Music

Hot Panda discuss new record, issue warning to Hollerado

by Melody Lau

“There were a lot of people with flags for capes, a lot of dudes, and a lot of high-fives going on,” explains Hot Panda singer Chris Connelly. “Too many high-fives.”

No, Connelly wasn’t describing the crowd at a Hot Panda show. Those probably reflect more of your usual indie-rock audience of skinny jeans and tees. He was explaining the spectacle the band witnessed during the celebrations for the gold medal hockey game during the 2010 Olympics, roughly around the time the band began recording for their latest record How Come I’m Dead?

That was only the beginning of the madness for the band though as they went on to play at the Paraolympics, got on a plane immediately after for Canadian Music Week in Toronto and went back home to Vancouver again before heading down to Texas for SXSW.

“There was a cold that cycled through all of us,” tells bassist Catherine Hiltz. “Except me!” exclaims drummer Maghan Campbell.

How Come I’m Dead? was the first album recorded with Hot Panda’s current line up of Connelly, Campbell, Hiltz, and keyboardist Heath Parsons. The group collectively agreed that the new group dynamic led to a smoother and more satisfying result.

“It took us about a week to record this,” says Connelly. Quicker than their previous record Volcano…Bloody Volcano, the band attributes their speed to their “new chemistry.” “Catherine joined our band and whipped our ass into shape and then, bam! We had an album,” says Parsons.

Campbell adds that everyone in the band has cultivated “a more supportive and positive environment which is really great, nobody feels afraid to introduce new ideas.” Connelly agrees. “Let’s up the positive!”

That positive energy is evident in the band’s new songs, a diverse-sounding step up from 2009’s Volcano…Bloody Volcano but still keeping with their indie-pop quirks slathered in catchy riffs and memorable melodies.

Another success the band will carry from their last record onto the new is yet another brand of hot sauce. “We’re starting to build a collection of hot sauces,” explains Connelly. “Actually I think the album is mean to support the hot sauce, we just wanted to put out an album for every hot sauce we do.”

Hiltz warns fans that the new hot sauce is spicier though. “It’s a deadly hot sauce.”

Aware of fellow Canadian rockers Hollerado’s upcoming brand of hot sauce, Connelly offers some fighting words. “I think they’re ripping us off,” says Connelly. “I’ve already came out and issued them a ‘back off’ so this is another one – back off!”

“We’re a band who does hot sauce so they should find something else.”

But when informed that Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry also pioneered the idea of selling hot sauce (Perry has a hot sauce, Rock Your World Boneyard Brew), Campbell suggests that Hot Panda may get their own words of warning.

“Maybe we’ll get a Joe Perry ‘back off!’” Connelly likens a chain reaction effect may take place. “Joe Perry gives it to us and we give it to Hollerado.”