Sunday, March 27 saw the final gig in the month-long residency of Johnny Hunter at the Old Bar in Melbourne. After I had been playing their music on Trash Disco for a year or three, I finally got to see them in person.
The Old Bar is a small but vibrant venue, with posters everywhere of bands who have played there in the past with some amazing artwork. It’s dark, but not too dark to see everyone gathering to see the bands playing tonight. It’s an eclectic crowd, not unexpected in a Fitzroy bar.
The support band, The Ugly Kings, play their set loud and hard. After they finish, there was a short break and the lads from Johnny Hunter take to the stage.
For who has heard Johnny Hunter’s music but not seen them, you should know that as soon as they take to the stage there is something different about them. They have a look. It is the unmistakable look of Johnny Hunter. The guitarist, bassist and drummer sport lots of eyeliner, a dash of lippy, white tops and black bottoms. Then there’s Nick Hutt, lead singer. Dressed to thrill, equally resplendent in eyeliner and lipstick. With the first song he takes command of the audience, his deep voice booming, but not screaming like so many other indie bands.
They play each song note and beat perfect, as they power through their set including songs such as Pain And Joy, Life, Cry Like A Man, Hollow Man and The Floor. Musically they are different to a lot of other local bands I listen to – they have a slightly hard edge but not typically “indie”. Hutt himself channels his influences from the 80s – flashes of Ian Curtis, inklings of Michael Hutchence (or perhaps Jim Morrison, who Hutchence emulated anyway) and a vocal style like no other contemporary.
When they say they’re finishing their set, the crowd wants more. Hutt teasingly tells them “Do something about it!” and they roar for more. And more they provide, with an earlier track from their career, “1995”.
It was a stomper of a show, and unlike most bands in local venues I’ve seen, I get the feeling I’ve just seen something special. Johnny Hunter has the edge over many other bands – a combination of raw musical talent, powerful songs, a look that makes them stand out from the crowd. I have said on my show Trash Disco many times, these guys will go far – they’ll be really big.
And after many EPs and single releases over the last four years, we can soon look forward to an album release from the guys – title to be announced by the band themselves in due course. I’m hoping it comes bundled with another tour so they can come to Melbourne again. If it does, I’ll see you there.
Trash Disco 
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