Kent-based band The Hotelles no doubt benefit from being a trio of brothers, but that isn’t why their music works. It’s not even that their sound – which slots as neatly into the indie rock genre as any of the best you’re familiar with – instantly feels familiar, although that helps. It’s that these young boys have been raised on the very music they conspire to create; their own concoctions are instantaneously enjoyable and that comes from not just meticulous understanding but genuine pure enthusiasm for the genre.
They’re good enough to make you want to stick around and not go back and listen to the best of The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines just yet. 21-year-old lead guitarist/singer Tom said, while his greatest influence is Alex Turner, that listening to Franz Ferdinand was the trigger for him to want to make music, evident when you first listen to their debut EP Aviators. Tom’s been playing guitar for eight years now, so this interest wasn’t fleeting like most hobbies can be at 13. Him and bassist Ben, 18, started playing together after a while and figured they were on to something.
Having younger brother Sam in the same house meant it was a logical move to introduce a third member to their band, only he took drums and, in spite of his young age – he’s only 14 currently – he’s managed to step up and prove he can keep up with his older brothers. Sam’s own influence, Arctic Monkey’s Matt Helder, makes even more sense than Tom’s when you listen to his contributions as he becomes a much greater presence on second EP Ignore Me. The titular track is the standout from the group thus far, though ‘Ruins’ from Aviators is a contender.
Yes, this is music catered for student unions and indie nights and influenced by music solely post-This Is It. But that shouldn’t take anything away from the fact that The Hotelles sound great.
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