Natural Man & The Flamin' Hot Band - "Natural Man & The Flamin' Hot Band" Stream

Ian Teeple of Natural Man & The Flamin' Hot Band

Rarely does a band come along that so perfectly distills the feelings of a massive population into one cassette tape. The debut release from Natural Man & The Flamin' Hot Band aggregates the nervous energies and anxieties that fill the brain of any American with a grasp on reality and sets them to frenzied, danceable rock songs. Some would call it punk, others would call it new wave, and bassist Dakota Shipp has called it fourth-wave ska; whatever it is, it's some of the best new music coming out of Kansas City this year.

Melodies can often get jumbled when a lineup of six -- now seven -- musicians are trying to work together, it has happened to the band live once or twice, but in recording the band can stop on a dime and perfectly execute its vision. That vision is one clouded with stressors (hypochondria, social ineptitude, and a nightmarish political landscape to name a few), but nevertheless, co-lead vocalists Ian Teeple and Stephanie Eckermann march their band through them with dry wit, pure creativity, and saxophone solos courtesy of Leslie Butsch.

Stream/download the release below and buy a copy at a show.