When the Hot Freaks headlined the playbill at Gabe’s in downtown Iowa City on a Monday night last month, my wife and I were there.
We cheered them on amid a roomful of screaming fans, virtually all of whom were more than a half-century younger than us and infinitely more hip. Plus, they could sing along with nearly every Hot Freaks song in the band’s repertoire, word for word.
So, why on Earth were we there, you might ask?
Gabe’s is a well-worn, historic music venue firmly entrenched in the Iowa City college bar circuit. The place books up to 200 punk, indie and hip-hop bands each year, catering more to students than us Boomers.
The thing is, we have a personal connection to the Hot Freaks, an indie pop band with a unique sound, a truly fascinating backstory, and literally millions of hits on TikTok and other social media sites.
Let me explain.
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