Video Premiere: Bad Hoo - "Hot Dr. Pibbs"

Today, we’re pleased to be premiering the latest music video from Victoria’s Bad Hoo. The song in question is the absolutely maniacal “Hot Dr. Pibbs”, from the band’s 2024 LP “A Run-In With Worms”. The video is another collaboration with Toronto based visual artist Colin Burns, who also created the cover art for the album; Burns collected old family footage from the 60s and 70s, and then painstakingly altered each frame to create the animated aesthetic of the video.

This song may have found it’s perfect audience in this writer; there’s a carefully controlled chaos about it that is deeply engaging, as if the band is on the verge of self-destructing but you can’t possibly look away. And the lyrics underpinning the whole thing? Why yes, they’re an ode to the 1950s/60s marketing ploy by Dr. Pepper to get folks to drink hot Dr. Pepper around Christmastime. Except in this case, we’re talking about the B-tier DP competitor, Dr. Pibb. It’s such a specific reference (including a very fun Harry Nilsson quote late in the song), but ultimately, it becomes a platform for the band to write fantastic sounding nonsense over-top of the high octane chaos of the music. It’s a great fit; goofy without being unserious, and somewhat severe sounding and intense without taking itself to seriously.

You can pick up a copy of Bad Hoo’s May 2024 album A Run-In With Worms on Bandcamp here, and check out the video for “Hot Dr. Pibbs” below.

Note: Please also be advised this video contains flashing images. 

Sean Davis NewtonCanadian, Music, Cups N Cakes, Cups and Cakes, New, Canada, Indie, Premiere, Harman Burns, Sean Davis Newton, Bird Brain