The electro, power-pop Hot Peach grew out of a tour involving one very hot peach—literally. Singer Sarah Burton and drummer Jeremy Knowles were returning from an eight-week United States tour when, after experiencing the storm of their lives in Nashville, they bought a basket of peaches. By the time the two hit New Mexico, there was one sole peach left, to which Burton remarked, “That is one hot peach.” The third member of Hot Peach, Lucas Stackhouse, came into the picture in 2012 to record the demo of “Night After Night.” If you missed MAGNET’s premier of Hot Peach’s new single “Bad Romance,” you can grab it here. Also, check out the mix tape the band made for us below.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers “Don’t Come Around Here No More”
Knowles: Since I was 10 years old, I have always turned to Tom Petty for inspiration and creativity. This is a great example of his ability to use a few words to convey such a powerful message. There is a constant struggle building the energy of the music, reflecting the emotional dance of having to tell someone not to come around no more, until it releases in a gratifying way that screams, definitively, “Don’t come around here no more!” Video
The Blue Van “Dreamers”
Knowles: I love the groove in this song, which is complemented by an arpeggiated-style synth line in the first chorus that reminds me of Matthew Sweet, Gin Blossoms and the Killjoys guitar lines. That’s just cool. Video
Nada Surf “Always Love”
Knowles: “Always love, hate will get you every time/Always love, don’t wait until the finish line.” Having lost a number of people I love in my life including my father at a young age, this lyric really resonates with me. There is no point in holding on to hate, as there may not be the chance to say otherwise. Hate can only come from love or be destroying those you love. Not to mention, its fluent catchy melody. Video
The Smugglers “Your Mom’s The Devil”
Burton: Back in the ’90s, my older sister Rachel used to subscribe to mail-order records and tapes from Mint Records (one of the first Canadian indie labels), and one of the albums that showed up was the best of the Smugglers: a great cult garage surf punk-rock band from Vancouver. Rachel had this boyfriend whose mom was kind of a bitch – she used to always say his mom was the devil, so this song really resonated with us. Video
Justice Vs. Simian “We Are Your Friends”
Burton: A friend of mine put this song on a mix CD for me a few years ago. It was probably one of the last really awesome things I received in the mail. I couldn’t get enough of this song, and I have heard it remixed in many forms—always awesome. I just love how this song drives and moves without ever overdoing it. Just makes me want to dance. Plus the video is sweet. Video
The Kills “Last Goodbye”
Burton: I love how everything on this record is distorted—like the crunchy distant and disjointed sounding piano on this track. The strong, clear vocal sits up front and sounds somehow super emotional and deadpan at the same time. Also, nice job on the key change. Video
Rilo Kiley “The Good That Won’t Come Out”
Burton: I have a huge band crush on Jenny Lewis (frontwoman of Rilo Kiley). She writes introspective, quirky pop songs that have been influencing me since I started in my first band (Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys back in 2005). Over the last year, I have been obsessed with this song—so lo-fi until the last chorus, and with a lyrical approach that’s kind of biting. She has a way of capturing that youthful angst, which I love to wallow in, even as an adult. And also this. Video
UNFUN “S.O.S”
Stackhouse: It’s a raw, to-the-point punk song that has heavily influenced me as a player. Lenny and I had our first band together; that has stuck with me all my life. Video
Off With Their Heads “Fuck This I’m Out”
Stackhouse: This is a great pop/punk band that does not sugarcoat and lose sight of punk ideals. To fight for what is meaningful. Reminds me of how I felt when I was learning to play bass and be a punk-rock kid. Video
Jawbreaker “Fireman”
Stackhouse: This is a band that influenced most of the bands I love. I didn’t discover them until my early 20s, and realized that this the missing link in my influences. Also, Blake knows what’s up. Video
The Cure “Close To Me”
Hot Peach: I don’t think we need to write why this is on here other that it is a song that we all love and pull from. We have different musical tastes, and this song brings Hot Peach together. Video
