The Black Rose Los Angeles, CA
Web: hvnted.com
Contact: [email protected]
Players: Will Swanson, vocals, guitar; Chris Marshall, guitar; Seamus Neal, drums; Jack Cotter, bass, vocals
Material: Hvnted is a punk-infused hard rocking band that borders thrash rock, all the while suffusing metal with very likeable chord progressions and melodic guitar leads. Hints of Bad Religion, Hüsker Dü, Sex Pistols and Circle Jerks ooze out of Swanson’s pores as he works to instill Hvnted’s auditory theme of debauchery and mayhem into the audiophiles on the floor.
Musicianship: The musicianship is excellent. Neal is a perfect timekeeper. Cotter, Swanson and Marshall all take advantage of it as each one does his own thing—together. The harmonies are also very good. Cotter and Neal take time to catch their breath and sing into the mic, when they aren’t jumping around, and it adds another dimension to the already likable tunes.
Performance: This show was very good. Looking like Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, but sounding like Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Swanson let loose, dancing and headbanging, only to be outdone by Cotter, who seemed to be the Energizer Bunny on steroids. Cotter coaxed and provoked the crowd for the full hour set, stopping only to wipe the sweat off his brow. Marshall was avid. He set his fretboard afire while posing shamelessly for cameras everywhere as the blistering solos mesmerized you and were incredible to watch.
Summary: Songs like “Killing Me,” “The Fool,” and “Flush” were all in-your-face hard rock & roll. The showstopper, though, was the ballad “I Miss You.” A mellow rock tune dedicated to the family dog that had the audience “aww-ing” and “ooooh-ing” at how much a pet can mean to someone. Very touching. If you like hard rock & roll and good rhythms topped with soaring solos and in-your-face vocals, you’ll love Hvnted. – Pierce Brochetti
