wordplay: Samantha Donen
images courtesy Warner Bros. Records
When Steve Bays, of Vancouver’s Hot Hot Heat, was asked whether he was anticipating performing at Red Rocks, his initial response was, “No, actually I have not heard of it. Why, is there something to know about it?” Upon filling him in on the natural beauty of the red sandstones, novel stage, and what could only be termed as a “wall of people” facing the stage…his enthusiastic reaction would make Britney Spears (who cancelled her Red Rocks concert in 2003 due to not being able to use fireworks in her performance) squirm.
“Wow, that sounds really amazing! Sometimes just a cool venue can inspire bands to play a good show, you know, bring out that little kid sense of awe- like ‘Wow, these people are actually here to see us play!’”
He went on to say a feeling comes over a band when they play a venue that was obviously made for people who are fanatic about music and theatre.
“There are not many places that are that spectacular to play as a band or that you can feel like you are part of a rock documentary in process.” Bays added,” It is important to feel surreal-for both the audience and the performers. The more you feel like you are not in reality, the more everyone enjoys themselves, escaping that 9 to 5.”
Although HHT will be opening for The Killers at Red Rocks on May 17th, the two bands are already acquainted, with Bays having recently remixed The Killers’ current single “Read My Mind” (it can be heard at RhapsodyOnline.com for free). When asked how the remix came about, Bays said, “To be honest, I’m always working on stuff in my home studio; experimenting with different music. So, I was hanging out with Flowers (Killers’ lead singer) 2 days after their new album came out because they were performing in Vancouver. “Read My Mind” was my favorite song on the album and is quite possibly my favorite Killers song over all. I offered to do a remix, it was one of those late night hanging out requests, and did not think much more about it.”
A week later, Bays said he got a call from Flowers saying The Killers would like him to do a remix but they needed it within a week. Bays’ grandpa was really sick at the time and in hospital, so he said, “I did most of the remix on the plane and the rest in my grandma’s house. I re-recorded all the music except vocals, and re-did about 90 percent of the keyboards, synth and bass.” Bays said they will not be performing the remix at the concert.
Since, HHT’s sophomore release of Elevator, they have been working on their end of the summer album release, Happiness Ltd. Of their 11-track album, “Give Up?” is the only song available for listen on their website and myspace. HHT does not plan to play many songs off their new album at Red Rocks, as Bays said, “We do not want fans to hear a bad live recording of one of our new songs and decide they do not like it prior to really hearing it on the album.” According to Bays, this could happen if a fan streams their cell phone recording off the main speaker of a live concert. Bays does hope that some of the B-sides to the album will get played live as well as posted online soon.” There were so many great songs that did not make it to the album that I hope will get their fair share of play.”
In fact, HHT was almost finished with their new album last summer when Bays wrote “Let Me In.” Bays said, “The bar was raised with “Let Me In,” so we went back to re-examine the album.” HHT had finished the album last June, and Happiness Ltd. was in the process of being watermarked and sent out as demos to companies when HHT decided the direction had to change on the album. Bays said they wrote six more songs, knocking out other ones that were on the album, re-recorded various parts, and re-did drums.
“That song made us take a 180 degree turn from where we were going.” Bays said, “It was totally worth it! The first record felt conflicted all of a sudden. “Let Me In” was this musical epiphany that we had to embrace our music and musicianship. Just accepting that we had a sound, accepting who we are, how we played, and to just embrace that and keep doing it better.” Bays concluded, “It’s like growing up and realizing who you are one day and accepting it, and just working with what you got.”
May 17th @ Red Rocks
HotHotHeat.com