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Bad Bad Hats
Bad Bad Hats performing at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ, May 2019.
Bad Bad Hats performing at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ, May 2019.
Background information
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
GenresIndependent music, pop-punk, folk rock, folk
Years active2012-present
LabelsAfternoon Records, Don Giovanni Records
Websitewww.badbadhats.com Edit this at Wikidata

Bad Bad Hats is an indie pop band formed in 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is comprised of Kerry Alexander (born July 1990), Chris Hoge, and Connor Davison.[1][2] The band is named after a trouble-making character in Madeline.[3]

The band has toured with notable artists including Margaret Glaspy, Hippo Campus, Third Eye Blind, The Front Bottoms, and Michelle Branch.[1]

History

Kerry Alexander, who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama but moved to Florida when she was 15,[4] and Chris Hoge met while they were students at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota after finding each other's music on Myspace. Alexander had been performing "scrappy folk originals" and acoustic covers of "All The Small Things" by Blink-182 at solo-acoustic shows on campus.[5] They initially joined to perform a duet. Once Alexander heard Hoge playing drums, she wanted to start a band, which they did in 2010.[5] Fellow student Noah Boswell joined them on bass in 2012 at which time they formed Bad Bad Hats. The trio then started performing around Minneapolis–Saint Paul.[5]

In the early days, the band alternated between acoustic and revved-up, garage-leaning rock.[5] The band began by releasing lo-fi music demos via Bandcamp. These included kazoo solos, revised Shania Twain verses, and the indie-pop track Super America.[5] In 2013 they released their debut EP, It Hurts.[5] Bad Bad Hats first LP, Psychic Reader, was released in 2015 on Afternoon Records.[6][7] Psychic Reader received positive reviews and resulted in more high-profile opening gigs such as for Third Eye Blind and Margaret Glaspy.[5]

In 2018, Bad Bad Hats released their second full-length album titled Lightning Round on Afternoon Records.[5][2] It and Psychic Reader were both produced by Brett Bullion, who helped develop the music's loose, organic feel.[1] Shortly thereafter, Boswell left the band to attend graduate school.[8]

In 2019, the band performed at South by Southwest.[1]

In September 2021, Bad Bad Hats released their third LP, Walkman on Don Giovanni Records.[9]

Reception

The band's music has been described as indie, pop-punk, folk, classic pop, influences by "90s rock simplicity and pop-punk frivolity."

Alexander’s lyrics have been described as relatable, sincere, subtle, honest, unpredictable, and powerful.[1]

Bad Bad Hats describe their style has been described as "indie rock," but have been described in Rolling Stone as likely to "break into Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me" at any moment" and going well with a latte at Starbucks.[5] Their songs are described as expertly produced, with hooks and intriguing turns. Their sound is very pleasing, but some critics have called for more message, urgency, and purpose.[5]

Critics in Pitchfork said that Psychic Reader had the same "unconventional structure and sticky melody" as found in Super America, but that the band's music had become richer, more varied, and more multidimensional.[10]

Critics in Rolling Stone said that Lightning Round reflects the same blend of indie-pop, folk, and rock, but is even more refined and polished than Psychic Reader and has a "mid-tempo groove," and a richly-produced synth-pop sound reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk.[5]

Band Members

  • Kerry Alexander
    Kerry Alexander
  • Chris Hoge
    Chris Hoge
  • Connor Davison
    Connor Davison

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label
2015 Psychic Reader Afternoon Records
2018 Lightning Round Afternoon Records
2021 Walkman Don Giovanni Records

EPs

Year Title Label
2012 Grow Up Self Released
2013 It Hurts Afternoon Records
2019 Wide Right Self Released

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bad Bad Hats". South by Southwest.
  2. ^ a b Colburn, Randall (May 23, 2018). "Bad Bad Hats announce sophomore album, Lightning Round, share "Write It On Your Heart": Stream". Consequence of Sound.
  3. ^ Hughes, Peter (August 31, 2022). "Live At The Linda: "Alt Rock Labor Day Celebration"". WAMC.
  4. ^ "Bad Bad Hats". Macalester College.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bernstein, Jonathan (August 1, 2018). "Bad Bad Hats' Upside-Down Pop Hits". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ Weatherby, Lea (July 9, 2015). "Exclusive Album Stream: 'Psychic Reader,' Bad Bad Hats". Interview.
  7. ^ Courneen, Trevor (July 14, 2015). "Bad Bad Hats: Psychic Reader Review". Paste.
  8. ^ Gorinshteyn, Ksenia (October 10, 2019). "Bad Bad Hats has no genre, and they want to keep it that way". Minnesota Daily.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Matt (September 14, 2021). "Bad Bad Hats Deliver Magnetic Pop Hooks on Walkman". Paste.
  10. ^ Duncan, Tess (July 20, 2015). "Bad Bad Hats Psychic Reader". Pitchfork.
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