In addition to releasing all that great Dogmatics music, Rum Bar Records has endeavored to rescue Jerry Lehane's other projects from the dustbin of history. The latest Lehane-related band to get the Rum Bar revival treatment is Hotbox. Hotbox was his band after Matweeds (which was his band after The Dogmatics). Also on board were Pete Mulford (Last Stand) on guitar, Frank Pagliughi on bass, and Pete Sisco on drums. Hotbox's self-titled album contains eight songs recorded in 1990 and 1991 (right around the same time that Lehane recorded the songs for his solo EP). This release is not just a treat for Dogmatics fans. It's a terrific little rock 'n' roll record that really holds up well in 2024. Certain songs are reminiscent of The Dogmatics, but overall the vibe is a little more early '90s indie/alternative. The first time I heard "Time Goes On," I was wondering how these guys got Billy Idol to sing for them. "If You're Lonely" is fantastic poppy alt-rock a la Husker Du and early Goo Goo Dolls. "Way Ahead of Me" brings to mind the power pop side of The Dogmatics, while the smash hit "Girl I Want" is quintessential Boston garage rock. "When It's Over" almost sounds like a precursor to Massachusetts punk greats The Lobby Magnets/Johnny Bravo/The Johnnies (who, of course, were huge Dogmatics fans). "You Got What I Want" is darker and harder-edged and could have been a huge alternative rock hit under more favorable conditions.
Hotbox proved to be a short-lived band due to Sisco relocating to California. Famously, the band did get to open Bill Clinton's primary rally in New Hampshire in 1992 (and get rewarded by Clinton's campaign team with two cases of beer). Let history show that Bill Clinton may have never become "the comeback" kid had it not been for Hotbox! Vagrant Records released the band's debut single, "Girl Like You," but as far as I can tell, that was Hotbox's only official release until now. This album is a reminder that Jerry Lehane is a wicked good songwriter, and I applaud Malibu Lou for realizing that the world needed to hear these songs. Don't sleep on this one!
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