Back in 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, singer-songwriter Xeff Scolari launched a virtual open mic called Shelter N Play, which allowed musicians from all over the United States to perform 15-minute sets online. That invaluable resource to independent artists also led to Scolari meeting bassist Spencer Kennedy and guitarist Ryan Wilson. Today, the trio comprises three-fifths of the Northern California-based rock band Red Hot Shame.
The group’s fourth album, You Can’t Make Me, boasts cool cover art by Jeff Jordan (The Mars Volta) and defies easy categorization. But dirty, post-grunge tracks like “Miserable” and “Stone” call to mind Alice in Chains, while “What’s Mine” could be a Cheap Trick knockoff.
Scolari’s average, raspy vocals sound better when backed by percussionist Steven Pitsenbarger -- as on the thudding power-popper “Unscripted” and the urgent "Give In." But Wilson is a monster on tracks like the slow-burning “Better Alone” (complete with harmonica!), the bluesy "I'm Ready for You To Go" and the fun horror rocker “Vampire Empire.”
Overall, though, there are not enough memorable moments here to make me return to You Can’t Make Me on a regular basis. And that’s a red hot shame.
Track Listing:
1. Sophie
2. Miserable
3. Unscripted
4. What’s Mine
5. Stone
6. Vampire Empire
7. Better Alone
8. Give In
9. Both
10. Methodical
11. I’m Ready For You To Go
12. You Can’t Make Me
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