Hunx & His Punx – Lover’s Lane
All week long on my drives around LA, especially down to Long Beach to teach, I’ve been listening to this record from this Oakland based rock’n’roll outfit. Hunx was originally a member of Gravy Train, a dirty minded queer-electro group in the Bay, but he’s got a very different sound performing with his “Punx,” a kind of slightly post-modern mix of 1950s girl-group teen pop and gritty NYC style early punk rock (it’s fitting given the latter than Ivan Julian, one of the guitarists for Richard Hell, produced this record). Added to the sugar-coated yet gritty style of the songs is Hunx’s vocals, which are generally playful and often endearingly sweet. His “Punx” on this record are his all-girl backing band (sometimes referred to as the “punkettes,” though “Punx” just has a better ring to it) who are exceedingly game on their own, so much so I wouldn’t be surprised if they someday soon strike out as a stand alone band. All these things are in evidence on the lead track from the record “Lover’s Lane.” I’ve listened to this track probably 30 times this week and I’m still floored by the way the backing vocals tumble out in waves during the chorus. It seems rare to have multiple singers sing in harmony, yet retain distinctive voices, perhaps it’s a slight studio trick, but it’s something I haven’t heard too much before. The way all those voices come together and separate, particularly in the last third of the song, just kills me everytime. I can almost guarantee that this song will be one of my faves at the end of the year.