For a band with only four gigs under their belt, Hero have drawn more than a few fans to The Troubadour tonight. Even a handful of notables - namely Soufly guitarist Logan Mader and Life Of Agony's Whitfield Crane - are in attendance. Much of this interest is due to Hero's singer, erstwhile Human Waste Project frontwoman Aimee Echo. Swaggering out onto the stage with cigarette in hand and a tight corset over her blouse. Echo begins to sway as if entranced by the seductive bass playing of Jamie Miller (confusingly, Snot's ex-drummer). "We're Hero," she announces pleasantly to no one in particular. "We're new. Welcome to the dance."
Well put. The central difference in Hero's music from that of Echo's previous outfit lies in the group's ability to convince listeners to move peacefully to their rhythms, as opposed to violent moshing. While drummer Scott Ellis - another HWP hold-over - plays with the same fervour as he did in his previous band, Mike Smith's guitar and Miller's bass playing are more reminiscent of Killing Joke and ever - whisper it - The Smiths. Much like fellow Los Angelenos Orgy, Hero play a hybrid of hard rock and synth-pop. It's new wave for now people.
"If you guys want to come back and see us again, it's cool!" says Echo, with a shy smile. One young admirer yells back, "We always will!"
A worthy effort from these would-be heroes.
