Backstage: Hotspur

By Jackie Cular

The title of Hotspur’s recent second release is “You Should Know Better By Now” and if listeners aren’t aware of this DC band, they ought to heed the band’s advice and get familiar. Alternative Press describes Hotspur as a band that “combine[s] intricate piano and heartfelt melodies with enough electronics to keep pop-punk and club kids content.” One visit to a live Hotspur show will quell all doubters.

Hailing from Rockville, Maryland, lead vocalist Joe Mach commands the crowd’s attention from the moment he steps on stage. The band has a broad, devoted fan base. Hotspur even won a five stop spot on the Vans Warped Tour after a barrage of online votes, with advertising via MySpace.

News outlets such as Alternative Addiction, Alt-Press, MTV, and Metro Weekly have all been early to jump on the Hotspur bandwagon, and with good reason. This lively band delivers a truly enjoyable show for very little dough. They recently co-headlined with Baltimore’s own Fools & Horses at Rams Head Live for a local show, which meant fans were treated to not only an easy to handle $15 ticket price, but drink specials as well–$2 Natural Light cans, $3 rail drinks, and $3 Budwiser products.

The quintet is also experts on maintaining sanity and a budget while on the road; the band rides together in a blue van. “We are already below the poverty line so” we know how to get by on very little, says lead singer Joe Mach. “We sleep in the van; it’s enough for six people but we’ve had eight or nine in there.” The band is tempted to save money on good, too. “We’ve learned what to order from the dollar menu that won’t kill you but the grocery store is pretty good to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner and pay like $20… you learn.” Hotspur also knows how to live large and spoil themselves, “We’ll get one [hotel] room and share. We’re all learned to sleep on the floor.” Mach also admits, “I have a pretty bad cookie habit when I’m on the road so I’ll stop at 7-11 to get my fill.” The band considered finding a hip-hop act to collaborate with on their new album as well. “We looked at Lil’ Wayne and found out it would be $50,000 for one verse” so the band reconsidered that splurge.

This band doesn’t really fit into one music genre; the band will attest that “what sets us apart is the song writing phase… we’re a real band… our music is still pop with a lot more genuine fun. It’s good to dance to but if you take a minute to listen to the lyrics, you see there is real thought put into it,” says Mach.

Hotspur will be playing a special acoustic set with Boys Like Girls at the Hard Rock Café in DC. on October 11 in support of breast cancer awareness. General admission is just $15, $100 for two tickets, a signed CD, and a meet-and-greet with Boys Like Girls. All proceeds will be going to the City of Hope Foundation. The band will be at Bourbon Street, 316 Guilford Street, Baltimore on November 2 for the Hotspur Halloween Hangover for just $4.98 and at the Black Cat on November 8.

More information can be found at www.myspace.com/hotspur.