Review: Hunny Buzz at The Louisiana
Posted on: 07 Jun 2023Alpaca Presents are a fast-rising local-focused gig promoters, who’ve really impressed us with the breadth and quality of gigs they’ve been putting together – and last night at The Louisiana was no different.
The Louisiana is always a treat to visit, and that’s not an unpopular opinion – it’s not a challenging place to pack out. Despite that, it’s unusual to have as strong a crowd right off the bat for the first support – but that’s exactly what Laura Jazmyn and her backing band managed to whip up with their infectious, driving energy and her soaring vocals.
Following up Jazmyn were pop-rockers Last One Home, who deliver fashionably-00s styled rock – their musical stylings and lyrics were a bit earnest at times for my tastes, but their skill and energy was undeniable, and I appreciated the way they shifted through decades and genres, tinging their core style with elements of pop punk and electronic rock.
Then came the headline – local indie-pop outfit Hunny Buzz. From the get-go, Hunny Buzz were bringing irrepressible, cheeky energy and a polished yet joyfully reckless performance style. They crashed through hit after hit, expertly intertwining trendy, laid-back indie pop with a thrashing, fuzzy grunge that the audience couldn’t help but move to.
Speaking of the audience, Hunny Buzz have (unsurprisingly) already claimed a fervent following despite their size, with audience members calling out the band members by name – and getting plenty of down-to-earth, brash interaction in response – and demanding and singing along to bona-fide hits like ‘Girlfriend in the Band’ & ‘Short Black Skirt’.
The band finished with a refreshingly unplanned encore – forming an actual huddle to decide on their next song in response to chants of “one more song” – that unfortunately dissolved a bit as the band realised they had forgotten how to properly play the song they chose. Despite that, they took it all with good humour, turning a potential awkward moment into further fuel for the intimate, fun-loving atmosphere.
Determined not to end on a bum note, however, the band finished off with a repeat of ‘Girlfriend in the Band’, much to the crowd’s delight – including mine.
This was a night of great beginnings – Alpaca Presents are clearly on the up-and-up, with gigs coming fast and hard each month, and a recent takeover at Crofter’s hinting at bigger and bigger plans in the future. Similarly, Hunny Buzz feel on the precipice of a real explosion out of nowhere into some seriously big leagues. Get on board with both before you get left behind.
You can follow Alpaca Presents here, and keep an eye on what’s going on with Last One Home here, and Hunny Buzz here.
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