Piss army

>> The discount metal mayhem of Hot Piss

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Originally formed as a Ween tribute band, the demented quartet Hot Piss "developed" their '80s metal sound from deep down in the very depths of Hades (aka Peterborough, ON). They scream for vengeance from their heavy metal pulpit, or at least scream stuff about "pumpkins, danger and dying." The Mirror spoke with lethargic guitarist Chestal Hesole and got the skinny on the whole lotta evil going on up Peterborough way.



Mirror: You're pretty famous for dressing up for shows. What kind of costumes have you worn?

Chestal Hesole: We've fashioned masks made of meat, we've dressed up as drunken sailors on shore leave, flowers, intergalactic garbagemen and Egyptian pharaohs. We know that we're not really good at our instruments so we hope that our costumes will divert the attention from that fact.

M: What costumes are you planning for Montreal?

CH: Well we heard there is a big mime community in Montreal so we might try and work with that.

M: Your new album Defenders of the Stain can be looked upon as a parody of '80s metal--

CH: A parody? I don't think it's a parody at all. I'm pretty serious about heavy metal. I love to play heavy metal music--it makes me feel taller.

M: Does it bother you when people laugh at you when you play?

CH: Not really. We've been laughed at our whole lives so it's what we've come to expect. When you to see a Hot Piss show, you have two choices: you can feel embarrassed for us and have a bad time or you can let yourself slip into a denial mode where you think you're watching Van Halen.

M: In keeping with metal's theatrical tradition, are you planning any pyro?

CH: Yeah, but it's really low-tech. Well, actually, it's just sparklers. We have been known to make a boat out of pizza boxes, though, and use that as a prop. For my entertainment dollar it just doesn't get better than a boat made out of pizza boxes.

With Hacksaw at Jailhouse on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 9pm, $5