Piss, a Kiss cover band. Credit: Illustration by Theresa Crout

You wanted the wurst, you got the wurst. There’s only one, original hot dog eating contest in Tampa Bay, and for the last 16 years it’s happened in Ybor City.

In 2023, Tampa music venue Crowbar along with promoters have asked members of the Bay area’s heaviest hitters—Chris Denny from Mindwash, James Pendleton from Rutterkin and Bad Bad Things, Marc Cody from Prince Midnight and rock scene utility knife Kyle Wenzel—to put on the proverbial makeup to play the songs of costumed, glam-metal icon Kiss under a new moniker: Piss.

The band is part of an eclectic lineup featuring some of the best and wildest indie-pop (Mak), punk (Big Sad, featuring Creative Loafing Tampa Bay photographer Dave Decker), rap (Fre$h P) and pop (official Hot Dog Party anthem songwriter Jeremy Gloff). DJ Wally Rios mans the ones and twos for the best party of the holiday weekend and will soundtrack the greatest Fourth of July weiner-eating contest in town.

Early arrival is suggested, and cover is $15, for Hot Dog Party 17 at Crowbar in Ybor City on Monday, July 3.