For those of you who are into the Punk scene (I realize that this is a huge generalization, just stick with me here), you most likely have realized the excess of subgenres in the punk scene. From folk punk to steam punk (just kidding, steam punk isn’t a music genre, but I bet I had you confused), there are so many punk subgenres that it can be very overwhelming for anyone that doesn’t love clutter in the 8oz brain of theirs.
These subgenres all somehow connect to each other, however. Some bands are sort of folk punk and sort of hardcore. Some bands seem to tour with only metal punk bands but sound nothing like metal punk. A great example of a band that fits perfectly into a subgenre of punk that they are not is Joyce Manor. It can simply be explained by Queen Analeis of folk punk band Hop Along being on the cover of their latest album Never Hungover Again. They fit perfectly within a genre they don’t sound like. This sort of crossover brings me to Ex Hex and Speedy Ortiz.
I’ll start with Speedy Ortiz a sort of sludgy emo punk band that is often compared to the Crutchfield sister’s bands P.S. Eliot and Swearin’. Speedy Ortiz is not as folky as anything the Crutchfield sisters create, but still has a strong connection to the folk punk sound due to this odd association. Being on tour with Ex Hex is a very interesting move for Speedy Ortiz as Ex Hex is a very high energy sort of light punk sounding band. Speedy Ortiz despite their sort of depressing sound, was a wonderful opener/coheadliner for Ex Hex. The show that Speedy Ortiz threw felt more upbeat than their recorded sound. This upbeat sound came single handedly from the louder and more utilized bassist, who was a wonderful stage presence as well as the reason I believe Speedy Ortiz to be a better live band than a studio band. The bass was full, danceable and powerful. This bass work did not end as Ex Hex came on.
Someone who listens to Ex Hex may totally underestimate the power of the bass work in the band. The band is a 3 piece and is carried by the bassist who can lay the beat in songs such as “You Fell Apart” but can also play rhythm guitar-like parts in songs like “Don’t Want to Lose.” The bassist and the guitarist act as dual front women in concert and have a super fun and hair metal vibe to them. Though most mentions and comparisons to hair metal should be taken as insults I mean this to be a compliment as the vibe of hair metal is respectable and super fun. This vibe made the concert great to dance and watch as the band had a blast on the small Barboza stage that seemed perfectly sized for the 3 piece. I already regret stating that the bassist carries the band, because the guitarist/singer Mary is a blessing to the punk world and has a presence that is very rare. It sort of made me want to dance but also mosh and tear my shirt into a square shape to patch on my leather jacket.
Ex Hex is very quickly up and coming. With singer guitarist Mary from the bands Wild Flag and Helium, mixed with bandmates that keep up with her energy and definitely meet her talent, Ex Hex will soon be huge. Myself along with some of KXSU members went to a national College Broadcasting conference this past week and with exception of alt-J, Ex Hex was the band that I heard most about from college radio executives from around the country. Myself and Shannon Phelps are wonderfully excited to have seen this show at Barboza before Ex Hex is too big for such places.
Marcus Shriver / A Shoelace / KXSU Promotions/Live Event Director