hotsoulpsychosA memorable band name can be a big part of carving out an audience, and names don’t get more memorable than The Hot Soul Psychos. The Kildare based band’s debut EP ‘Everfunk Junior’ proves that this tongue-in-cheek title is far more than style over substance by serving up a generous measure of funk rock that goes down real easy.

Following an introductory mournful heavy metal riff that could have been lifted from the new Black Sabbath album, opening track Keep It That Way quickly leaps into a faster pace that hardly lets up for the remainder of the EP. It is a wild trip into pure, unabashed, fun-lovin’ funk.  The opener quickly lays out the formula for a band with influences across a wide spectrum of soul, blues and funk, all grounded in the guise of catchy, energetic rock.

The rapid pace continues with the second track, the boisterous and carefree Connie. From its opening bassline to its deeply melodic sing-along chorus the whole song seems perfectly designed to be danced to. The final track of the EP, One Es Dancer move into more traditional rock ‘n’ roll territory, and what it lacks in originality it more than makes up for in vitality and pure attitude.

Given their distinctive funk-infused sound it is hard not to compare the Hot Soul Psychos to the early career of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But the comparison is definitely a favourable one. A lot of their strength lies in the confident ability of the lead singer, who, not unlike Anthony Kiedis, is capable of taking unselfconsciously mindless lyrics about partying with members of the opposite sex and delivering them with such grace and smooth style that they become something more.  If the Hot Soul Psychos have learned anything from the Chili Peppers, it’s that good fun is infectious, and that listening to a band having this much fun is hard not to enjoy.

‘Everfunk Junior’ is available for free here.