Not many bands can say they've blazed a trail from Alberta to Mainland China, but last year Hot Little Rocket introduced its spiky alt-pop to Communist concertgoers with four shows in Beijing. Meanwhile, here at home, the Calgary band has been one of the country's best-kept secrets since the release of its 2000 EP Laika. In fact, despite two critically acclaimed full-length albums, Hot Little Rocket is still playing clubs the size of Pat's Pub (where it appears on Saturday [August 19]) here in town. But with a new Steve Albini–recorded disc ready to launch early next year, the group probably won't be at a Hastings Street beverage room next time.