Hot Stepmom doesn't hold back in their debut EP "Nothing to Nowhere," a rollercoaster that, genre-wise, sits somewhere between post-grunge, emo, and post-hardcore. Like Mother’s Milk era Red Hot Chili Peppers go out to dinner with Lush-era Mitski at My Chemical Romance’s house. They listen to Jazz the whole night, then crank Rush on the way back to Tacoma, Washington. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, this band is poised to make waves with their raw talent and fearless experimentation.
From the haunting melodies of "Hive" to the introspective lyrics of "the Morning After," Hot Stepmom crafts a narrative that's both captivating and relatable. Anna Norris's vocals, backed by Cameron Mclennan's dynamic, yet extremely tactful guitar work, create an electrifying atmosphere that pulls you in and only lets you come up for air with eyes wide after "Clipping your wings to keep you down here/Bleeding from strings that made this unfair/Dipped in the wax, I'm not your shelter/Bound to destroy, your next disaster."
One of the EP's standout features is Hot Stepmom's unique blend of slapping and popping techniques, adding an unexpected groove to their punk-inspired sound. This is something that absolutely should not work and if someone would tell me about it, my eyes would roll as far back as possible into my head, but it absolutely does work and it works very, very well. Hot Stepmom are trying to do to punk what Astral Weeks did to rock back in 1968 by Van Morrison bringing Richard Davis in on bass. It’s a non-traditional style for the genre, it’s unexpected as it’s been previously viewed as relatively pretentious, but I can't overstate this, it absolutely works. Bassist Jarin Szewczyk and drummer Benjamin Babcock form a powerhouse rhythm section, driving the music forward with precision, energy, and flair: They dance around each other like a binary star providing a sometimes showy, but always consistent system for vocalist Anna Noris to shine.
In tracks like "Red as His Sins" and "Take Me With You," Hot Stepmom showcases their range, from intense storytelling to emotive balladry. It's clear that this band is pushing boundaries and paving their own path in the music scene.
As a young band with immense potential, Hot Stepmom's "Nothing to Nowhere" leaves us excited for their future releases. Their music will grow with them and I’m anxious to see how they continue to lift each other while ensuring that they stay grounded so their music will remain relatable…will that strictly be the domain of Anna Noris' vocals and lyrics or Benjamin Babcock’s tactful guitars? Part of me feels like there’s a Jane’s Addiction or a Smashing Pumpkins lurking in the depths of Hot Stepmom’s abilities and instead of having to wait until they’re completely capable of producing a “Ritual de lo Habitual” or a “Melon Collie…” we get to watch it unfold, and that's the beauty of both the Internet age, where we broadcast every phase of our lives, as well as the age of artists controlling their own paths as opposed to bands being handed to us after being preened and groomed by a record label. Love live punk rock, for that one. So…let’s see how this plays out; with their infectious energy and thought-provoking lyrics, they are set to carve out a unique space in the world of rock. It's not often we get a chance to be a part of something special, but here it is. Hot Stepmom is just about ready...are you?
Stream/Purchase Nothing to Nowhere here.
You can catch Hot Stepmom live at Capital Radio Day: Oly Punk Goes Live on June 29 in Olympia, Washington!