The Hollywood Spotlight By Hollywood Steve Rangel
The Hates “13” There are perhaps only three true constants in the great city of Houston, Texas: traffic, humidity, and The Hates. Something of an institution in the Bayou City, Christian Kidd and Co. have been fighting the good fight since 1978. And while band members have come and gone with regularity over the years, Kidd has managed to maintain his signature sound and vibe without fail. Which is not to say the band hasn’t evolved. Their latest release, “13”, features a few more sophisticated arrangements than these local legends have produced in the past. And there’s damn near a harmony vocal on the opening track! But make no mistake about it. The Hates are a punk band. A true, old school, no nonsense, “I’mpissed-and-you’re-gonnahear-about-it” punk band. Kidd has never wavered from his original vision, making The Hates as genuine as any band you’re likely to hear. “13” is a unique offering. These eleven tracks were recorded in various different sessions, spanning the period between September of 2003 all the way to December 2018, utilizing multiple lineups and production teams. But the common denominator, as always, is Christian Kidd. Kidd represents the essence of this often misunderstood genre. He’s a punk rock lifer, an Everyman with a guitar, a microphone, 32 Music News • February 2021
and a message. What has always impressed me about his songwriting is that, to get his point across, he doesn’t rely solely on profanity and venom, two tired cliches of punk music. He is more matter-of-fact in his approach, which is vastly more relatable. His lyrics certainly don’t lack conviction, but there’s more going on here than the rants of an angry young man. The material on “13” is aggressive, the performances are
convincing, and the presentation is raw. Christian Kidd’s lead guitar style suits his compositions perfectly in that it too pushes back against accepted standards. He’s not as concerned about keys and time signatures as he is about energy. Long time fans of The Hates will be delighted with this latest work. If you like your music loud, heavy, and real, you just might be delighted too. God save the queen, and long live The Hates!
