Show Review: Hunx and His Punx @ Emos (4/12)
Having been listening to Too Young To Be In Love for several weeks now, I can say with exact certainty that I was really anticipating this show. It had that throwback appeal, with hints of grit, which is exactly why I couldn’t wait to get to Emos on Tuesday.
Our night began with the powerfully young trip Fungi Girls, a group us Texans can proudly call our own. In a quick minute they banged out some furious noise, rocking the crowd with some solid punk rock appeal. It was a bit more ferocious than the following bands, which was nice considering they’re only a three piece, not even old enough to buy their own cigarettes. Unfortunately, singer Jacob Bruce’s vocals were a touch inaudible, but it built a nice bit of energy for those waiting in attendance.
Up next the crowd was treated to an ecstatic set from Shannon and the Clams. While they might not have been the headliner, you wouldn’t have known it. Shannon’s gruff vocals added an extra touch to the group’s spin on garage R&B, while the rest of the group had us all tapping our feet, jumping up and down with the sweet grooves. There’s a certain aesthetic innocence that goes along with Shannon’s clams, and it’s easy to get excited about music that just allows you to enjoy it for music’s sake, whilst having a bit of fun. It’s not every day you get to do that, so the band’s set was definitely needed. And honestly, think they stole the show.
Hunx and His Punx were like an appetite cleanser after watching Shannon and her group get the rambunctious crowd into a frenzy. For some reason, Hunx seemed a bit off in his performance. They played loads of tracks from the amazing Too Young To Be In Love, which had me singing along throughout their set, such as “Lover’s Lane,” “Keep Away From Johnny,” and “Thats the Cust of Being Young.” Having these tracks in your repertoire definitely makes for a solid experience for your fans, but something seemed a bit lacking.
Personally, I had an idea that Hunx would be this outrageous blast of energy, as he’s sort of known for stage antics. But, when he took to the stage in his vinyl frock and hose, you could tell that he wasn’t at his best. Perhaps having lots of friends in attendance (Harlem, Strange Boys, G. Cosloy, Sally Crewe) might have led to a little too much alcohol comsumption. Don’t get me wrong, I had a blast, especially when he played “You Don’t Like Rock n Roll,” but it all just felt a bit off. Instead of kicking out the jams, Hunx came off a bit like Johnny Depp’s Crybaby, fun to watch, but limited on substance. Alas, such is the case with live vs. recorded music. One thing lasted as I walked out…no matter the show, Hunx and His Punx has a great catalog, and winning songs will always be winning songs.
