Hotspur

Maryland-based rock band Hotspur will kick off the main stage entertainment. The quintet recently released its second CD, "You Should Know Better by Now," and last year, came in first in a nationwide search for the country's top unsigned bands.
"We're very excited, to say the least," says the group's lead singer, Joe Mach, about performing at Pimlico.
"I think we've been around the area long enough that people may have heard about us but haven't had a chance to see us yet," he says by phone from his home in Beltsville. "InfieldFEST is giving us a chance to get out there and play in front of a lot of people."
Hotspur was formed when its members were undergraduates at the University of Maryland. With a catchy blend of pop and rock, the band seems positioned to move quickly out of its "local band" status.
"If the right opportunity comes along, we would definitely jump at the chance," says Mach. He thinks Hotspur is ready for a major label record deal.
"We're making pop music, music for the masses, and the bottom line is you do need a bigger vehicle to get you to that next level. You need a label or some financial backing to make the jump to radio or to be fully able to hit the mainstream."
So far, the musicians have been hitting all the right notes. Their songs have made the playlist of Baltimore radio station 98 Rock; and three of their videos have been featured on mtvU, an offshoot channel of MTV targeted toward college-age viewers.
"It's one thing to have your video on YouTube, but when you're casually watching TV and a Hotspur video comes on right after Kanye West, that's pretty exciting."
Hotspur is a regular at such local venues as Washington's 9:30 Club and Baltimore's Ram's Head Live. In 2007, the band played Merriweather Post Pavilion as part of the alternative rock Vans Warped Tour.
"Talk about a highlight," says Mach of playing the venerable Columbia concert venue.
"That was one of our first really big performances. I pride myself on never really getting nervous, but that was a time when I thought, 'what am I getting myself into? I'm on the Jumbotron at Merriweather!' " - Howard County Times

Lately, things have been heating up for the local rock band Hotspur.

Since singer/songwriter Joe Mach and keyboardist Dave Trichter formed the band after graduating from the University of Maryland in 2004, Hotspur has become an independent success story.

The five-piece group's second full-length album, "You Should Know Better By Now," was picked up by area Best Buy stores, and the band has drawn several hundred people to shows at Rams Head Live and the 9:30 Club. In July, Hotspur won the NMS Artist on the Verge contest, netting the band about $50,000 worth of merchandise and equipment.


"It's been a little crazy," Mach said. "We've had a lot going on but that's a good thing."

Friday, they'll return to the 9:30 Club as headliners. Now, with their careers starting to take off, Mach and the rest of the band are open to the idea of signing with a major label, he said.

ON RECORD LABELS

"The minute we got our first video on mtvU as an unsigned act, it sort of opened my eyes. I thought, 'Maybe we can actually pull this off without a label.' … But being able to get yourself into that national spotlight, that's where you need the money and distribution that only a major label has. We're still very much looking for a label."

ON SONGWRITING

"We fall somewhere between pop and rock. We're a rock band, but there are synths and the melodies and music are very much pop-driven. We've been spending the summer writing music. We have several labels that are interested, and we're writing with them in mind.

"Everybody is trying to make Gaga rock right now. I think we've been treading that line of trying to write what we love and the music we want to make but then also being influenced by what's out there — what people are grasping onto. It's very easy to latch onto that. But in the long run, we're trying to stick to our guns."

Hotspur performs Friday at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. N.W. in Washington. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $15. Call 877-435-9849 or go to 930.com.

Sam Sessa
- The Baltimore Sun

HOTSPUR IS: Joe Mach (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Dave Trichter (Keyboards, Vocals), Scott Robinson (Drums)
Coop Cooper (Bass), Evan Anderson (Guitar, Vocals)
HOMEBASE: Rockville, MD
GENRE: Dance/ Pop Rock/ Fancy Rock
CATEGORIES ENTERED: Pop/ Rock Song, Indie/ Alt. Hard Rock Song
SONGS SUBMITTED: “If These Walls Could Talk,” “Heads or Tails,” “Chandelier”
LABEL: Self-Released
HOW DID YOU BEGIN PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER?
Keyboard player Dave Trichter and I began playing music together our sophomore year at the University of Maryland. Our first date was a Ben Folds concert–we bonded quickly over our shameless love of early 90's dance music (La Bouche, Real McCoy etc.) and started writing together.
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?
We’ve coined the term “Fancy Rock” which combines “Fun” and “Dancy.” Plus we use pretty elaborate production in our music so the name seems apt.
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME?
The name came from the English Premier League soccer team “Tottenham Hotspur.” We were tossing around band names and someone suggested “Arsenal”–which to me sounded too much like a German death metal band. Tottenham happens to be one of Arsenal’s arch rival, and when we looked in to the word a little more (dictionary definition is “a rash and impetuous person, a hothead”) it felt like a great name for an energetic rock band.
DID YOU USE ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR EFFECTS ON YOUR LATEST RELEASE YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER BY NOW?
At the end of the first track “Hypochondria,” there’s a short speech in the background that gets all crazy and distorted, which was actually recorded by accident. We were tracking a heavily effects-laden guitar part at full volume, and in the midst of swirling guitar noise, the amplifier started picking up a radio signal of a speech on “expanding the imagination.” Very trippy.
WERE THERE ANY ‘HAPPY ACCIDENTS’ IN THE STUDIO?
See above. I came up with a lot of the vocal effects on the album by sitting in ProTools and chopping up vocals and putting them in different parts of the song. Most of the time it doesn’t make any sense, but every once in awhile you come away with something really cool that never would have come about in the traditional writing process.
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT?
Yup–about halfway through recording YSKBBN we basically ran our of money, so we launched the Hotspur UnderGround Society (HUGS) where we auctioned off various prizes (including the band coming to your house to cook dinner, which we did, quite successfully. Fajitas.)
HOW DOES THE DESIGN OF YOUR ALBUM ART AND MERCHANDISE VISUALLY SUPPORT YOUR MUSIC?
I think the album art strikes the same balance of being fun and playful, but still having depth and drama. For merchandise, we tend more towards flashy and fun, whatever sells!

Cover Art for You Should Know Better By Now
GOOD BOOKING AGENTS ARE HARD TO GET. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR INDIE ARTISTS LOOKING FOR AN AGENT?
I think booking agencies operate the same way most of the industry does–when you start doing the right things, they take notice. When you start pulling big numbers locally and show that you can do regional tours on your own, they find you. We also recently signed with Auburn Moon, a college booking agency, and have been having a blast playing college shows.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME MANAGERIAL HELP FROM MORE MUSIC GROUP & WINGS MUSIC INC. BUT YOU ARE STILL UNSIGNED. HOW HAS MANAGEMENT HELPING YOU?
Having management and booking has definitely been a huge help for us–but everyone in this band works really hard. We’re all doing this as our full time job, and it can get overwhelming at times. I think that’s sometimes the hardest thing–there’s literally thousands of ways you can promote your music to the masses–and while it’s important to try and do everything, you also have to stay focused.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SUBMIT THESE SONGS TO THE 10TH IMAS?
I think a lot of bands spend too much time watching the Grammy’s and the VMA’s–and don’t realize there are events like The IMA’s that not only seek to recognize smaller acts, but actually provide them with the support and connections to further their career.
YOU HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 3 UNSIGNED BANDS BY NUMEROUS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES (MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, REVERBNATION, ETC…) AND WON SEVERAL AWARDS. WHAT RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE IMPACTED YOU THE MOST?
Getting our video for “Chandelier” on mtvU was a pretty huge accomplishment. We’ve had songs placed on TV before, but it’s very different when it’s your face and your video up there. We also recently won the “Artist on the Verge” award at the New Music Seminar, which gave us a ton of buzz, and some pretty sweet prizes. There were a lot of high-profile people with a ton of music industry experience at the seminar; getting recognition from them really validated all the hard work we’ve put in.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE?
Hotspur has a pretty broad appeal. We’ve played Warped Tour and opened for bands like Boys Like Girls and Metro Station, so I think the younger fanbase caught on earlier–but particular with our new album and college tours, we’re starting to see a much wider demographic.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE?
A lot of our fans have become friends through Hotspur, which is pretty unique. We have a very active street team and have organized party buses and ride shares so many of our fans have bonded–which makes our hometown shows one big reunion party!
WHAT IS THE WILDEST THING A FAN HAS EVER DONE FOR YOU?
Last year one of our fans made a voodoo doll for each of us. The dolls live in our merch display. We also just got a box of bananas in the mail–one of our fans used a “student” debit card at a show…we told her if it didn’t get through she owed us something crazy, like a bunch of bananas. Sure enough, the card failed, and a week later we got 30 rotting bananas in the mail.
WHAT’S YOUR CRAZIEST TOUR STORY?
We recently played a one-off at the University of Evansville in Indiana, a 14 hour drive from DC. We frequent buffets while on tour, so around the West Virginia/Kentucky border, we put “buffet” into the GPS and came up with “AJ’s Pig Pickin’ Buffet.” The “buffet,” located deep in the woods (right next to an old slaughterhouse), had a sign on the front door that said “come around back, we’re on the boat.” Curiosity peaked, we walk around to the back of the facility, and sure enough, there is a 30-ft boat grounded in the backyard, complete with tiki torches, a firepit and a shirtless West Virginian named AJ. Turns out it was a catering business and not a buffet at all–but AJ decided to cook for us anyways, and outdid every buffet we’ve ever been to– cooked us 6 full racks of the best ribs i’ve ever tasted, plus bought us a case of beer and all the moonshine we could drink. Plus we were on a boat.
WHAT ARE 3 INGREDIENTS TO A KILLER SHOW?
Energy, swagger and kick-ass lighting.

Music Video for “If These Walls Could Talk”
WHAT IS THE BEST SHOW YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED?
One of the best shows we’ve played was the last night of SXSW this past year–it was on a tiny stage, late at night–but the room was totally packed and had a ton of energy. There’s been a handful of shows where I’ve almost passed out, that was definitely one of them.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE WHEN YOU’RE ON THE ROAD?
Aside from the aforementioned buffet fetish, I have a pretty mean sweet tooth. Many of our fans have picked up on this and bring us baked goods to shows–which only makes it worse. I’ve been known to go through an entire package of oreos in one sitting.
YOU WON TACO BELL’S FEED THE BEAT CONTEST WINNING $500 IN TACO BELL FOOD. HOW FAST DID THOSE TACO BELL DOLLARS GO?
I was actually surprised at how long they lasted–almost a full year. I think my favorite was our Taco Bell Thanksgiving. We played a show on Thanksgiving Eve, so we stopped by Taco Bell and went ALL out. It’s amazing how much $50 will get you at Taco Bell.
HAVE YOU EVER HUNG OUT WITH ONE OF YOUR MUSICAL HEROES?
I rode in an elevator with Billie Joe (Greenday) once; I accidentally had my foot sticking out so the elevator door kept re-opening, and he called me an “anteater-d***ed mother******.” You probably can’t print that, but it was a special moment for me.
ARE YOU A COLLECTOR
My dad is from the Czech Republic, so I grew up watching soccer and hockey, and I have a big collection of soccer and hockey trading cards. No other kids in school cared about either sport but I’ve got a Gretzky thats probably worth quite a bit today.
ARE THERE ANY SONGS YOU WISH YOU WROTE?
Tons, especially songs that are based around a clever idea. In pop songwriting, it’s all about finding a unique concept or a clever way to say something in a way that no one has ever done before. Britney Spears‘ “If You Seek Amy,” for example–the music isn’t particularly inspired–but in terms of the pop world, the concept is brilliant, and well executed.
IT IS MOST COMMON FOR A DRUMMER TO TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF DURING A SET, BUT YOUR GUITARIST IS THE SHIRTLESS ONE. CARE TO ELABORATE ON THIS ANOMALY?
Well you see, Scott is half-asian so… Haha our live show is very much a rock & roll show, and whatever happens just happens–sometimes that means shirts come off.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PERFORMANCE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN?
I was blown away the first time I saw Muse live. Same with Radiohead–I saw them at a big festival show where it poured down rain–I swear Thom Yorke commanded the thunder and lightning to work with the music. Also Andrew WK.
WHAT ARTISTS ARE YOU LISTENING TO THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS?
I’ve had Lily Allen‘s new record on repeat for quite some time. Same with Ke$ha and Katy Perry…I guess I kind of have a thing for trashy female pop singers.
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING.
Pretty much every band we’ve toured with or played shows with–the music industry can be really cut-throat but among our peers we’re all really supportive of each other, we want to see each other succeed. We toured with 2AM Club awhile back–its great to see them blowing up right now.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM SHOW LINEUP?
I think being on the opening slot of the U2/Muse tour last year would have fulfilled the dream show for most of us. We’re actually in the running to open for the Goo Goo Dolls right now–they’ve been our bass players favorite band since he was a kid, so he’s pretty psyched.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… a fickle mistress.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS FOR THE REST OF 2010? 2011?
Right now we’re really focused on writing, but we’re excited to put out new material and get back on the road.
HOW CAN FANS FOLLOW YOU?
You can follow us on twitter at @Hotspurtweets, or my personal handle is @hotspurjoe. Our new CD is on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and at select Hot Topic and Best Buy locations.
If you are an artist submitting to The 10th IMA program and interested in being featured in an Artist Spotlight please contact Tory@IndependentMusicAwards
UPDATE: Congratulations to Hotspur for winning the OurStage $5000 Grand Prize for “Best of Music” with their song “If These Walls Could Talk!”
UPDATE: Hotspur is featured in CosmoGirl! Check it out here: unsigned find: hotspur
UPDATE: Hotspur is now in rotation at MTVU and one of the 3 unsigned bands that made it in rotation this year! http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=23774 - Independent Music Awards

Shakespeare is undoubtedly one of the most revered and influential writer/poets of all time. His stories and characters have inspired countless acts of romance, bravery and fortitude. But, thanks to D.C. based pop/rock band Hotspur, Mr. Shakespeare can add "band name inspiration" to his list of achievements. Joe, the band's lead vocalist explains, "Hotspur is taken from a character in Shakespeare's Henry IV; he was a hot-headed rebel hero who led an uprising against the king, killed a bunch of people, and died a glorious and tragic death. He was basically the rock star of his day, so it seemed like a good fit for a rock band." And we're not using the term "rock band" lightly here. Unlike lots of imposters, the five Hotspur boys are bona fide rock stars. You might even say they have bravado. Typical live shows include stage jumping, head banging, sweating and hot pants. Of his pre-show ritual Joe confesses "our live show is a pretty strenuous affair so before gigs we're warming up and stretching--safety first!" Even rock stars don't want to pull a hamstring.

These five have a lot more going for them than just limber muscles and convincing stage antics. In fact, as an unsigned band they've already made quite an impact on the industry. Just this past year, Hotspur took home the grand prize at the acclaimed New Music Seminar where top industry professionals chose them as this year's Artist On The Verge. As a winner of mtvU's well-known program The Freshman, Hotspur has had three of their music videos already added into rotation on the station. And, rounding out their long list of accomplishments, these boys have made the film & TV placement rounds. Their songs have been featured on major shows such as The Hills, The Buried Life, and Oxygen Network's cult hit Bad Girls Club.

But, it's not only hit television shows that have embraced Hotspur's true rock sound. Major (and dare we say it, signed) bands have taken the boys under their wing. Hotspur has already opened for Seventeen Mag favorite (and recent "Band Spotlight" feature!) 2AM Club. Of his other tour mates, Joe describes "we also did a few shows with Metro Station at Six Flags which got pretty crazy--we almost caused a riot at one of the parks because I told all 5,000 people in the audience to come ride the ‘Man of Steel' with me."

While their next album isn't slated for release until Spring 2011, the caring boys of Hotspur haven't forgotten that their anxious fans are craving new songs. Hotspur groupies will be pleased to hear that as of now, the guys plan to release several of their new records digitally before the new album officially drops. And thankfully so, because we have a feeling that a mob of angry Hotspur fans would cause a riot even more tragic than the most epic Shakespearean battle! - Seventeen Magazine / Cosmo Girl

D.C. Power Pop

Hotspur, meanwhile, is a more serious band -- one that's out to do more than just inspire you to drink and dance, and have fun. More serious -- but not too serious. After all, the official release announcing the quintet's new album, its second, You Should Know Better By Now, notes that Hotspur's music is ''catchy as hell.''

In fact, the band's pop-rock is so catchy, the melodies and hooks so ingratiating, the vocals of Joe Mach and the synths of Dave Trichter so pristinely clear and crisp, you can't help but be a little suspicious. This is a D.C. band, after all. How do we know this band's four members aren't lobbyists or researchers seeing if they can game the pop system?

Well, if this is a game, the band wins. Hotspur deserves more than its current regular rotation in MTV programming, or performances at area Hot Topic stores. You Should Know Better By Now is an immediately captivating album, one that draws you in on first listen. Because of the prominence of keyboards in an otherwise guitar-driven rock band -- not to mention the band's sonic heavy-heartedness -- you can't help but hear a trace of Keane, or even Coldplay. But a greater influence is Matchbox Twenty. Hotspur is actually better, since Mach doesn't have Rob Thomas' frayed vocals and overwrought delivery.

There's nothing staid about Hotspur's music. The album launches with a suitably frantic song called ''Hypochondria,'' which starts out sweet and slow, before panic sets in. It may sound like there's a problem, but there's nothing wrong here. Absolutely nothing wrong at all. - Doug Rule

Hotspur | You Should Know Better By Now
www.hotspurmusic.com
Lots of different things happening here from Hotspur, the Maryland/D.C. area quintet that is about to blow up. Pop rock, hints of punk, with influences coming from the Killers, My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World and Fall Out Boy. "You Should Know Better By Now" is an excellent round up of 13 tracks. The use of various instruments, and the ease with which they complement each other, is a testament to the band’s quality. "Never Asked for Love" begins with a synthesizer before rocking out; piano haunts "Heads/Tails"; and "Chandelier" puts all elements together for a truly great pop rock single. Lots of local dates, visit their site for details. - Robert Fulton

CD Review: You Should Know Better By Now by Hotspur

The Band: Hotspur

The Album: You Should Know Better By Now

Stand Out Tracks: “Heads/Tails,” “Chandelier,” and “Atlantic”

The Review: Hotspur is not your average band. I mean, yeah sure, they have a guitar player, a bass player, a singer, a drummer, and a pianist, but they don’t play songs that sound like your typical pop rock songs. So maybe I should re-phrase this – Hotspur doesn’t make your average music. Whether it’s the perfect blend of the piano throughout all of their songs or the pleasing vocals of singer Joe Mach, Hotspur is doing something different, but doing it right.

Although they don’t make your average music, the songs off of their album You Should Know Better By Now are definitely polished enough to be considered mainstream friendly. Some of their songs like “Atlantic” sound like they’re ready to be played from your local radio station, and there are even a few songs that sound like they were recorded specifically to be on the soundtrack of a heartfelt chick-flick. (“Heads/Tails,” “If These Walls Could Talk,” and “Up & Away” are the perfect examples of this).

The lyrics on most of the songs have the dominating theme of love, relationships, and so on and so forth; but even though a lot of other bands write about the same topics, Hotspur manages to do it in a more mature and emotional way. Maybe since their singer doesn’t have a nasally and whiny voice it helps them avoid sounding like they’re singing about teenage heartbreak. Instead, they sound more like they’re singing about a mature relationship gone wrong and how they deal with it. Listen to “Too Young,” and “$$$” and you’ll know what I mean. Another contributing factor is how they skillfully intertwine the piano and synth along with melodic guitar hooks. Examples of this are “Alphabetic File,” “Gunfight,” and really, all of their songs (with the excpetion of the synth on some songs).

Don’t think for a moment that all of their songs are soft and romantic. There are only a couple of songs that can be described like that such as the aforementioned “Heads/Tails,” and “Up & Away.” Most of their songs are actually rather upbeat, danceable, and catchy. The very first track “Hypochondria” that opens the album is a real head bobber/toe-tapper. You can’t help but want to move some part of your body along with the beat to the song. The same could be said about the song that comes on next “Chandelier.” Skip down a few songs and the listener reaches the melodic and hooky chorus of “Sold!” The album even ends with a bang with their title track “You Should Know Better By Now.”

The direction this band is heading is definitely the right one. They’re making music that doesn’t follow any trends, but still sounds amazing. If you don’t know who Hotspur is, after reading this review, You Should Know Better By Now to check them out! - Straight Up Random

By: Dr. Matt Warnock

In a world where anybody with laptop, an old Casio keyboard and a MySpace page can release an album and call themselves an Indie band, it’s harder then ever for real-deal bands to distinguish themselves in the world of pop-rock. While some groups are resorting to gimmicks or lavish marketing strategies to separate themselves from the over-crowded rock scene, other bands are focusing on the basics by writing meaningful lyrics, contagious musical hooks and digging in on tight grooves. Maryland based Hotspur is firmly rooted in the second category of new wave, power-pop bands, and their album You Should Know Better by Now is one of the strongest sophomore releases of the new millennium.

Most reviews of a bands second album talk about how the musicians are growing, how they have a good start but need some work, but none of the normal verbiage applies to Hotspur. The record’s thirteen songs are penned with a level of thought and contemplation that can only be described as compositional. Each song is a chapter in a book, not just a single to be thrown at the charts. Songs blend into one another with ease, sometimes literally as in the case of “$$$” and “Atlantic” where the transition between the two tracks is so smooth that without a visual reference one would think they were two halves of one long song. Paying close attention to the overall sound of an album, and to the intricate details needed to write solid, memorable songs, Hotspur has immediately set themselves apart from their musical peers, a rare occurrence in today’s highly imitative music scene, where trendsetters are few and far between.

Don’t get me wrong, You Should Know Better by Now is not overly cerebral, it’s a fun and enjoyable album that will appeal to people who want to sit down and immerse themselves in the music, as well as those of us who just want a great album to blast on a long road trip. Therein lies the strength of Hotspur’s songwriting, it’s dexterous, multi-dimensional and thoroughly entertaining all at the same time. Writing music that has a mass appeal, but that doesn’t sacrifice musicianship or taste for the sake of a larger market, is something that many established bands never achieve during the course of their careers, let alone bands that are releasing their second record.

After releasing such a strong follow-up to their acclaimed debut record, the future is wide open for these five East-Coast rockers. With a mature songwriting style, a knack for finding the right musical and lyrical hook and an exciting live show, Hotspur is well prepared to take the world’s stages by storm. - Modern Guitarist/Guitarist International

"Featuring swooping choruses ("Shes Got To Go"), chugging pleas ("Have You Seen This Girl") and the obligatory arena rock sound ("5th of July"), Beta has the major label sound and will soon be money in the bank." - Tony Pascarella

"Named one of the top 4 unsigned bands at this years SXSW"

"Beta comes across as a collection of hits as opposed to a typical album, each track a radio-ready dance rock single." - kingsofar.com

"Beta is the debut full-length from DCs Hotspur. Although self-released, there are more hits on this record than a NOW compilation. High energy pop rock, complete with handclaps and woah ohs, tied together with dancey bass lines and keys throughout make each song on the album and exciting as the song before and force your ass to shake uncontrollably." - Altsounds.com

"...truly the next big thing in alternative rock. I will be disappointed if they haven’t graced the cover of ‘Spin’ or ‘AP’ in a year or two. As for now, they are just underappreciated and absolutely talented." - estrellaonline.com

"This is a debut? It’s self-assured and confident enough to be a third or fourth album, at least despite its self-effacing title. Seriously, somebody sign these guys already." - Mike Schiller

“Excellent songwriting, amazing vocals, tight rhythm section and distinctive guitar work: A mix close to perfection!” - .