Hot Leg had released the song "Heroes" as a free download, but the track did not appear on their album. However, appearing on their official MySpace profile was Hot Leg's debut single, titled "Trojan Guitar", which was released digitally as a free download on 20 October 2008. It has been described as a 'medieval epic', lasting more than give minutes. A medley of other songs due to appear on 'Red Light Fever' was posted on the band's MySpace page, titled "Mega Mix 1". "Automatic" and "Cupboard Love" (additional tracks from the EP release 'I've Met Jesus') were also posted. After the release of their studio work, even more tracks appeared online.
Hot Leg conducted their first full tour of the United Kingdom in October 2008. During this tour, notably the band's Edinburgh date, Hawkins mentioned the band had a Christmas single entitled "I've Met Jesus", an unlikely contender for the UK Christmas number-one. Via their myspace blog on 21 December 2008, the Leg announced that "I've Met Jesus" had indeed hit the Christmas number one slot on what the band called the 'Man-Rock' charts.
In November, Hot Leg toured the UK in support of alternative rock band Alter Bridge but pulled out of three dates giving Hawkin's throat infection as the reason. However, there was controversy at the Glasgow and London stages of the tour, when Hot Leg were booed by some Alter Bridge fans. Hot Leg also toured in November with Extreme. Hawkins and Rinaldi guested with Extreme on the final date in London, singing a medley of Queen songs.
As well, Hot Leg made a guest appearance on a Sky One programme called 'Guinness World Records Smashed', aired on 27 November 2008. During the show, they smashed the world record for the highest number of people playing air guitar all at the same time. In late February 2009, their song "Take Take Take" became available for download from their website, which lead to fan speculation about new albums as the song had not been previously released in any form.
In late 2010, it was announced that Hot Leg were on hiatus, along with Stone Gods, which lead to rumours of a possible The Darkness reunion. Such talk ended up being confirmed confirmed on March 15 by an announcement on a new The Darkness website, and the then dormant hard rock band went back to touring, much to the delight of numerous hard rock fans. Because of this, the future of Hot Leg is unclear. The Darkness has gone on over the past several years, yet Hot Leg as an entity appears to be on hiatus rather than totally finished.
http://www.teamhotleg.com/
AUTOMATIC
Hot Leg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm utterly at your whim
All of my defenses down
Your camera looks through me
With its X-ray vision
And all systems run aground
All I can manage to push from my lips
Is a stream of absurdities
Wind up locked in the circuitry
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down down down
Automatic
Automatic
What is this madness
That makes my motor run
And my legs too weak to stand
I go from sadness
To exhilaration
Like a robot at your command
My hands perspire and shake like a leaf
Up and down goes my temperature
I summon doctors to get some relief
But they tell me there is no cure
They tell me
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down down down
Automatic
Automatic
The song "Automatic" by Hot Leg revolves around the theme of being completely powerless in front of love. The lyrics illustrate a situation where the singer is so deeply infatuated with someone that all their defenses have fallen apart, leaving them vulnerable to anything the other person wants to do to them. The camera with the X-ray vision is a metaphor to describe how their love interest can see through them as if they're transparent. They're so smitten that they can't control what they say, and every word that comes out of their mouth is absurd.
The word "automatic" seems to describe the way they feel around their love interest. They're completely under their command, like a robot programmed to follow every direction. Even doctors can't help to relieve the symptoms of their love sickness. This song is a perfect example of how love can be so intense that it can render a person powerless.
Line by Line Meaning
Look what you're doing to me
You're having a huge impact on me
I'm utterly at your whim
I have no control when it comes to you
All of my defenses down
I'm completely vulnerable and exposed
Your camera looks through me
You see me for who I really am
With its X-ray vision
You can see right through any facade I put up
And all systems run aground
I'm unable to function, you've brought me to a halt
All I can mange to push from my lips
I'm only able to say nonsensical things
Is a stream of absurdities
I can't express myself coherently around you
Every word I intended to speak
I can't get out the words I want to say
Wind up locked in the circuitry
My thoughts and feelings get stuck, unable to be communicated
No way to control it
I have no power over my own feelings
It's totally automatic
My reactions to you are instinctual and beyond my control
Whenever you're around
Just being near you has this effect on me
I'm walking blindfolded
I can't see or think clearly around you
Completely automatic
My reactions to you are involuntary
All of my systems are down
I'm completely shut down when it comes to you
Down down down
I'm spiraling, unable to pick myself up
Automatic
My feelings towards you are out of my control
What is this madness
I can't explain what's happening to me
That makes my motor run
You make me feel alive and energized
And my legs too weak to stand
You weaken my willpower and make me feel powerless
I go from sadness
Before you came into my life, I was sad
To exhilaration
But when I'm around you, I feel alive and invigorated
Like a robot at your command
I'm under your spell and will do anything you want
My hands perspire and shake like a leaf
You make me nervous and anxious
Up and down goes my temperature
You affect me physically, giving me highs and lows
I summon doctors to get some relief
I try to find help for my uncontrollable feelings towards you
But they tell me there is no cure
But no one can help me overcome my feelings for you
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jorganti
This brings back memories. Great cover, great band. Wish they were still around.
E32b
Jorganti We still have the Darkness. I only wish Hot Leg songs were available to stream.
Gres Maqauski III
I really wish hot leg had a second album. I bet they had a few unreleased demos for another album. Also why didn't they get Darby the drummer for hot leg to play for darkness?!! He is sooooooo fucking amazing. But Rufus is awesome as well either way. Darby is a fucking badass on them drums though. Love his style and heart also soul that he puts within his tunes. So amazingly lucky I am and unbelievably happy that the darkness is still around. Not many bands like em left in this industry some folks call music. May they live on ages.amen
Simon R
@Gres Maqauski III Justin played all the instruments (including drums) on the record. Darby only played live as did the rest of the band.
S L
@Gres Maqauski III I also wondered why Darby was not chosen, but Rufus works on a couple levels.
Zick ThingS
is this a cover? which band performed it originally?
Charles Willis
Justin was absolutely on fire during this period. I've liked all the mkII Darkness stuff, but this Hot Leg album was so fucking good.