The Hip Priests
Numbers Of The Priests
By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Richmond)
SugarBuzz Magazine
None other than on the same hip shake vein as other blues punk, The Hip Priests add a little special something to their kick ass repertoire while channeling subtle elements of melt-down brit punk. With not a slow song in sight, lightning fast leads with racing chords breathing down the neck of the lead guitarist, Jimmy H.P., will convert any die-hard head banger from souped-up metal hair and jean jacket to a leather one and a slicked back 50's do that is slammin'—motorcycle included.
Sinfully, the song, "Ass On Fire," has oh-my-god echoe harmonica that creates that unique garage style. The lead vocalist, Gary X-Ray, was blessed with nasal grit, that is as tangible as such infamous vocals of Alice 'N Chains and The Cult, but with the ghost of Joe Strummer. "Grease Machine" has a great unison chorus, thanks to fellow HP vocalists, Lee Love and Skintight Tim, as the chant goes, "Ain't No Shit, Just Got Hit…" Excelled riffs roll like a well-oiled piece of machinery that is revved up and burnin' rubber in a late night free-wheelin' standoff on a dark desert highway.
I simply cannot ignore their killer grazed-knee sound. "FTP" has rhythm punk in heavy strands that holds down the lead riffs from invading the rest of the song. Exercising husky muscled surges, deep melody hooks are an arresting combination that enhances the already amplified blues yet emulates that metal grit. Like a sawed-off shotgun, there are distinct elements in sound you exclusively only hear in punk.
Besides—their CD cover entices me to nostalgia with similarities seen on the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers," but with that punk rock style. So now go and get it!