Hunting Agnes performance on July 6th, 2013 at the Madison Theater

CINCINNATI - Aug. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- July 6th, 2013, at the Madison Theater in Covington, Kentucky
Hunting Agnes performed at the Sans Axiom CD Release party.

I’m a stickler for music and live performances.  I like to stand in the center of a music hall where the stereo effect of the sound system meets my ears for maximum audibility.  I’m not much for dancing.  I let the sound of the venue assault my head.  Immersing my ears and mind in the music, I go into a trance. 

There were many perks to attending the Hunting Agnes show at the Madison Theater.  The sound system was one of them.  Although the venue has a light board, it wasn’t needed much for Hunting Agnes.  They make their own colors on stage.

New to town and curious about the Cincinnati area music scene, I stumbled upon the Hunting Agnes show haphazardly.  Turns out, not only was I introduced to a great music venue, I happened upon a great band.  Hunting Agnes’ performance spoke for itself, setting them apart from other bands that performed that night.  

Hunting Agnes has an interesting sound that seems to recapture something lost to contemporary radio-viable music.  They have a style unique to themselves.  They share it boldly and without shame. 

My eyes fixed on center stage when singer Ben Wade played guitars and violin while singing his heart out.  Hunting Agnes is most definitely a rock band but what they do is more deep than that.  A variety of well blended music elements makes their sound wholesome.  Whether Hunting Agnes was playing an old tune or a new tune, a basic rock song or a stringy ballad, I felt complete and whole.  Hunting Agnes was thoroughly entertaining.

Imagine four guys that look like they had just played at a campfire or drum circle.  They plug in and play a variety of electric instruments.  Bryan Booth used a harmonica and traded his guitar with a mandolin, humbly strumming chords intrinsic, accenting the music in fascinating directions.  Bryan strummed the mandolin during a tune about space that had me ready to climb into a rocket and go.

Glenn Booth rocked the bass and together with Nick Meehan on drums, they made Hunting Agnes a homogenized thing.  Glenn was probably the most comfortable looking bass player I have ever seen and I don’t think he has any sweat glands.  Nick’s energy and solid presence on the drums could be felt throughout, further completing and translating Hunting Agnes’ sound.

I had a chance to meet Hunting Agnes before and after the show.  What impressed me the most about Hunting Agnes’ performance was their ability to keep their sound solid and simple, not losing themselves to complexity.  Hunting Agnes is a songwriting / performance machine.  Their music might have qualities of something you’ve heard before but you’d be hard pressed to make a comparison.  Hunting Agnes’ sound is timeless and sub-genre-less.  They surprised me with simplicity and took me on an adventure with their soulful rock.  Hunting Agnes’ rhythms and melodies remind me of folk music.  It is their electronic tonalities and unique approach that makes them a solid contemporary rock band.  Hunting Agnes brings something that is missing from the radio.  If they don’t ever get radio play I’d be willing to say rock is dead. 

All this from a heavy metal guitarist’s first impression of the rock band.  One thing that repeats in my mind is when Ben Wade would sing and move around on stage it reminded me of Phil Collins but I think in a dance off, Ben Wade would win!

I look forward to catching Hunting Agnes on November 23rd at The Southgate House Revival.  I recommend that you go to the show and pick up a copy of their album, AGNES and LENNY.

Contact:
Gavin D McCall
gavin@foreversend.com