Atlanta based ska band Left Hand Hotdog just released their debut album Left Hand Hotdog Radio. While they blend ska, reggae, and punk, the immediate assumption based on their sound has them entrenched in the absurdity of ska- but probably not deservedly so. When many people think of ska, they think of the absurd, an unwillingness to take itself seriously. While those stereotypes are far from the standard and are less common all the time as the majority of ska bands seem to drive attention to mental health and songs about inequality, injustice, and interpersonal relationships, there is still a less serious, side that exists to remind us that life can be lighthearted too- with bands like the Aquabats and Girth Control. With a name like Left Hand Hotdog, those images are going to be at the forefront of the listener’s mind, and, at times, LHH seems to lean into this. But Left Hand Hotdogs does a really good balancing act of lighthearted songs and more serious songwriting with messages about leaving toxic relationships and starting over (Quit Your Job), enjoying life while you can, because you never know when it’s going to end (Enjoy Yourself) and finding strength in independence (Get Tough). The album features 18 tracks, although nearly half are skits and ditties, and one absolutely amazing cover song.
The album begins with Lily’s Lament, the most unique and unhinged song that I’ve heard in quite a while. The track begins with the sound of broken glass and meows followed by a death dirge on the horns and a slow single bassline before being broken up by two short blasts on the horn and a fast-paced uptempo ska-punk beat gets laid down for what feels like a really solid ska punk song. The song features some amazing catchy riffs, great jazzy horns, and solid vocals and everything feels great… until you pay attention to the lyrics, which are clearly about a cat who is frozen in a freezer after dying- all told from the point of the view of the cat, who still loves its owner and has no idea that it’s dead. The song ends with a cacophony of voices singing “Let Me Out” with a subtle focus on the MeOw in Let “MeOwt”.
After a short skit brought to you by Big Dick’s Franks we head into the second track, which is a very relatable call to leave a shifty job. The song is another ska punk banger with outstanding hornwork. I love the relatability for getting shit for having overtime, and for clocking in late. It’s an easy song to sing along with, and while it’s pretty straightforward, that makes it easy to sing along with and enjoy, making it easier to relate to the lyrics.
The next three tracks are mostly instrumental but range in style and pace to show off some of the diversity of influences- from a country and western sound to very fast to stuff that’s just fun and playful, Left Hand Hotdog definitely shows off their ability to shape mood with their instruments. I imagine this is great for introducing members or getting people dancing during live sets as fill between songs. My favorite of these tracks is Lily’s Reprise for its playful fun and catlike grace.
It would be unfair for me to not cover at least one more serious song. “Enjoy Yourself” takes a little bit of a departure from ska punk and has a little more reggae influences with outstanding vocals, and the chorus is filled with outstanding backing vocals that fill the song and beg everyone to join along and sing “Enjoy Yourself, it’s later than you think”.
The one last song I want to discuss is an absolutely incredible cover of “Mr Roboto”. The subtle ska guitar riff, the horns not trying to be too dominant, and letting outstanding vocals lead the song make this fucking slap. The backing vocals playing off the lead singer (as in the original) but with a femme lead and masc backing vocals adds a texture to the song that really makes it stand out. Absolutely phenomenal.
Written by Gimp Leg
