‘The Longest War’: Scorpion vs. Tarantula drops new record, hosts show

Seventeen years and five albums in, the locally based band Scorpion vs. Tarantula is more than a well-oiled machine: it’s a force of nature. They’ll be celebrating the new release with a show.

On their new record, “The Longest War,” SVT (as the quartet is affectionately known) delivers its best work yet, capturing the power of their intense live show with eleven skull-piercing, blood-curdling tracks of magical mayhem. If you’ve never seen or heard them, imagine what would have happened if The Stooges and Janis Joplin had a supremely self-assured baby. 

In reality, they are so much more, though. When Scorpion vs. Tarantula plays a show, they take complete control of the stage, and within the first thirty seconds of song number one, singer L. Hotshot typically has the audience in the palm of her hand, as well. You simply can’t take your eyes off of her. 

This is not to say that guitarist Jay Bennett, bassist Terrance Neira and drummer Michael “Cappy” Renfroe are wallflowers who fade into the background. Nothing could be further from the truth. For years now, Renfroe has been one of Phoenix’s best drummers, providing the driving beat that allows Bennett and Neira to lock in and lay down one of the most powerful guitar/bass combos in town. 

All four members of Scorpion vs. Tarantula shine brightly on “The Longest War.” Clearly, working with talented knob twirler Byron Filson at Villain Recording for the first time paid dividends on the recording. When we sat down to talk about the record on a chilly Friday night, three-quarters of the band were more than complimentary. 

“I love him, and it turned out great. After a while, we really bonded, and I was saying to Jay, ‘No one knows who he is,'” says Hotshot. 

While this is not a story about Filson, listen to “The Longest War” and see what you think of Filson’s mixing, production, and mastering. 

For a singer like Hotshot, the recording process is often not the greatest experience. 

“I like the live performance. I’m not a fan of the recording process,” says Hotshot. 

“I like (the recording process),” says Bennett with a laugh. 

Amazingly, the band didn’t do much in terms of pre-production for the new record, instead going into Villain at the suggestion of a friend, and rocking out over several one or two-day sessions at the Northeast Phoenix studio. The end product is tight, packs a punch, and hits in all the right places. There were some learning curves, though, between band and engineer.

“I don’t hold back,” says Hotshot, before continuing: “So when we started doing the first tracks, and I let out a scream on the scratch vocal tracks, Byron (Filson) sort of turned around in his chair and went, ‘Whoa-ho-ho-ho,’”

According to Neira, Filson said Hotshot was “terrifying.” 

That was definitely not the first time that someone was intimidated by the “L. Hotshot” approach to attacking the vocals in a song. Having been fortunate enough to see the band for the past 17 years playing in various venues around town, one of the most fun things to watch now is how the crowd reacts to her as she prowls around the stage. First-time Scorpion vs. Tarantula fans are easy to spot; they’re the ones with their mouths wide open. 

It’s important to the band to put on a great show. 

“I feel like I owe that to anyone who is there to see us,” says Hotshot.  

For Neira, who was a longtime fan of the band before joining, it was a natural transition from being in the crowd to being on the stage after taking over for original bassist Tana Youmans in 2019. 

“It was super easy for me, actually. Being a bass player, I’m not one who feels like I have to get up there and own the stage. I always wanted to be in the band, though, but I’m not the type of guy to say, ‘if your bass player ever quits,’ but Jay (Bennett) and I had the Michigan connection (as both hail from up there),” says Neira.

In addition to laying down some killer bass lines across the entirety of “The Longest War,” Neira also lays down some blistering guitar on the A-side track, “I Can Handle the Blood.” That song is a true ripper and is guaranteed to get the blood pumping, but it is just one of several absolutely great songs on the record. 

According to the band, the title of the record refers to writer and activist Rebecca Solnit’s essay, “The Longest War,” which uses the concept “to frame the ongoing struggle for women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and freedom from male violence and sexism as a fundamental, enduring war, not just isolated incidents.”

Lyrically, the album’s songs tackle a variety of topics in a powerful, fully rock ‘n’ roll kind of way. There are no victims in Scorpion vs. Tarantula’s songs on “The Longest War,” but there are certainly protagonists looking for healing, respect, and a voice of their own.

When Hotshot sings the third verse of “I Can Handle the Blood,” there is no mistaking the power behind her voice.

“Pain without a cause
Is a pain that you can’t back
You keep givin’ it to me, baby
I’m gonna give it back.”

Scorpion vs. Tarantula is definitely a band that walks the walk and talks the talk. While Hotshot does invariably own any stage she’s on, powerfully prowling around as the band rages behind her, there is always an underlying atmosphere of inclusivity.

That’s the best thing about Scorpion vs. Tarantula — they throw one helluva rock and roll party, and everyone with a good attitude is invited to come and have fun. 

Join the fun at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, at Chopper John’s as the band celebrates the release of “The Longest War” with support from three relatively new local bands, Timber Giant, The Oblidiots (ex-members of Labor Party and Monkeycat) and Beaver Creek.