RFC Interview: Hot IQs

Eli Mishkin and Elaine Acosta first met each other while working at a college radio station in Boulder. One day while sitting around Elaine's apartment talking about the local music scene, they sort of half-jokingly decided that they should start their own band. One thing lead to another and the joke turned into a real band known as the Hot IQs. With their sound inspired by such bands as Archers of Loaf, The Pixies, The Kinks, and Beat Happening, they've become a strong national touring act supporting the likes of Tegan and Sara, Built to Spill, and Hot Hot Heat. This Sunday, they return to Chicago to play the SubT with headliners White Whale. RFC recently caught up with the band via email to find out more...

Looks like you finally have a follow-up to 2004’s An Argument Between Brain and Feet...care to tell us a bit about it?

It's a 14 min. concept album dedicated to the eradication of poor grammar (originally titled Me No Likey, which found was incongruent with our dedication after an extensive and thorough spell and grammar check).

For a band that started off not really knowing how to play to now touring the nation under great praise, are you surprised of your success or something that you all knew would happen deep in your hearts?

Every day is a surprise. The rapid growth of this band has been a surprise for all of us. Thank you for saying that we have had praise. We also knew from the start that we had something special the second Elaine played her first paradiddle, Eli sang his first "La, La, La', and when Bryan first shook out his beautiful head of hair.

Any interesting stories from your time on the road?

Besides death threats in Reno, riots in Boston, transvestite stabbie cabbies in NY, a surprise free 5- star hotel room stocked with Dom Perignon and mints on our pillow, and dance parties on Tegan and Sara's bus, there is nothing we are legally allowed to discuss.

Have you guys seen any good films lately? The Science of Sleep and Shortbus were both very visually stimulating, but in very different ways. Little Miss Sunshine was the most amazing film we've seen all year, and thank to Denver's own Devotchka, it also had the best soundtrack of the year.

Any bands/albums that you guys are currently "hot" over?

Voxtrot, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The Swayback, Everything Absent and Distorted, Lion-Sized, Silversun Pickups, The Thermals, as well as the millions of other fabulous musicians and bands in Denver all get us very hot and bothered.

So Chicago will be treated to another show by you this weekend, what can people who haven't seen the Hot Iqs yet expect from your show?

Underwater pole dancing, and a mesmerizing triple sow cow.

Looking into the future...where do you see the Hot Iqs over the next several years?

Other than touring the world via a yellow submarine and releasing several more 14 minute concept albums?

Last Question...If you guys had a time machine and got the chance to travel to the past to stop one artist from ever recording an album...who would it be?

We admire everyone who has the courage and soul to produce any kind of music, but I would say I would have had to stop New Edition while they were ahead because that way we wouldn't have to listen to any of the results of their solo and side projects today. This excludes the songs 'Poison', and 'Do Me', from Bell Biv DeVoe of course.

Thanks a bundle guys!

-Brian J

The Hot IQs will be performing with White Whale and local openers Moxie Motive, this Sunday, October 29th at Subterranean. Show starts at 9:00, $8 at the door.

Download: Hot IQ's - "Retromuff"

Comments

[Margot]

I saw this band the last time they came to chicago. what a unique sound. what a fun band to watch.