Scarlet Haze

September 8, 2013 · by scody2012 · in Hard Rock, United States. ·

Scarlet Haze is an American hard rock band based in Minneapolis, MN. The band, formed in 2004, is fronted by Kat Perkins (vocals), originally from ND, with Eric Warner (guitar), Ken Valdez (guitar), Steve McClurg (bass) and DJ Rickerd (drums). Kat describes her band as “a cross between Nickleback, Alanis Morissette and Paramore.” But, I say Scarlet Haze is best compared to Halestorm (who Perkins is a “huge fan” of) and Bon Jovi (who Scarlet Haze has opened for). Perkins is also a “huge fan” of Daughtry, and loves Evanescence and Flyleaf. But, Halestorm is the most obvious influence, and Perkins even sounds a little like Lzzy Hale. I find it hard to believe that Simon Cowell belittled Perkins when she auditioned for the second season of American Idol in 2003.

Scarlet Haze self-released Out of the Dark in 2005, and followed up with The Bootleg EP in 2007, before being signed by Dirtbag/ILG/Warner in 2010, and releasing their awesome indie debut, One Bad Bitch, in 2011. Now, if you are a diehard fan of Halestorm, you will either love One Bad Bitch for its sexually provocative hard rock, or hate it for being too derivative. I love it. The first single, “Reach Down” (featuring GNR guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal) is Perkins at her sleaziest: “You make me wanna reach down / Between my legs and do all those things that make me beg for mercy …” In “Can’t Get Enuff”, she demands: “Whisper something when you lift my dress / You know we’ll never stop ’til we make a mess.” And, in the excellent title track, she cock-teases: “Pistols packed / Take a shot of Jack / Wear my skirt so short you can see my ass.” Other favorite tracks include “Blame It On You”, “Oxygen”, “Sorry”, and the power ballads “Suffocating” and “Give Me a Reason”.