Hotpoint Stringband: Reviews

The following are some excerpts from love letters we've received. If you would like to contact us, please sign the guestbook; we LOVE to hear from you! If you're looking for links to reviews of our CDs, they're toward the bottom of the page.

" I am still high from Monster Mash. Here is what my friend just emailed me: 'I was thinking how great that dance was. It's probably the best I've been to. Hotpoint raised every dancer's level, so that good dancers became great dancers, and great dancers became phenomenal dancers.' " - reported by Emily Vorder Breugge

"Dear Ridiculously Talented People,
Months later, I still can't stop thinking about the thrills and chills I experienced while dancing to your incomparable music during Bayou Bedlam here in Houston. My dance partners probably can't forget it either; your music made me scream, laugh, stagger and levitate on the dance floor! Recently, I bought a copy of your excellent CD, Steppin' on Cords. Listening to it helps me bear the wait until the next time I get to go wooo with you. Thank you for your discipline, creativity, humanity and humor, and for the love that vibrates in every note." -Kathleen Yoder, TX

"This band is the farthest thing from Coldspot that you can get!" --Lisa Greenleaf, MA

"They blew us away at Dance Awakening and managed to kick ass the night before in San Rafael doing us a special bonus dance despite landing in SFO from Ohio that afternoon, being rear-ended on the way to Marin, and 20 hours without sleep. Versatile, funny, melodic, and excruciatingly rhythmic. When they're cooking, you can't stop dancing. It's how I want to die."
- Reta Lockert, CA

"Your music this past weekend in Ann Arbor was beyond description! All I can say is W O W... and thank you for making such scrumptious jazzy, snazzy, razzamatazzy dance music! I have NEVER had so much fun dancing, ever!" -Andrea ? , MI

"...the reason I drove 11 hours was to dance to you guys. I heard you for the first time at Pigtown this year and was blown away! now I will follow you anywhere." -Barb Kirchner, GA

I'm still reeling from the great week at Augusta! You all made it so wonderful! I remember feeling, after five days of dancing, that I had reached my energy limit. Then, while on the dance floor, dancing to one of your hot tunes, I had a breakthrough... I felt high! After that my energy was through the roof. It lasted through Sunday. You all are the nicest people and musically talented beyond words. -Jeanette Bair, MO

I don't remember when I've been so thoroughly blissed on a dance floor!.– Larry Bommarito, WA

...in 651.5 hours I'll be dancing with the indisputable number ONE BAND in the whole world, perhaps, the whole galaxy. --Jorge Leppe, Toronto CA

This (calling with Hotpoint) is the most fun I've had at a dance ever. Ever! Ever! -Charley Harvey, KY

"Although I don't contra dance at all, these CDs occupy a hallowed place in my CD collection. The groove, energy, daring and wit that went into them were apparent from the first listen. The music shines, the energy seems to pop off the CD, and a smile spreads across my face. If there's one piece of advice I can give, it is this: MAKE MORE CDS." -Steve Woods, MA

"You mean that HOT band whose music makes you move uncontrollably in the most delicious ways?? The band who urges you to let go of all your dancing inhibitions and feel the music in every sense?! The band whose music makes it easy to smile at strangers and share eye contact, because the joy they elicit assures you that you must be among friends?!?!" --Keith Cornett, KY

Just washing up my kilt from Feet Retreat and wondering how I managed to take off from without picking up a Hotpoint CD. I've been dreaming banjo and dumbek - it's always a shame when my dreams have a better soundtrack than the waking hours. Thanks so much for a fantastic weekend! -Alex Baronn, NJ

"Austin has a new favorite CD. It's called Steppin' on Cords, by the incredibly cool Hotpoint. What a band. In a word, Wooo." -Joe Bedell, TX

"...I want you to know your band flat out does make 'm say Wooo! Some real nice jammin' and bowin' there." -Rik James, KGLT-FM, MT

"It's already two hours since the dance ended and my mind is still racing, my blood is still pumping, I'm still flying around -- with your great music echoing through my head. I'll not likely be able to sleep any time soon!"
-Joseph Pimentel

"I love all of you and your music very much, but now I can't decide whether to congratulate or sue you... I don't really know what you've done to me. Before your FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE at the Ann Arbor Dawn Dance I was a normal person (at least, some of my friends can certify that I used to be barely coherent), but after four days back in my hometown the only answer my fellow workers and friends get from me, after a long silence, is a dumb "huh?"and a silly look. I've never missed my subway station before. It can be dangerous…..you know?" -Jorge Leppe, Toronto, Canada

"You made me go "wooo!"....You guys understand energy. Doesn't make any difference whether it's just one banjo playing or the whole shebang, there's always high voltage happening."
-Rob Craighurst,VA

And finally, our favorite quote:

"We had to leave before the third band (Hotpoint) played, but we're sure they were very good also."
-Morgan Co. (Ohio) Herald, circa 1990

Hotpoint, from Athens, Ohio, is a band that’s expanding the contra style through their inventive use of percussion, fascinating arrangements and catchy snippets of well-known tunes from far afield, such as the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley and Jerry Garcia. This is not your parents’ contra music. Sneaking in through your ears, Hotpoint will take control of your body and run it at red line speed till the tank is empty.

Contradance is hot! Dances are springing up all over the country with bands criss-crossing each region to play for dance gypsies from far and wide. As the popularity grows, the styles tend to change. No longer is the dance music from New England the standard. Bands from across the country have placed their own distinct stamp on the music and have established a new measure for comparison.

The Hotpoint Stringband from Athens, OH is one of the new bands expanding the style through their inventive use of percussion, fascinating arrangements and catchy snippets of well-known tunes from beyond the tradition. The band is comprised of Hilarie Burhans, banjo and vocals, Mark Burhans, fiddle and vocals, Marlene Shostak, piano and vocals, Nick Weiland, bass and vocals, and Mark Hellenberg on various percussion instruments.

"Bus Stop Reel" by Anita Anderson opens Hotpoint Special and is typical of the Hotpoint sound. Percussion and clawhammer banjo lead the listener/dancer into a rhythmic and slightly modal excursion. As the tune unwinds we hear snippets of other well-known non-dance tunes woven into the texture. Most notable is a portion of the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black." It's wonderful for listening and dancing alike. Later in the recording we are treated to "Mannington No. 9." a song from Nimrod Workman (actually, it's by Keith McManus, inspired by Nimrod Workman; the reviewer erred. --Hilarie), "Marley's Reel" a rearrangement of Bob Marley's "Stir it Up," various originals including "Monticello/Owen Sound/River Falls" which celebrate family and friends within the dance community and beyond, and a wonderful pairing of the original "Juneteenth" with the traditional "Opera Reel."

Unlike many contradance recordings, Hotpoint Special can be enjoyed purely as a listening adventure as well as a dancing experience. The style is ever evolving and the Hotpoint Stringband is among the best. --TD

HOTPOINT STRINGBAND Hotpoint Special

It's easy to tell that the Hotpoint Stringband plays for dances. There's a rhythmic quality to the music that is most infectious. But it is subtly done -- no pounding drums and piano or driving bass. Instead, it's the little touches: Mark Hellenberg's use of a number of different percussion instruments, Marlene Shostak's understated piano that supports but never overwhelms the beat, and Nick Weiland's tasteful acoustic bass, all supporting Hilarie Burhans' banjo and Mark Burhans' fiddle. Arrangements are wonderfully complex but not overdone, with nothing out of place. Most of the tunes are built around the fiddle and banjo, and those tunes, mostly from outside sources, run the range from old-timey to Appalachian to Celtic inspired. Two vocal tracks add to the mix, with the beautiful "I Am Alive" and its sweet harmony being a fitting closer. The Hotpoints show that just because you're a dance band doesn't mean that you can't play inventive and original music.

de knusmuziek van
de hotpoint string band
en hilarie burhans
hilarie burhans

the hotpoint stringband

de gegevens van het vierde nummer
Een jaar of twintig, dertig geleden toerden de Red Clay Ramblers, de Highwood String Band en de Any Old Time String Band uitgebreid door Amerika. Dat werkte zeer aanstekelijk, want ze waren zeer goed en scherp, en ze lieten zien dat je gewoon met een paar oude muziekinstrumenten een fantastisch feestje kon bouwen. Na die tijd vond je dan ook overal in Amerika stringbands - bandjes die met een fiddle, een bas, een gitaar en soms een mandoline of een banjo gewoon lekker muziek gingen maken. De resultaten variëren sterk. Er zitten bandjes tussen die het tussen de schuifdeuren vast uitstekend doen, maar waar je echt geen cd van in huis hoeft te halen, en er zitten af en toe juweeltjes tussen. De Hotpoint Stringband is zo'n juweeltje.

Als ik de foto van de groep in een cd-winkel was tegengekomen zou ik de cd waarschijnlijk nooit gekocht hebben. We zien een gezellige moeke in een bloemetjesjurk, een wat tuttige vrouw in een keurig mantelpakje en drie schaapachtig lachende heren. Ze zien er niet bepaald uit als een band die opwindende of spannende muziek kan maken, maar schijn bedriegt. Het eerste nummer van de cd Hotpoint Special is al meteen raak. Het is een medley van allerlei nummers, waarbij zelfs Paint it Black van de Rolling Stones langskomt, en het is niet gemakkelijk om de muziek te omschrijven. Het is duidelijk een stringband die naar bluegrass neigt, maar het doet ook sterk aan klezmer denken, terwijl de percussie in beide stijlen meestal afwezig is, maar hier juist zeer nadrukkelijk aanwezig. Daar komt bij dat het een opgewekt nummer is waar je meteen vrolijk van wordt terwijl het wel in mineur gespeeld wordt. Bijzondere muziek dus.

In het cd-boekje wordt bij elk nummer een voorbeeldige toelichting gegeven, en bij nummer vier omschrijven ze zichzelf heel treffend als "Steve Reich meets the Horseflies". Voor wie ze niet kent: Steve Reich is de belangrijkste exponent van minimal music (modern klassiek dus) terwijl de Horseflies een soort elektrische folk speelden. Het is een prachtig, gedreven nummer dat voor mij best wat langer door had mogen gaan dan de bijna zes minuten die het nu duurt.
Een avontuurlijke band dus, die niet bang is om verschillende stijlen te combineren, en om eens wat te proberen. Daar komt bij dat er prima gezongen wordt tussen de vele instrumentals door, en dat de muziek eigenlijk altijd als dansmuziek bedoeld is. Verrassende muziek, spannende muziek, maar tgelijkertijd knusmuziek in optima forma.

Dat laatste geldt ook voor de solo-cd van de zangeres van de band, Hilarie Burhans. Ze speelt bovendien fantastisch clawhammer banjo, en dat mag ze op deze cd ook graag laten horen. Haar Hotpointvrienden doen af en toe ook mee, maar het is vooral Hilarie die hier de show steelt. Een heerlijke, ongecompliceerde cd van iemand die gewoon vol overgave heerlijk muziek zit te maken met een paar vrienden. Feel-good-music noemen de Amerikanen het - ik hou het op knusmuziek.

Overigens zijn deze cd's gewoon door de muzikanten in eigen beheer uitgebracht op het label Make 'em go wooo...

Beide cd 's zijn te bestellen op de website van de Hotpoint Stringband.

This is an interesting group. According to information found at their website, "Hotpoint is first and foremost a dance band, characterized by their own brand of sizzling hot contradance tunes, high-energy squares, and string swing." They call themselves an eclectic band, and I'd have to agree. The mix of music is the very definition of the word eclectic!

Mark Burhans (fiddle, backing vocals) and Hilarie Burhans (banjo, vocals) are the driving central force of this dynamic group, and they have been playing together for roughly 30 years. Joinging them and rounding out the instrumental dynamics are Marlene Shostak (piano, backing vocals), Mark Hellenberg (doumbek, kanjira, djembe, bodhran, snare, cymbals, other percussive "toys," feet), Joe Crum (didgeridoo, bass), Nick Welland (bass), Rusty Smith (guitar, backing vocals) and Bernie Nau (oboe).

The opening track was a hit with me, as I adore the "feet" when done right, and Mark Hellenberg does a phenomenal job! This medley comprises the traditional piece "Swingin' on a Gate," followed by an original tune by Mark Burhans titled "Round II" and ending with an Al Cantrell tune "Jerry Can Dance," which pays homage to the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia. It is an energizing and decidely suitable medley to start.

We are treated to Hilarie's vocals on the traditional piece "The Cuckoo." The banjo accompanies her sultry warbling and carries the melody through its paces.

A medley of "Buffalo Gals/Barlow Knife" ends this blend of energetic eclecticity on a familiar note. Both of these tunes are traditional pieces, and according to the liner notes, they're played here on a little nylon strung S.S. Stewart American Princess banjo. They sound great to me, and Hilarie's vocals blend right in.

According to Mark and Hilarie, "this recording is a travelogue of our adventures in contra dancing -- a musical journey that's brought us the friendship of many great dancers, musicians, and callers. The journey ends where it began: on our front porch, or in the living room, sharing a meal and playing tunes with our friends." It is a delightful disc, filled with a number of classic pieces you will enjoy.

Hotpoint Stringband
The Road to Burhania
Make 'Em Go Wooo Productions (2001)

Hailing from the fertile fields and lush forests of southern Ohio, the Hotpoint Stringband is a contradance ensemble with groove and flair and an international edge. The standard contradance instruments are here — the clawhammer banjo, fiddle, piano, bass and guitar — but there are also appearances from the likes of the oboe, doumbek, didgeridoo, djembe, and kanjira. As is the case with a dance band (and Hotpoint does play dances), the need to keep the dancers supplied with rhythm is central. However, there is so much more here than just a solid beat. The material includes a mix of classics from the dance floor like "Elzic's Farewell," "Folding Down the Sheets," "Staten Island Hornpipe," "Swingin' on a Gate," even "Buffalo Gals." There are also a number of contemporary and original tunes, such as an ode to Jerry Garcia ("Jerry Can Dance") and a spooky celebration of a late-night horror movie host, "Ghoulardi's Reel."

This recording marks an evolution from Hotpoint's last, as there is an increased use of the vocal chords along with all of the other instrumental chords. There is a version of "The Cuckoo" and a swinging take on "Sandy Boys." As for the mysterious Burhania of the title, it is allegedly a mythic site of fine food and good music, as well as the homestead of the two of the members of the band. The Road to Burhania shows that Hotpoint is not afraid to take chances with arrangements and to allow an instrument to take a lead that varies somewhat from the confines of the tune. These qualities make this a CD that is suitable to be enjoyed, even during those few occasions in the day when dancing is not possible.