Red Hot Shame – Scratched Tracks (EP Review)

Today’s EP Review features Humboldt County, CA, USA, alternative rock band Red Hot Shame and their latest EP titled Scratch Tracks, released April 19, 2024. Xeff Scolari, the band’s leader,  vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter, described this EP as “4 songs left off of our previous albums – 1 song per album.” The band has previously released 4 full-length alt rock albums Curiosity (2017), Sounds Like (2021), My Satellite (2022), and You Can’t Make Me (2023).

I recently sat down with bandleader Xeff Scolari to discuss the songs on the band’s new Scratched Tracks EP. One of the songs on the EP, You Be The Sky, is in heavy rotation on indie and alternative rock radio stations in Northern California (USA).

So Xeff, what is the current line-up of the band?

“Currently the lineup is Me, Spencer Kennedy (bass guitar), Ryan Wilson (lead guitar), and Steven Pitsenbarger (backing vocals).  Sometimes Mark Bennett joins us on harmonica.  And for drums, it’s always Spencer Kennedy on recordings.”

Let’s take a look at each of the songs on this new EP.

Cookie

Xeff Scolari – Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion
Chad Johnson – Electric Sitar
Steven Pitsenbarger – Backing Vocals, Piano
Spencer Kennedy – Bass Guitar
Ryan Wilson – Lead Electric and Acoustic Guitars

So tell me the story behind the song Cookie?

“Cookie was written in 2004, one of a few I wrote in between bands.  I was raising kids then, and the title comes from my son Donovan saying ‘cookie’ over and over as I was strumming it on guitar, and figuring the song out.  It was used in a play in LA called “What’s Wrong With Angry”, a story about gay acceptance. The song is about the longing for someone you can’t have, but if you were in someone else’s shoes, or another day/another time. It was originally going to be on the Curiosity album, but didn’t make the final cut.”

In listening to the track, the electric sitar (Chad Johnson) is the highlight of this song. The song starts with a bang bang, bang bang, bang bang ditty ditty rhythm, eventually with lead singer Xeff Scolari’s voice matching up seamlessly with the pulsing psychedelic guitar rhythms. The instrumentation is very reminiscent of the sound of The Beatles on the Revolver album. Maybe it’s the falling guitar riff, the electric sitar throughout the track and the Harrison like guitar solo, but I’m definitely getting a Beatles psychedelic-period vibe from this song.

Given Up [EXPLICIT]

Xeff Scolari – Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Drums
Steven Pitsenbarger – Backing Vocals, Horns
Blake Brown – Lead Guitar Solo

So Xeff, how did you come to write the song Given Up?

“Given Up was written in 2018 during the Sounds LIke sessions.  I left it off of the Sounds Like album because I guess I felt like it was too political, or at least would be seen that way.  The world was becoming more and divided, and I really didn’t want anything to do with it, so I had ‘given up giving a shit’.”  

The voice is the star of this track, telling the story of a “fragile you”. The highlights of this song are the ghostly keyboards in the chorus, the epic horns (Steven Pitsenbarger), and the lead guitar solo (Blake Brown). The guitar bends are also sweet. Another song reminiscent of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine period particularly in the choruses, mixed with a little Steely Dan vocal phrasing in the verses and a quintessential Steely Dan vibe in the lead guitar’s voicing. 

You Be The Sky

Xeff Scolari – Lead and Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Xylophone
Spencer Kennedy – Bass Guitar, Drums, Keyboards
Ryan Wilson – Lead Electric Guitars
Steven Pitsenbarger – Backing Vocals

So what’s the story behind the song You Be The Sky, which is my favorite song on the album?

“You Be The Sky was written in 2020 for the Shelter n Play ‘space’ songs night.” (Shelter n Play was a weekly online music concert featuring original songwriters which Scolari organized to raise money for a local food charity Food 4 People. SnP raised over $7,000 for Food 4 People).  You Be The Sky “is a simple love song to my wife Steph, full of double entendres. It was left off of the My Satellite album because it didn’t fit the overarching story of that whole album – there’s a story behind the whole thing, a rock opera, I guess. You Be The Sky didn’t fit the story, so it got dropped.” 

This song is in heavy rotation on Northern California commercial FM radio station KSLG.

A beautifully constructed song, it captures the essence of the My Satellite “space” theme, and given it’s popularity, Scolari now admits that “maybe it was a mistake to leave it off the album.” The song starts with drums and a space launchpad countdown, followed by a nice keys riff. “Your eyes shine like the stars in the night, one look from you and I’ll take flight.” “I’ll be the rocket, you be the sky!”

I love the heaviness of the electric rhythm guitar in this mix. The song then collapses into a vocal bridge leading to a spacey electric guitar solo and the final verse and chorus. Back to the vocal bridge and another launchpad countdown. This song is epic and reminds me of everything I liked about David Bowie. Yes Xeff, leaving it off the album?, how could you? LOL  But, to the benefit of our ears, it is now included on this fantastic new Scratched Tracks EP.

Cursed

Xeff Scolari – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Ryan Wilson – Electric Guitar
Spencer Kennedy – Bass Guitar, Drums
Steven Pitsenbarger – Backing Vocals
Mark Bennett- Harmonica

Finally, Xeff, how did you come to write the song Cursed?

“Cursed was written in 2021 for the Shelter n Play ‘Cursed’ songs theme.  I wrote it in the parking lot of a church in Rio Dell one day at work.  One of the rare times that I’ll come up with all the words first, and then the music after.  The song just fell into my head.  I was thinking about all my struggles with my own personal growth, trying to be a better person, etc etc.    But sometimes no matter how hard I try, the little devil in me comes out, and my horns begin to show. It was left off of the You Can’t Make Me album, but brought back to life of this EP.”

Starting to feel like I might be cursed. A sentiment that many of us can definitely relate to. The drumming really stands out on this track. I love the band’s use of clever bridge progressions. And Ryan Wilson is the master of making a guitar sound spacey. Perfect for this song’s vibe. The chorus of this song really sticks in your head. Or maybe it’s just that I too am cursed? LOL

The band’s EP is a ride through the band’s progression of drummers – with the first two songs Cookie and Given Up featuring a digital drum machine, a mix of live drums and a cheesy 70’s keyboard drum program on You Be The Sky, and then live drums on the song Cursed.

SCORE/Excellent: If you’re looking for a tasty EP that captures the sound and vibe of The Beatles during their psychedelic years and David Bowie’s space vibes, then do your ears a favor and buy this CD, or at least give it a like and a listen. Expertly mixed and mastered, this EP is a revelation. It captures the growth of the band over it’s first four albums. And you can hear how the band changes with each new song. Put this EP and the single You Be The Sky into your favorite music playlist, you won’t be disappointed. Much love, Beth

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