These bands we look back on with fond memories, it seems most of them lasted only a few short years and left behind scant discographies. Perhaps having an all-too-short career adds to the mystique and makes a band an obvious subject for a feature like this. However, for proof that a band can hang around for a decade, produce five excellent albums and still leave us wanting more, enter Hot Rod Circuit. Their early records were filled with angsty guitar rock, perfect for bespectacled teens into Weezer, Piebald and The Get Up Kids. The pop element was definitely present, but didn't manifest fully until the super-catchy (and irresistible) Sorry About Tomorrow. By their final album The Underground Is a Dying Breed, they were starting to reveal their Alabama roots with a distinct twang and the addition of slide guitar into their formula. Throughout their evolution, the heart and great songwriting remained ever present-- these guys just weren't capable of writing a shitty song. HRC played their last show near the end of 2007, and while it would have been great to see where they would have taken their music next, it's hard to feel bad about the body of work they've left us. Frontman Andy Jackson was (is?) involved with the project Death in the Park and is currently in Terrible Things (formerly known as Initials) with Fred Mascherino. Here's to hoping songs don't stop flowing from his pen for a long while.
The monday before SXSW I got to see Terrible Things at a free show, which was awesome.
After the show I got to see Andy drunkenly play many HRC songs, which made for great sing-a-longs.
Really nice guy.
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