Hotel War compares themself to a ‘back-alley beating.’ Listening to the high level of ass-kick in “45,” it’s doubtful that they have ever been on the receiving end of any sort of aggression, alley or otherwise. They arrive at their sound by wrapping gritty distortion around blues and some Black Keys, and rolling it around cigarette butts, like grungy, leather-clad Martha Stewarts. It’s good stuff, and I can only hope that the promise of “great things” on their website include a full-length follow up to their recent EP “Rebels our Time.” They play the 5 Spot this Wednesday, 11/20 with Natural Outlaw, The Sandwich, and Bern Kelly. –Terra James-Jura
