock that would have a good shot at melting the most jaded, coldest, blackest heart.
  
  Grade: 91
  
  Comment:
  The band had their work cut out for them in their 1 a.m. time slot. Most of the crowd had already blown their loads on an absolutely insane set from the Handsome Furs, but Hot Panda were clearly up for the challenge of keeping people entertained. Their blistering set kept the dance floor hopping and squealing well into the night.
  
  Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
  80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
  70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
  60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
  50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
  00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.
  
  Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
  
  Oral And Visual Communication
  Eye Contact: E
  Pronunciation: E
  Stage Presence: E
  Stage Banter: E
  Image: E
  Appearance: E
  Use Of Stage: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Funny, charismatic and ridiculously charming, Hot Panda had me at, "It's not too late. It's exactly the time it's supposed to be: Time to rock!" And they had me even more when they started busting out their balls-out dance moves and rock 'n' roll posturing. With stage presence, personality and songs like those, it's highly likely that we're going to be hearing and seeing a lot more of these guys in the future.
  
  Musical Analysis
  Level Of Participation: E
  Problem Solving: E
  Teamwork: E
  Work Habits: E
  Organization: E
  Audience Participation: E
  Sound: E
  Composition: E
  Songs: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  A mid-set harmonica-related snafu threatened to derail the band for a split second, but the band quickly decided that multi-instrumentalist Heath Parsons could "sing" the harmonica part instead. In all of my years of rock 'n' roll report card writing, I have never seen a cooler moment of problem-solving. It was Chris-Murphy-sings-the-trumpet-part-to-"Everything You've Done Wrong"-level cool.
  
  Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
  Charisma: E
  Problem Solving: E
  Teamwork: E
  Sexiness: E
  Haircut: E
  Indie Rock Footwear: E
  Nods To Disposible Fashion: E
  Cool Equipment: E
  Level Of Inebriation: E
  Actual Ability: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  If the hippest animals from Cute Overload got together and decided to form an indie rock band, they’d probably sound a lot like Hot Panda. The band (and their fans who dance like shy Muppets) are totally adorable. If cute's not your thing, though, rest assured: Hot Panda are also fully capable of rocking your pants off.

• Hot Panda @ Fat Baby, Oct 23, 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda bubbled up a whimsical set last night at the Lower East Side’s Fat Baby. The Canadian quad...Hot Panda bubbled up a whimsical set last night at the Lower East Side’s Fat Baby. The Canadian quadruped pop easily became one of my favorite CMJ acts this year with their brit/indie /lo-fi rock and airy, march-along guitar strums. Don’t blame Canada; these guys have infectious energy.
  
  Although the jittery lead singer and guitarist, Chris Connelly, remarked on a lack of sleep running thirty hours strong, nonetheless, he lit up the stage with boiling point enthusiasm. Boasting an edgy vocal quality strikingly similar to Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, Connelly led the band through a winding set that had the audience looking like kinetic bobble-heads. His quirky lyrics definitely merit a close listening. Meanwhile keyboardist/accordionist/guitarist Heath Parsons rocked with some serious glory on his Yamaha, bringing the extraterrestrial 80s quality to the tunes. Plus, drummer Maghan Campbell added a delicious sound to the mix by hitting the tin of the drums to produce an arcade-game-esque magic. Finally, bassist Keith Olsen held the poppy tradition afloat with his bouncy bass lines. Whew, they’re talented. But there’s more.
  
  One song in particular had a riff that drew heavily from The Cure’s “Let’s Go To Bed,” and other times the quartet sounded a lot like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. What hit me the most about this set was the multi-talented nature of the band; they even included a whimsical accordion, a kazoo, and a freakin’ cowbell. Now, that’s respek. This band is one to keep an eye on.
  

• Hot Panda @ NXNE 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  Background/ Composition: This Edmonton-based four-piece have an EP and a full-length under their be...Background/ Composition:
  This Edmonton-based four-piece have an EP and a full-length under their belts. Their long-player, Volcano... Bloody Volcano, has been tearing up the charts since its release. According to their bio, Hot Panda are touring Ghostbusters-style, in a refurbished 1977 ambulance.
  
  Grade: 91
  
  Comment:
  The Horseshoe crowd was starting to thin a bit, but those that remained knew what they were in for. Hot Panda inspired the night's first significant attempt at dancing. The energy was palpable.
  
  Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
  
  80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
  70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
  60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
  50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
  00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.
  
  Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
  
  Oral And Visual Communication
  Eye Contact: E
  Pronunciation: E
  Stage Presence: E
  Stage Banter: E
  Image: G
  Appearance: G
  Use Of Stage: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Hot Panda were definitely the most talkative bunch of the night. Their conversations did tend to meander, but drummer Maghan Campbell — seemingly the band's most level-headed member — was always prepared to get things back on track. "You know what would be appropriate?" she had to ask her bandmates once. "The next song."
  
  Musical Analysis
  Level Of Participation: E
  Problem Solving: G
  Teamwork: E
  Work Habits: E
  Organization: E
  Audience Participation: G
  Sound: E
  Composition: E
  Songs: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Hot Panda's style is impossible to pin down. Their songs are all over the map and tend to change gears a few times before they end. They had an unknown guest trumpet player in tow for this show. She wasn't on board for every song but the brass definitely made a difference when it was utilized.
  
  Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
  Charisma: E
  Problem Solving: E
  Teamwork: E
  Sexiness: E
  Haircut: E
  Indie Rock Footwear: E
  Nods To Disposible Fashion: S
  Cool Equipment: E
  Level Of Inebriation: G
  Actual Ability: E
  
  Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  The bad: Why do some musicians insist upon wearing hoodies (hood up) on stage? Something to hide? Bad hair day? It certainly can't be comfortable. The good: That mystery trumpeter's Aquaman shirt kicked ass.

• Volcano...Bloody Volcano Review (Art Rocker) [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda Volcano…Bloody Volcano (Mint Records) Mint Records have got themselves a winner her...Hot Panda
  Volcano…Bloody Volcano
  (Mint Records)
  
  
  Mint Records have got themselves a winner here. Hot Panda are, er Hot Shit. Wicked cool, feel good tunes with amusing lyrics and powerful organ-stabs recur throughout ‘Volcano…bloody volcano’.
  The voice of Chris Connelly is shouty, bizarre and expressive…much like XX Teens, The Fall and occasionally La Shark’s Samuel Deschamps, particulary on ‘Whale Headed Girl’.
  This is yet another kick-ass group from Canada, joining the likes of Spiral Beach, Black Mountain and New Pornographers. It’s an awesome sound – Clap Your Hands and Talking Heads R us!!
  Groovy spooky basslines, wurlitzers and military style drums combine to create a varied, atmospheric album filled to the brim with new ideas. Not since I heard The Boggs latest multi-faceted masterpiece have I been so entertained by the musical direction of a new band.
  Dave Depares
  
  
  Artrocker Recommends

• Volcano...Bloody Volcano Review MusicOMH [+ Show ]
  

  Canada apparently has examples of almost every type of volcano. In the past decade, it's also shown ...Canada apparently has examples of almost every type of volcano. In the past decade, it's also shown us that it has an example of nearly every type of indie-pop group. So how will a new contender, Hot Panda, stand up in the ranks?
  Hot Panda's Volcano... Bloody Volcano opens with Cold Hands/Chapped Lips, a song that contains all the energy of The Go! Team and all the indie-pop charm of The Boy Least Likely To. Shouted back-up vocals punctuate melodious bell and harmonica sounds. It makes for a light, happy-go-lucky pop tune... until a noisy section kicks in with screams and guitars that sound like laser beams.
  
  What happened? Hot Panda risked ruining a great pop song with segments where they unleash raw, visceral emotions, and somehow it makes a great pop song even greater. There's something unsettling about the noisy segments, of course, but it makes you appreciate the other parts that much more.
  
  Hot Panda continues to defy expectations throughout their debut, arranging time signature changes and strange choral breakdowns with surprising aplomb.
  
  Whale Headed Girl, for example, starts out summoning The Features with grungy guitars and persistent keyboards and ends with a spectral choral section over a type of hoedown music. In between are sections that bounce around so much, it's hard to pin them down. But at the same time, the diverse sections fuse into each other and hold together very well.
  
  The changes do seem forced, however, on other songs. Afraid Of The Weather is constructed very rigidly around a few disparate sections. Having changes just for the sake of having changes doesn't ever work. But thankfully, most of Hot Panda's songs create a smooth transition between segments, following in some powerful indie-pop juxtapositions in the tradition of, say, The Unicorns (a former Canadian band).
  
  Singer Chris Connelly doesn't sing so much as emote the words. His singing contains an appropriate mix of Bright Eyes' Connor Oberst and Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays. Connelly skips around from screams to oohs and ahs to gentle, soft singing, and it's all supported by a diverse and talented backing band.
  
  The end of Volcano... Bloody Volcano, starting from O Minoa! onward, is comprised of a series of slow to mid-tempo ballads. The energy of the first half of the album is diffused slightly, but Hot Panda start to show off their gentler side, and for the most part it works.
  
  Chinatown Bun glides along smoothly with a lilting guitar and beautiful accordion part. The song sidesteps in a bit of a spicier dance section, but nothing goes over the top. It's a serene indie-pop ballad with a bit of groove, like something Clap Your Hands Say Yeah could have crafted.
  
  The charm, then, of Hot Panda is their ability to filter different influences into their music across varying song sections. Keeping things interesting, they switch between feels often, and most of the time it works well for them. It's yet another success from the Canadian indie-pop scene.
  
  

• Volcano...Bloody Volcano Review (Herohill) [+ Show ]
  

  Right out of the gate, Hot Panda hits you with everything they have to offer. The Edmonton outfit – ...Right out of the gate, Hot Panda hits you with everything they have to offer. The Edmonton outfit – you remember them from our Alberta Mixtape right? – opens their debut LP Volcano... Bloody Volcano with the sonic adventuring of Cold Hands/Chapped Lips. Synths, accordion, crunching guitars and Chris Connelly’s vocals provide the melody and Maghan Campbell’s softer voice leads the listener into the chorus (where you might expect a soaring explosion of strings and cymbal crashes), but the band quickly does an about face and litters the refrain with feedback, texture and static bursts of sound.
  
  It’s easy to see why the band has received countless comparisons to Daniel Johnson, but for me it’s how effortlessly they can add chaos and excitement to catchy hooks without ever losing momentum. Instead of sticking with the British pop invasion or dancey syths and guitar, they are willing to fuse in tons of other influences and textures. Grinding guitars and Keith’s bass slink along on the Brit poppy It’s Worth Eight Dollars and Connelly follows suit with his apathetic, working class vocals but again, they throw a nice change up on the chorus, letting the synth twist and turn and eventually Ashley Roch’s trumpet booms out of the speakers to finish the song.
  
  It’s not often a band manages to balance big risks with the immediate rewards of hook after hook (especially on their first full length), but Hot Panda seems to know exactly when to add new layers and when to rely on the riff that grab your attention. Afraid of the Weather alternates between a simple marching band drum beat and synth laced melody and a more herky jerky chorus, but it’s the heavy horn and guitar surge at the end of the track that forces you to dance and makes you remember the four-minutes fondly.
  
  Hot Panda can craft light, airy melodies (Holes floats by nicely), but Gold Star Swimmer shows they are just as comfortable adding grit to their songs and playing in the darker shadows of the room, especially when Connelly's delivery tenses up and adds drama to the track. Even the little cowbell and distortion of Bullhorn Romance adds depth to the listen and the natural diversity the band presents offers a glimpse of the many styles Hot Panda can expand on in the future.
  
  It's amazing how the band can produce so much energy, but not rely on it. Usually bands need time together to find the right recipe and more importantly, time on the road to make sure the recipe is right for them. Hot Panda has already been coast to coast, watching the odometer turn (they are playing here at Gus' Pub on April 24th) and if Volcano... Bloody Volcano is any indication of what’s in store, I don’t see any signs of them becoming dormant.
  

• Volcano...Bloody Volcano Review NME [+ Show ]
  

  The volcano: man's natural enemy. Since the dawn of time (2006), polite indie-poppers from Canada ha...The volcano: man's natural enemy. Since the dawn of time (2006), polite indie-poppers from Canada have sought to staunch these blackheads of magma by churning out kooky songs idealising the slacker lifestyle, affirming how they'll "move to New York and live out of a van" and "bathe in a fountain at night when there's no-one around". Their credo is You Say Party! We Say Die!'s busy lo-fi. Their voices channel Isaac Brock's bark. Their keyboards are Casio, their best song is so twee it's practically chipcore. Finally, a few moments of inspired sugary texture and, more than a few plodding duds later, the sacrifice of these four virgins is complete. This album is not a rebel album. This album is volcano...Bloody Volcano.
  
  -Gavin Haynes

• New Music West Music Festival Highlights And Lowlights [+ Show ]
  

  Hot Panda @ The Lamplighter Undiscovered Canuck indie rock at its best, with amazing collective v...Hot Panda @ The Lamplighter
  
  Undiscovered Canuck indie rock at its best, with amazing collective vocals, jaunty keyboards and blazing guitar. This band weren't just good, they were frickin' great. Hot Panda are of next big thing pedigree.

• Cold Hard Truth About Hot Panda [+ Show ]
  

  Summer in Edmonton: skaters, beggars, construction and festivals. The caravans of food vendors line ...Summer in Edmonton: skaters, beggars, construction and festivals. The caravans of food vendors line Churchill Square, whose concrete vistas are dotted with artisans’ tents and dominated by a stage ringed by a beer garden. The smell of warm, sticky cider and green onion cakes hangs in the humid air.
  
  Blasting into the happy blue sky and late evening sunshine, Hot Panda cheerfully bashes out its way through a hyper-spazzy set list while an appreciative gaggle of mommies and toddlers, hipsters, festival volunteers and homeless people soak up the atmosphere—and, in some cases, the alcohol. Random spontaneous dancing breaks out, heads bob and knees wobble, petering out in between each song to uneven clapping and whistles.
  
  “I just signed our first autographs,” bassist Keith Olsen grins proudly. Olsen is like a muppet incarnate—sweet broad smile, twinkly eyes and a face that’s endlessly malleable in the service of expression. Legendary for his cool t-shirts, low impulse control and total lack of animosity towards anything or anybody, Olsen is a solicitous band ambassador. “I should have written, ‘I love you,’” he says, fretting he may not have been effusive enough in dispatching his autographical duties.
  
  “Keith’s the funniest one in the band,” Mike “Mostly Keyboard” Robertson concedes later on. ”The rest of us are the improv people, but he’s the one that gets everyone laughing.”
  Chris Connelly, guitarist and singer, agrees. “He’s just this ball of energy,” he says, shaking his head in wonder as Olsen plows his way through a freshly generated monologue that makes Robin Williams seem reticent in comparison.
  The other members of Hot Panda have coalesced as band business is taken care of and post-show beer is flowing. Indeed, they are “improv people”—Robertson, Connelly and drummer Maghan Campbell all have backgrounds in comedy improvisation. Connelly and Robertson are still jobbing performers, on stage and in moving pictures as much as possible.
  
  These days, Campbell saves her stagecraft for Hot Panda shows, mugging behind her drum kit in between songs, interjecting the odd showstopping wisecrack (“she’s got the most vulgar mouth on her,” Olsen whispers conspiratorially. “I love it.”), and singing the “girl” parts to Connelly’s “boy” parts, her long dark hair swinging in tempo as she provides the jaunty, loping gait that braids their shambolic Panda-pop together.
  Campbell is deadpan and quicker than a sailor with the blue words, but warm and hospitable, like Amy Sedaris doing an imitation of Veronica from the Archie comics.
  
  “Boys always say I’m an ‘interesting’ drummer,” she laughs acidly. “And, ‘I don’t mean to be insulting, but you’re really good for a girl.’ But yes, in spite of the fact that I have a vagina, I can really lay down.”
  “Our drummer’s a ‘modern girl,’” Olsen ribs, all saccharine on the last syllables.
  Campbell trills, “‘Oh, you’re such a modern girl! Such a modern girl playing the drums!’”
  It’s clearly a band in-joke, one designed for the boys to show solidarity with their female member without getting all sappy about it.
  “Our drummer sort of bends where the backbeat is, but she’s always looking for it—‘where’s the backbeat?’” Olsen continues. “She’s not super-‘filly.’”
  “But she is a super-filly!” Robertson chimes in, with a triumphant vaudevillian “wakka-wakka” finish.
  
  Connelly and Campbell make up a longtime couple, but the other Hot Panda boys hold her in equally high regard. There’s none of the scent of sexual privilege that can sometimes waft around couple-centred bands.
  Campbell earnestly reports, “I’m totally comfortable sleeping with Keith or Mike. I’m as comfortable sleeping with them as I am with Chris.”
  “On long road trips, sometimes Maghan takes that too far,” Olsen chortles.
  Connelly frowns. “Uh, maybe you shouldn’t say that. It can be taken the wrong way.”
  Considering his career in film and theatre and frontman role in the band, it’s surprising that Connelly is the most low-key of the bunch. He has a serious but amicably boyish demeanour, helpful and polite. It’s difficult to tell whether this is his default setting or simply a function of being the guy who has to drive the band home later that night. He has a watchful gaze, like a shepherd accustomed to protecting his flock from predators and their own carelessness.
  
  “It’s annoying here,” Connelly sighs, like a disappointed teacher relaying classroom test results. “A girl in the band is an anomaly, here. An all-girl band is a novelty. It wasn’t like that in Oslo.”
  Campbell and Connelly lived abroad in Norway for a while, an experience they credit as being highly motivational and eye opening.
  
  “I felt like they were more ahead in Oslo,” Connelly explains. “They had this really socialist, really healthy, artsy vibe. Like in Edmonton, if I just saw some random band, I’d probably hate them, but over there, if I saw a random show, there was usually something I’d really like. There was all this cool stuff happening. The Scandinavian pop scene was amazing.”
  “And Oslo was on this circuit,” Campbell reminisces. “We saw more great Canadian bands than we ever have here.”
  “Once we got back from Oslo,” Connelly declares, “we said, ‘let’s really try to play music instead of fucking around.’”
  
  Prior to fleeing Edmonton, Connelly and Campbell had formed a band called the Blue Letters. Olsen joined that first band, but “quit because we weren’t going anywhere.” Robertson was his replacement. Both are multi-instrumentalists.
  “We were bitter rivals from the very beginning, Mike and I,” Olsen contends.
  Robertson laughs, “Keith actually plays keyboards better than I do.”
  “They have very, very different styles,” Campbell interjects.
  “Mike’s style of keyboard is way quirkier—for the purposes of this rock ‘n’ roll band, he’s the guy,” Olsen states.
  What else does Robertson bring to Hot Panda?
  “I’m full of awkward truths.” Robertson muses, “Like at our first show, this little punk girl yelled ‘teabag me!’”
  “A hilariously drunk girl,” Campbell adds, touched. “It was very sweet.”
  That first show—in October of last year—was “really, really bad” the entire band murmurs simultaneously, but Hot Panda’s congeniality, energy and enthusiasm catapulted them into the spotlight, their short set talked about for weeks afterwards.
  “Now it’s a creative explosion,” Olsen says, with an accompanying hand gesture like that of a scientist describing something on a grand scale.
  
  “We were pretty serious as a band right away,” Connelly clarifies. “If you’re going to do something, you should at least try to do it the best you can.”
  “Do the stuff you need to do as a band,” Campbell says. “People are like, ‘oh, you made a record so soon!’ We’re not a lazy band. We take what we’re offered—every show all the time. We didn’t want to wait to tour. So we toured. We didn’t want to wait to make a record. So we made a record. We didn’t want to wait to tour again. So now we’re going to tour again. Waiting for a break? Screw that! That’s crazy. We’ll work for it.”
  The band’s Whale Headed Girl EP was recorded in Calgary with producer Diego Medina, an accomplished music-maker himself who plays with the Cape May, Chad van Gaalen and a host of other projects.
  
  “We sent him an email because he was working with the Wet Secrets—my favourite band in Edmonton,” Connelly says. “None of us knew what we were doing, so we wanted a comfortable working environment and all the help we needed. He’s cool to work with, he knows what he’s doing and he’s really patient—we’d do the same take over and over again, and we’d feel bad and be like, ‘uh, okay, I think it’s fine to move on’ and he’d be like, ‘No! Do it again!’ He wouldn’t let us be bad. Really, he was perfect for us.”
  Medina must have done something right, because Hot Panda has been charting locally and nationally. With their upcoming “official” EP release in their hometown, followed by a coast-to-coast tour, they can expect to shift a few more copies—maybe even enough to finance a full-length, which they are all eager to work on.
  
  Hot Panda is bored with awkward truths. They would like to move on to lies, preferably also of the awkward variety.
  “Whatever people see in print, they’ll ask us about in other cities when we tour,” reasons Robertson. “So, let’s say we started as a Kiss cover band.”
  Done. What about individual lies?
  “I used to be a Hutterite,” Robertson ventures. “My ancestor, Jacob Hutter, founded the Hutterites in the 1800s.”
  “My dad inspired the movie Rudy,” Connelly asserts. “He’s the real-life Rudy.”
  “Romantically, I was linked to Calgary’s Kara Keith. We were the hottest couple in Canadian indie rock,” Olsen says garrulously. “But I wouldn’t marry her, because she asked me to take her name and I didn’t want to be ‘Keith Keith’—‘Keith squared.’ And baby Keith would be ‘Keith cubed.’ No good!”
  “For the last three years, I haven’t brushed my teeth. Every two weeks I get them professionally cleaned, and fluoride, too,” Connelly notes.
  
  “Fun fact: I was one of the kids in The Care Bears Movie that discover the Care Bears after they come to earth,” Robertson contends. “The Hispanic one.”
  Olsen interjects, “I was born with a tail. A skin tail. It’s part of my vertebrae.”
  Campbell weighs in. “On our way back from our tour, in Saskatchewan, our van broke down and we went at this church to see if we could get help. There were all these toilet seats and milk bottles in front, and I knocked on the door and this guy with long hair answers, in silver track pants and half his teeth missing and no shirt. So I go in to use the phone and he stabs me. I stumble out and the guys in the band don’t know, they don’t realize I am dying, and I die. They put me in the back and we drive back to Edmonton. When they get here and go to take me out, I wake up from the dead with the sticks in my hand”—she leaps up, eyes wide and shouts—“ready to rock and roll!”
  “Yeah, the EP has all sorts of hints that she died,” Robertson chuckles. “If you look at one of the lobsters in the mirror, it spells out ‘Maghan is dead.’”
  “Actually,” Campbell says with a smile, “half that story is true.” V
  
  
  Fri, Jul 13 (8 pm)
  Hot Panda
  With Meligrove Band, Rebekah Higgs
  Velvet Underground, $10
  
  

• Hot Panda Sells Its Definitive Brand Of Indie [+ Show ]
  

  Posted by statusq in Music I have to admit that I didn't really know what to make of New Music We...Posted by statusq in Music
  
  I have to admit that I didn't really know what to make of New Music West when I saw their crappy website. Learning that they've hosted some hot bands such as Metric and Modest Mouse gives them plenty of cred, but they equally tout Nickelback and Colin James which casts grim shadows all over the place. I guess that's what happens when you get a music fest that promotes anyone who can be dubbed "influential" (ie. anyone).
  
  So what can one expect when faced with a lineup of 200 bands, most of whom you've never heard of? Hard to tell unless you're willing to do some major MySpace research. So I just cruised the list of artists, to see what bands call themselves these days, and clicked a few links. Hot Panda was the gem that caught my eye (oh, the rare names which actually tune you into what the hell a band is!) So then I checked to see who else was on the bill. Big kudos to whoever compiled a very solid night of indie pop at the Lamplighter...
  
  ...Edmonton's Hot Panda appropriately played the headline spot of the night, and they made good by cranking out quirky track after quirky track of bouncy entertainment. The songs spanned from capital C Cute to Rather Eclectic. Quite a few songs would throw in a major left hand turn, keeping listeners on their toes.
  
  From their killer MySpace track It's Worth Eight Dollars, I thought that Hot Panda could be the Edmonton equivalent of The Paper Cranes (guitars, a keyboard, and boys and girls taking turns on the vocals). But I was mistaken. On the whole, they are way less Brit, and considerably weirder. Don't worry, it totally works. If Hot Panda and Hans Christian are any indication, then the Edmonton scene isn't one to be slighted in the slightest.
  
  Anyhow, considering that this was a gig entirely composed of bands I've never even heard of before, it was a very impressive and talented line up. Yes, there really is a world beyond Broken Social Scene.
  
  
  

• Hot Panda @ Sneaky Dee's [+ Show ]
  

  Grade: 90 Comment:Hot Panda may be unsigned for now, but that won't last long. Their particular ...Grade: 90
  
  Comment:Hot Panda may be unsigned for now, but that won't last long. Their particular brand of off-kilter rock 'n' roll that blends elements of early, pre-Epic Modest Mouse, Talking Heads and, dare I say it, Pavement. Those are somewhat generic touchstones, but all very apt. They've already garnered a heap of accolades out west, and it won't be long before Hot Panda fever reaches the rest of the country.
  
  Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
  80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
  70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
  60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
  50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
  00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.
  
  
  Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
  
  Oral And Visual Communication
  
  Eye Contact: E Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Pronunciation: E Lead singer/guitarist Chris Connelly looks like a hybrid of Colin Meloy, Rivers Cuomo and my good friend Paul (who incidentally isn't in a band, but is a pretty rad dude), but Connelly plays with the screeching intensity of someone who wants to make every second count. The band, bedecked in skinny jeans and other appropriately indie garb, gave their all and left it all on the floor. I'm out of overused aphorisms at this point, but damn if Hot Panda didn't put on an amazing show for the few who bothered to show up early. You got the distinct sense that people knew they were witnessing a band on the cusp of blog stardom. Connelly especially should be commended for his rock posturing. It didn't seem forced or planned, but decidely genuine.
  Stage Presence: E
  Stage Banter: E
  Image: E
  Appearance: E
  Use Of Stage: E
  
  
  
  Musical Analysis
  
  Level Of Participation: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Problem Solving: G Hot Panda intertwine rapidly changing time signatures, infectious hooks and stick-with-you melodies — all with a fastidious slight of hand. The band employ some unconventional instruments (kazoos, xylophones, accordions) along with discordant keyboard breaks and bare-bones guitar riffs. It all conflated into melodies that'll be tough to dislodge from your temporal cortex for the better part of a week. The aforementioned Hiltz contributed the occasional brass interlude, fleshing out the band's already dizzyingly full songs.
  Teamwork: E
  Work Habits: E
  Organization: E
  Audience Participation: G
  Sound: E
  Composition: E
  Songs: E
  
  
  
  Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
  
  Charisma: E Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
  Problem Solving: G For some reason, every time I see Hot Panda's name I'm reminded of the Simpsons episode where an errant old-growth redwood smashes through a fast food franchise aptly named "Kentucky Fried Panda." Hardly the band's fault, but it makes their band sound like something on offer at the aforementioned ficitional eatery. Nevertheless, Hot Panda will draw just as much attention as the uncontrollable tree, as these guys are poised for the ephemeral glow of the blogosphere, making them the best kind of famous for an up-and-coming band: internet famous.
  Teamwork: E
  Sexiness: E
  Haircut: E
  Indie Rock Footwear: E
  Nods To Disposible Fashion: E
  Cool Equipment: G
  Level Of Inebriation: S
  Actual Ability:
  
  

• Volcano...Bloody Volcano Review (Unlimited) [+ Show ]
  

  Volcano... Bloody Volcano Hot Panda [Mint Records] A half-century or so after the birth of pop, it...Volcano... Bloody Volcano
  Hot Panda [Mint Records]
  A half-century or so after the birth of pop, it's hard not to be influenced by what has gone before. what makes a band good, however, is not who they rip off, but how they do it. In the new album VolcanoŠBloody Volcano (out February 10), Edmonton band Hot Panda (Maghan Campbell, Heath Parsons, Keith Olsen and Chris Connelly) shows us how it's done. Sampling and riffing their way to originality with shiny, happy songs full of trippy, '70s guitar and playfully pitchy vocals (their MySpace page lists them as indie/pop/garage), Hot Panda experiments loudly with class and confidence. Their first fulllength album is an explosion of songs with catchy back beats and base lines, children yelling in the background and the odd rock anthem. Minoa! is sweet instrumental marriage of guitar and organ. Gold Star Swimmer, meanwhile, blows out around 1:47 with a satisfying Sonic Youth-style crescendo that contrasts Connelly's high-pitch vocals. It ends with a familiar "Doo, doo, doo" and some big broken Social Scene-inspired brass. after five listens of the record you'll think you've heard it all before. That's OK, because after 10 listens it will be the album you listen to most. _Malcolm Brown
  

Setlist

A typical set would be 45 minutes, but could be longer or shorter if required. Sets can be tailored to specific gigs; we have a range of songs that can lend themselves better to loud party shows, or quieter sets for more intimate and low-key venues.

Our sets consist of songs from new record, 'Go Outside', some new songs, and reworked songs from our past two albums 'How Come I'm Dead' and 'Volcano Bloody Volcano'.

Setlists may include:

See You All Around
Holidays
Language
Future Markets
Mindlessnesslessness
Evil Nature
Masculinity
Gold Star Swimmer
Go Outside

Basic Requirements

Calendar