In the final installment of February’s Band of The Month session series, Los Angeles trap-door rock trio Hot Karate – Cyrus Ghahremani (bass, vocals), Rob Krauss (guitar) and Adam Subhas (drums) – sit down to explain the band’s origins, what drives them to push themselves into progressive territory, creative balance within the band and more. They then conclude their featured run on CraveOnline with a searing performance of the devastatingly powerful “Demi”.
As friends making music for themselves, alchemizing their sound on their own terms, the group takes the best strengths of prog’s finest and channels it through a visceral passion that seems never more than a breath away from exploding. Their latest album Finger Food is their third release in just three years, a continuing evolution following 2011’s self-titled LP and 2010’s Moonlight Horchata (find all three here). Driven by gut-punching passion, Hot Karate wrap their hook strength in a technical prowess that doesn’t drown us in Yes/Rush-isms while making our heads spin with kaleidoscopic variation.
We broke the ice with the psychedelic assault of “Bolillos,” continued with performances of “Hot Karate” and “Diluwar” – and went off the deep end of euphorically complex arrangements with “Baby Police” and “Subterranea”. Before a final journey into the psychedelic vortex, check out Hot Karate’s breakdown of their own sound below:
Check out an exclusive studio performance of “Demi,” an outrageously explosive track that feels like a spaceship burning up as it re-enters the atmosphere at 10,000 mph:
Pick up Hot Karate’s music right here, and keep up with the band on Facebook, Twitter and their official site.
Very special thanks to Swing House studios!
Previous Band of The Month Performances:
Alain Johannes / Grieves / Steel Panther / Vintage Trouble / Semi Precious Weapons
Hot Karate / RX Bandits / Nico Vega / The Mowgli’s / Dessa / Everlast
The Wild Feathers / The Silent Comedy / LP
