Go Someplace

Top of the Slop

Breaking Sounds

5 SHOTS: Smith Westerns, Magic Kids and Hunx & His Punkettes VD SF

I think it must've been ladies' night this eve at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. For it was a sold-out, packed-solid night oozing with girls of all ages dying to hear the sweet sounds of the swoon-inducing line-up of Hunx and His Punkettes (featuring Hunx of Hunx and His Punx), the Smith Westerns, Magic Kids and Girls. I wasn't supposed to shoot Girls cuz of photo pass limitations but they weren't too strict about it and I probably could've gotten away with snapping a few but I woulda risked getting mauled by some very sweaty, anxious-to-be-right-up-front, hormone-laden young ladies. I didn't really wanna be in the way anymore.

Perhaps the most ironic thing is that the first heart throb wasn't out to break any girls' hearts, only boys. And I must admit I may have even blushed a bit as Hunx tussled my hat and sang a line to me during "Gimme, Gimme Back Your Love" and no, that's not some hidden sexual innuendo. He just tussled my hat, the one on my head. The one where my brain is and hair and...oh never mind... Hunx worked the camera well and Shannon of Shannon and the Clams came with her always-excellent bass and back-up vox and there was even a secret female back-up who looked suspiciously like somebunny I know.

HUNX & His PUNKETTES



Up next, and right outta high school calculus class, were the Smith Westerns, playing a set that was about 180 degrees away from the first/last time I saw them, a couple of years ago in Chicago. No doubt you've heard the T-Rexian glam-like stylings they're cranking out now. Great stuff, and the young studs had the girls in awe. I doubt it'll be long before they're headlining other sold-out shows like this.



SMITH WESTERNS



Speaking of headlining huge sold-out shows, Magic Kids will be doing the same soon, I'm sure. If I were a betting man or a stock market guru, I'd be putting the chips down on these dapper devils. With a heartthrob crooner and catchy-as-be-all Wizzard-esque glam and pop sweetness, these Memphis guys will be breaking hearts for years to come. Between Bennett's movie star style and Will's mesmerizing keyboards, this band has the right ingredients for an overnight pop sensation. Bennett was suffering from a fever but you really couldn't tell from his singing. Pure magic, kids.



MAGIC KIDS

MAGIC KIDS

Check out another amazing Canderson slideshow with more incredible snaps, right here:


2/14/10 SLIDESHOW


And if you don't have them already, grab the Magic Kids debut single from Goner Records, right HERE, get the Smith Westerns debut album from HoZac Records HERE, and snatch up the debut LP from Hunx & His Punx from Matador Records right HERE.