Oh My Rockness

In 2003, Hot Snakes posted a message on their website that said, "We are not going to tour and we have no plans to do so." Yoinks! Who's blushing? Why, the Hot Snakes are! Well, it's a good thing rockers are fickle. Otherwise, fans would be deprived of seeing the closest thing to a Drive Like Jehu reunion that they're ever gonna get.

Hot Snakes aren't really the second coming of the legendary Jehu, but the band does include vocalist Rick Froberg (or Rick Farr depending on which Jehu liner notes you read) and John Reis (also of the mighty Rocket From the Crypt). Even though Hot Snakes are perhaps a more streamlined version of Jehu, all the weird hardcore twisted punk Jehu patented and perfected is still present.

Their first album, Automatic Midnight (released on Froberg's Swami Records) was great. Their second, Suicide Invoice, was even better. Personally, I expect their shows to be the gig of the year. Prepare to see an incredibly tight band that knows exactly how to fill your soul with So. Cal punk. After all, they've only been doing it for fifteen years. So I, for one, thank them profusely for changing their mind.