Wall-of-sound indie rockers Hotline TNT
- Bandifesto
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
By Ida V. Eskamani
“Even if these capitalist reptile-people own the media companies and our social media, it doesn’t necessarily reflect how everyone feels. And I think there’s a way we can figure this out and live in a better world together.”
When we spoke to Will Anderson — founder, singer and guitarist of rapidly ascending alternative rock band Hotline TNT — he was in the courtyard of a Holiday Inn Express somewhere in San Francisco, recovering from a 14-hour drive from Vancouver the day before. Since the release of their latest album, Raspberry Moon, on Third Man Records, this summer, Hotline TNT have been on the road seemingly nonstop, with no signs of slowing down.
This is a band on the rise. For longtime listeners of Anderson’s work, that comes as no surprise. Proudly hailing from Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin, the artist has built a loyal following over many years, playing in local bands, booking shows, touring the country and making music. Prior to Hotline TNT, Anderson’s Vancouver-based DIY project Weed established him as an anchor in underground indie music.
Raspberry Moon is Hotline TNT’s third album, but the first Anderson wrote in collaboration with the full band. “This album is just the latest step of evolution for the band. We had everyone working on it together this time,” notes Anderson. “Still kind of the same beginning stages of me writing the demos by myself, and then we took it to the studio, and got everyone’s fingerprints on it, just kind of seeing where the songs take us. Seems like it keeps getting better and better.”
Anderson and bandmates Philip Haylen Trammel, Lucky Austin Hunter and Michael Thomas Ralston make music that is loud and layered, each track densely packed with Anderson’s signature wall-of-sound sonic style. The artist cites inspiration from acts like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Teenage Fanclub and Dinosaur Jr. When asked to describe Hotline TNT, Anderson puts it simply: “loud guitar music with catchy vocals.”
It’s a sound that, as of last month, you can’t find on Spotify. “We are leaving the Spotify streaming service,” the band shared on Instagram. “The company that bills itself as the steward of all recorded music has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that it does not align with the band’s values in any way. A cooler world is possible.”
“We’re very proud and happy about that decision,” says Anderson. “We feel strongly that music culture does not have to equal streaming, and streaming does not equal music culture. And yeah, I think we’re just trying to nudge at least our fans in a different direction as far as how they’re consuming music and art.”
Hotline TNT are part of a growing list of artists pulling their music off the streaming platform in response to Spotify’s ongoing exploitation of artists and CEO Daniel Ek’s war profiteering.
We ask Anderson how best to support bands like his challenging these rigged systems and the multinational corporations designing them.
“The biggest one is buying a concert ticket,” says Anderson. “We’ve been doing laps around the country for three years. Going to Europe next month. We went to Japan earlier this year … no real signs of us slowing down. I think the biggest thing is trying to go to see live music.”
Orlando has an opportunity to do exactly that on Monday, when Anderson and company make it across the country to the Social. They’ll be supported by Toner and new local act Deadharrie.
The last time Hotline TNT played here, Orlando left a mark on the band as only Orlando could. “We went on the Hagrid roller coaster, which is probably the best roller coaster I’ve ever been on in my life. So shout-out to Hagrid for that.” And on their upcoming show, Anderson offers another kind of thrill. “Anyone who’s reading this, well, I’ll see you in the mosh pit.”
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Ida is an Iranian-American from Florida who grew up with the Beatles, and came of age in the pit. She will talk to you about music for as long as you will pretend to listen. She is founder of Bandifesto, a little blog with a big heart
