Review: Hotline TNT at Eulogy
When a band hits that sweet spot of rising popularity, you can still catch them in intimate spaces — but now those spaces tend to come with high-end sound systems. After releasing their sophomore album Cartwheel in late 2023, Brooklyn shoegazers Hotline TNT started gaining serious momentum — and for good reason. It’s hard to think of a better opening one-two punch in recent memory than “Protocol” and “I Thought You’d Change,” and the record holds strong from start to finish. Bonus points for having it mixed in Asheville by Drop of Sun Studio’s own Alex Farrar.
In June, Will Anderson & Co. followed up with Raspberry Moon. Though the surprise factor was gone, anticipation had clearly built — and the band delivered. What began as essentially a solo project has evolved into a fully collaborative unit, with Lucky Hunter (guitar), Haylen Trammel (bass), and Mike Ralston (drums) all contributing in the studio. The result is Hotline TNT’s most consistent and fully realized album to date. The fuzzed-out guitar tones they’re known for remain, and Anderson’s songwriting feels sharper than ever.
Hotline TNT last played Asheville in November at Static Age Records and came through previously with Sheer Mag at Different Wrld in October 2023. Both were strong sets, though somewhat limited by the DIY nature of those venues’ sound. Their return on July 22 — armed with songs from Raspberry Moon that had just begun to lodge themselves into fans’ hearts — offered a different story. At Eulogy, the band finally had a system capable of matching their sonic intensity.
The setlist also pulled extensively from Cartwheel, and once it started, it never let up. Aside from a fleeting bit of banter, there were no real breaks between songs, which helped maintain a steady momentum. (Too many bands get tripped up with excessive chatter or long tuning breaks.) Slotting in the catchy standout “Julia’s War” relatively early into the set paid off, and when Anderson encouraged a sing-along, the energetic front-row crowd didn’t hesitate. New tunes “Break Right” and “Candle” also proved to be crowd-pleasers, while “I Thought You’d Change” remained as potent as ever. They may never be able to remove that one from setlists without revolt.
Earlier that day, news broke that the legendary Ozzy Osbourne had passed away. A part of me hoped for a Black Sabbath nod and, sure enough, the band delivered during the encore. Unexpectedly, Ralston handed off his sticks to Harry Corrigan (of opener Tarantula) and stepped to the mic, leading a fiery, cathartic rendition of the anti-war anthem “War Pigs.” The band brought the heaviness, and Ralston delivered a fierce tribute to Ozzy.
Hotline TNT continues to level up, and it’s only a matter of time before they’re playing much bigger rooms, so now is the time to catch them.
(Photos by Jonny Leather)
