The Hot Damn – Live – The Mash House – rock people management

Review By Darren McIntyre Images By Scott Anderson

The Hot Damn are a 4 – piece rock band from Buckinghamshire, UK who originally formed in 2019 and brought us their debut single Dance Around in 2020. The band have become gig favourites with their irresistable hooks & high energy vibes that sees them pack out venues whenever they announce a tour, they followed their debut single with a slew of releases that then brought us their debut album Dancing On The Milky Way. The girls are out on the road promoting their About Last Night Tour and they stop off in Auld Reekie @ The Mash House where they are gonna rock the joint, please join me as I revel in the raw, shredding, tub thumping Hot Damn as they get ready to take the place apart. The house lights dim and the tension reaches fever pitch as the girls take to the stage complete with giant unicorn as they launch into –

About Last Night – Kicking the doors straight in comes this heavy riffed galloping bruiser that sets the scene as the girls hit the ground running and kick tonight off with a bang. Gill leans in with her soulful, raspy vocals that lets the track breathe as a pounding rhythm section brings the heat as Josie bosses the gig from the back of the room, Laurie is looking resplendant in her brightly coloured show jacket and matching hat that instantly draws you towards her as she shreds the shit out of the opening piece. Lzi is bringing the low end and really letting us have it both barrels as we stand and watch this awesome show unfold in a hot and sweaty Mash House as we stroll into –

Dance Around – The rasping guitar riffs ooze from the stage as the pounding snare drum punches let the groove wrap itself around us as the girls settle into their stride. Gill brings the tone with her punchy vocals that let the track punch us straight in the face with it’d crunching riffs and thundering drum beats as the toe tapping arrangement really grabs our attention, the cymbal crashes are filling the air as the girls are hitting us with everything they have tonight as this anthem track opens with Laurie stepping forward and melting some faces with a slick, crisp solo that really grabs our attention. Gill asks us to sing along to the chorus as we warm up our vocals in readiness to sing at the top of our voices, the pounding rhythm section is keeping the groove warm as Josie gives it to us no holds barred which is awesome, we roll into the sizzling –

Jukebox On The Radio – Josie brings the heat with pounding bass kicks as the cowbell rings out and lets this monster come to life as the twin guitar assault lets us know that the girls are in town and ready to party. The cool, punchy groove is a real crowd pleaser as the girls brings the smiles to the fine folk of Edinburgh tonight as we bop along to this infectious groover, the low end is hitting us with dark, delicious funk tones that just wrap themselves around this meaty funk track as it builds and builds with Josie commanding the room with her huge, punchy beats that bring the cymbal crashes raining down on us. Gill steps forward and brings us a cool, meaty solo that sees Laurie & Lzi combining to rock out as the place goes nuts for this exciting 4 piece that really know how to party, up next –

Can You Hear Me Now – Laurie steps up and lets the shredding picks flow from the intro as Gill lets her vocals fill the venue as this punchy rock n roller kicks off. The girls are hitting their stride as they quickly gel and just let the night unfold as we feel the energy erupt in the room tonight as the place shows the girls some love tonight, the funking bassline drops in and hits us with cool, meaty tones that really give the track depth, swagger and loads of energy as the girls just knock the show out the park. The catchy hooks are really working well with the crowd as I can see lots of folk chanting along to this raspy beast that really tells us that they are here and ready to kick some ass tonight, we catch our breathe for a second as Gill thanks us for coming and tells us that Mum is in the crowd so she needs to watch her language and then says fuck it lets go as we stroll into –

Damn Damn Damn Damn – The punchy, funk laden groover kicks off with cowbell and pounding bass kicks as the temperature goes up a notch as this foot stomping beast comes at us with real gusto. Gill lets the vocals lead the way as the twin guitar licks echo all around the venue as the place starts jumping around and really getting into the groove of tonight’s shenanigans, the cool dark bassline is going about it’s business as Lzi drops killer beats that wrap themselves around this fast, furious monster that really gets the place moving. The musicality is tight as the girls go about their business and really hit the ground with a real heavy ended beat that works so well with the vocals that are backed by Laurie coming in and giving the track some depth, we are tearing through the setlist as we head into –

Fizz Buzz Crash – The twin guitar riffs ease from the stage as Josie kicks in with a real gutsy, pounding groove that lets the girls showcase what they are all about. The vocals are strong, sharp and really grab our attention as the arrangement builds and builds as the rhythm section really gives us a thundering beat that is awesime, the quick, galloping riffs are really infectious as we watch the stage and let the groove wash over us as the girls look like they are really enjoying themselves. The place is in full flow now as the girls bring the heat as the simple, rasping groove wanders efflrtlessly through the track as a slick, crisp guitar lick hits us straight in the face with it’s cool, meaty chords as the stage reaches boiling point as the girls are shifting through the gears and really giving us what we want tonight, coming at us next –

Hard Pass – Gill steps forward and tells us that they have a new single and it’s about meeting someone that gives them the ick, lol. The girls join in with a harmonious vocals yell as the rhythm section comes in with a solid snare drum punch that controls the groove as this foot stomping groover comes at us with all it’s bells and whistles, the catchy galloping riffs really take the track to another level as the girls come in with their harmonious vocal that lets Josie hit us with solid snare drum punches as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as this new track gets a run through in Edinburgh tonight. The track is fast, furious, catchy and has a real ballsy groove which is on the money, up next –

Loud & Clear – The track opens with a killer twin guitar riff and a funking bassline as the girls stand front and centre and kick their legs in the air as this thundering beast comes at us. The place is really getting into the girls as they turn up the volume and really sock it to us with their catchy licks, punchy drum beats and it’s all rounded off with a killer bassline that drops in with sweet, meaty, dark grooves that let the track tell it’s own story as Gill leans in with her raspy vocal that allows the track the room it needs to grow. Laurie slips in with a slick, clean solo that just delights the crowd as we clap & sing along to this killer track that has us throwing our horns in the air, Gill tells us that this has been the loudest and most packed out show on the tour which brings a huge cheer from this swelling crowd as we head for –

Sticky Clubs – There is a real darkness about this track as we get a real dark, meaty guitar groove as the place falls silent as the girls do their thing in this real thought provoking number. The rhythm section leans in with a snare drum beat that lets the cymbal crashes rain down on us as we just watch the stage and let the girls take us on their journey, we feel the cool, grooving bassline hit us with epic tones that wrap themselves around this dark, brooding number as we feel the energy oozing from the stage as the girls give us a cool, foot stomping bruiser that really catches our attention as Laurie lets rip with a real edgy solo that lets this track tell it’s own story, we are hurtling through the set list and come to –

Automatic – The track comes at us with a real heavy, pounding rhythm section that brings the cowbell to really let this track erupt as Gill lets her soulful, melodic vocals lead the way. The tune is a real catchy, funk laden piece that is headed by a meaty, groovetastic bassline that is giving the track depth and bags of attitude as the girls shift through their set with ease they deliver a real mellow toned track that lets the girls bring their vocals to the track and give it real swagger. The snare drum punches are coming through and bring cymbal smashes that really let the track come to life as we are bopping along to this infectious groover that is taking us nicely through the set as we hit –

Gimme Gimme Gimme(Hot Damn After Midnight) – Gill tells us that they need our help with the next track and asks us to practice as she bellows out the chorus. The track kicks off with a cool, pounding rhythm section that lets the track come to life as Gill & Laurie let rip with their twin guitar riffs to bring this classic track to life, the crowd are chanting away as the girls really look like they are enjoying themselves with this Mash Up(see what I did there) as they let rip and really give this track their own seal of approval, we drop into –

Merch Song – Gill starts off with telling us they have really sexy merch that we need to buy to let them put fuel in the van or a sandwich so they can eat which draws a huge cheer from the crowd. The pounding bass kicks fill the air as Gill rolls through the song and is just telling us to do your a favour and buy a Hot Damn T-Shirt as we roll into –

Going Down – The track kicks off with a twin guitar assault as the funking bassline drops in and hits us with cool, meaty, delicious grooves that let this track breathe. The rhythm section is again controlling the groove as Josie hits the snare drum with such venom she really is a monster tub thumper for sure, the vocals come through and Gill lets her melodic tones run freely through the track as the girls really come at us with a slick, crisp well thought out number that just ticks all the boxes for sure. The pounding rhythm section is commanding the groove as we feel the punches all through the venue as the tempo changes a little as a crunching guitar riff brings the energy to tonight’s show, we are coming to the end of the show as we hit the last two numbers in this killer set as the girls lead us into –

I Didn’t Like You Anyway – The track begins with a thundering beat from the rhythm section as Josie brings the heat to Edinburgh tonight with a real commanding display. The track is a real foot stomping, rockin bruiser that just ticks all the boxes as the place is jumping around and really getting into the spirit of tonight’s show, the twin guitar riffs are really adding depth, swagger to the track as they lean in and let their backing vocals take the track onwards as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as the girls really put everything into the show let me tell you, we stroll into the last track of the evening and I can say it has been a real fun night as the girls give us –

Live Laugh Love – Laurie brings the track to life with a gritty, rasping riff that lets the girls do their thing as Josie brings the heat with a pounding bass kick. The galloping guitar licks really let the track breathe as we are throwing our horns in the air as we enjoy the girls and what they brought to Edinburgh tonight, the track is a real crunching groove laden piece that is a real nice way to end the show with a gritty guitar shredding tone that lets the place feel the energy oozing from the stage. The place has been treated to something special tonight as the 4 girls have given their all and tell us they can’t wait to come back soon.

The Hot Damn –

Gill Montgomery – Vocals / Guitar

Laurie Buchanan – Guitar / Vocals

Lzi Hayes – Bass / Backing Vocals

Josie O’Toole – Drums

Setlist –

About Last Night

Dance Around

Jukebox On The Radio

Can You Hear Me Now

Damn Damn Damn Damn

Fizz Buzz Crash