HOT SHOT We'll Be Right Back EP Review
Back in 2021, most of the remaining members of Dirty Looks reunited with powerhouse vocalist Jason McMaster and guitarist David Beeson (also of Broken Teeth) for a blistering performance of the band’s highly acclaimed album, “Cool from the Wire”, plus a few bonus cuts at Selinsgrove Speedway. The show was captured and released as “Cool from the Speedway”, it’s a CD/DVD package that absolutely SLAYS! If you don’t own it yet, fix that today. It’s pure Rock n’ Roll fury and a must-have for fans of the band’s legacy. That live recording felt like the spark of something more... and now, the flame’s been lit.
Enter HOT SHOT.
Just days ago, it was revealed that Jason McMaster, Paul Lidel, Jack Pyers, David Beeson, and Dave McClain had formed a new outfit called Hot Shot and they’re kicking things off with a two-track EP titled “We’ll Be Right Back”, dropping May 24th on all major streaming platforms. For anyone familiar with “Cool from the Speedway”, this lineup is essentially the same crew, minus Gene Barnett. While I can’t speak about Gene’s absence, I can say McClain’s involvement is a monster win. With chops honed in Sacred Reich and Machine Head, he brings serious firepower to the rhythm section. As a drummer myself, hearing him cut loose in this setting is an absolute thrill.
Let me be clear this isn’t Dirty Looks. But it echoes that classic energy. With Lidel and Pyers in the fold, that signature grit and swagger naturally seeps into the mix. They could’ve easily slapped the old name on it, but that’s not how these guys operate. They’ve never coasted on nostalgia; they earn it every time. That work ethic and the refusal to rest on past glories, speaks volumes. These musicians don’t chase trends, they bleed for Rock N’ Roll, and it shows.
Now let’s talk about the goods: “We’ll Be Right Back” clocks in just under eight minutes, and it’s a razor-sharp preview of what this group can deliver. The first track, “Digging for Diamonds,” is a raw, raunchy rocker packed with swagger and angst. Think AC/DC meets Dirty Looks, but with a fresh twist. It’s not mimicry, its homage, reimagined with passion and purpose. Lidel is on fire, unleashing riffs and soaring solos. Beeson holds his own too, locking in perfectly and elevating every measure. Their chemistry is undeniable. And McMaster? The man’s a beast. He doesn’t just sing, he commands. He’s dripping with that Rock N’ Roll lifer attitude, and his voice cuts through like a dagger dipped in whiskey.
But it’s “Catwalk” that steals the show for me. This track struts with sleaze, style, and a bassline that hits like a freight train. Pyers brings the low-end thunder, and McMaster’s vocals slither in with the same magnetic snarl that floored me when I first heard Dangerous Toys back in ’89. His delivery is cheeky and sincere, always distinctive and always compelling. The lyrics? Pure attitude. Lidel and Beeson’s twin guitar assault is ferocious, with a lead break that smacks hard before diving into a nasty, groove-laden breakdown. McMaster rides the rhythm like a preacher possessed, every word feels earned.
Truth be told, I didn’t realize how badly I needed this EP until it landed. Even though I’ve been sober and smoke-free for years, this record makes me feel like I’m tearing down a desert highway with a bottle of Jack in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I won’t be drinking or lighting up, but you best believe I’ll be rolling the windows down and blasting this EP in my Challenger all summer long.
“We’ll Be Right Back” isn’t just a release, it’s a promise of what’s to come and what could be. And if this is just the beginning, I’m all in. Grab this EP, crank it, tell all your friends, let’s show the world that we still believe in Rock N’ Roll!