Hot Flash Heat Wave – ‘Grudge’

San Francisco indie rock band Hot Flash Heat Wave poke fun at the idea of being drawn into a game in the video for their latest single, ‘Grudge’, which sees them becoming participants in a game of The Sims.

Hot Flash Heat Wave have built for themselves a reputation for making some of the most inviting rock music in the whole of the Bay Area. They’re approachable, fun, and relaxed. Their 2019 EP, ‘Mood Ring’, showed the band in all their true colours, with their style a blend of more than a few genres, including surf rock, San Fran psych, fizzy pop, punk, and new wave. The band recently covered The Smiths’, ‘This Night Has Opened My Eyes’, which demonstrated to their followers and naysayers alike that they’re power-packed full of talent, and have plenty of promise. Now with ‘Grudge’, they show everyone once and for all that they’ve arrived and they’re here to stay.

The music video ‘Grudge’, is lighthearted, but director Noah Porter has done his research. It’s et in the early 1990s, and all the details have been painstakingly made perfect. The fashion, cars, newspapers, even the computers, are spot on for the period. The young couple who are the focus of the clip, play their simulation video game on a vintage iMac, running it on a nostalgia-inducing operating system. The girl is mesmerised by the game, transfixed by, who else but Hot Flash Heat Wave, as they obey her simple commands, perform daily activities, and watch screens within screens.

Watch the video for ‘Grudge’ below. Check out Hot Flash Heat Wave’s official website for more information about the band and their music.

Hot Flash Heat Wave - Grudge (Official Video)

About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com

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