‘Does the world need another obnoxious record?’ – Niall McGuirk on Hunx And His Punx new album Street Punk.
Seth Bogart started Hunx and His Punx in 2008 and this is their third albm. Hunx is Seth’s alter ego and the Punx are two women playing obnoxious US hardcore with an almost riot grrl feel.
The first time I had coffee I spat it out and said why would people drink this garbage. There’s so many other hot drinks out there in the world. Street Punk reminded me of that time. Initially I found it awful. I wanted so much more. Its basic U.S.-nearly-80’s hardcore feel had me very interested. But the obnoxiousness? Does the world need another obnoxious record? Listening to songs about Bad Skin, Blondes, or being a pussy is about as interesting to me as watching a soap opera on TV. However some of the music is compelling.
So I’m in a quandary here. I don’t know what to say or think. Hunx is Seth Bogart’s alter ego. Seth is making a statement, trying to be obnoxious in a world that causes him hardship as a gay man. Shannon Shaw and Erin Emslie are his punx and they want to scream, they wanna be in your face and they are sneering all through. There’s two great songs – You Think You’re Tough and I’m Coming Back are both rocking sing along songs. There’s other parts that remind me of LA punk, in a great time for LA punk – if only they wanted to sing about something different!
Maybe they’re of a different era, but the world they find obnoxious still exists and maybe thats the real shame.
