The First Unitarian Church basement has long been a rite of passage for anyone steeped in queer DIY culture. Low ceilings, concrete floors, BYOB, and one of those sick-ass carpets you only ever saw in kindergarten classrooms have all set the stage for generations of legendary shows (Jimmy Eat World, Bouncing Souls, Jeff Rosenstock, The Get Up Kids — just to name a few). That night was all about glitter, leather, and bare butts as Hunx and His Punx descended on Philadelphia, joined openers Tchotchke. Together, they conjured something that played out like a John Waters fever dream.
Tchotchke kicked things off with a set that balances retro-pop hooks with garage grit, truly an homage to ‘60s progressive girl-group shine. Doing a cover of The Tammy’s “Egyptian Shumba” was a peak moment for myself.. often cited as one of the earliest proto-punk songs led by an all-girl group, and one of my personal favorites (so maybe I’m biased).
This tour marked a long-awaited return for Hunx and His Punx, who hadn’t released an album or hit the road in years. Their latest record, “Walk Out On This World”, and tour feel less like a comeback and more like a loud reminder of why they’ve always mattered in the first place. For fans who’d been waiting the last 10+ years, the night carried the charge of reunion energy: part celebration, part exorcism, all catharsis.
They truly wasted no time transforming the basement into a re-united, sweaty, leather dance hall. The setlist was an absolute joyride.. from new songs about being “Alone In Hollywood On Acid”, to some of our favorite classic anthems.
A big part of the band’s power comes from Shannon Shaw (front queen of Shannon And The Clams), whose basslines (and one of my personal favorite bassists of all time) anchor the chaos and whose vocals cut through with a such soul that contrasts Seth’s fire. Her presence on and off stage balances the spectacle, grounding the mayhem with something steady and undeniable.
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