For the past year, crowds across the Lone Star State have been swooning over The Hi-Tone’s explosive retro-inspired, pop-infused garage rock that has been compared to the likes of The Black Keys, The Kinks, and Syd Barrett’s early version of the Pink Floyd. Walk into their live show and it’s clear by the end of the first song that The Hi-Tones have what many other bands lack: An outstanding front-man who commands the attention of the audience. Debonair and soul-shattering lead vocalist Johnny Flores, slender with jet black curls, does not only have a impressive set of pipes, it seems he has borrowed some fancy footwork from Mr. James Brown himself. Sensual and sweat drenched he spins, jumps, slides and shakes with relentless passionate energy. Bassist and key songwriter Gary Delgado, tall and dreamy floats on his own introspective plane of existence thumping out punchy rhythms that pop like the exploding flash-bulbs of the 1930’s. Rounding out the lineup is percision master Kurt Lammers and guitarist Kevin "Cool Man" Culwell. The band, fresh out of the studio with Grammy nominated producer Frenchie Smith (Jet, Meat Puppets, Trail of Dead) will be promoting their debut release, a self-titled EP.
(Ed.: this post taken from The Hi-Tone’s post on our DIY Open Blog, check out other Open Blog posts in the Deli Kitchen. The Hi-Tones just departed our fair city for touring but shall have their homecoming May 26th at the Mohawk.)