Friday night at a sold-out Mohawk proved to be nothing short of an old-fashioned punk rock show with headliners Bleach supported by opening acts Hunters and local favorites Fleshlights. The crowd came early and moshed throughout each of the sets as the bands delivered high energy sets full of brash punk and power pop.
Bleached core members and siblings Jennifer and Jessica Clavin laughed and grinned through much of the set as an enthusiastic crowd sang along to almost every song. Although the songs were powerful and rocked up live, they retained their saccharine undertones that lie within pop melodies that recall 60s pop group the Shangri-Las. After lauded SXSW appearances by the band, Austin has a particularly affinity which could only have been bolstered by Bleached’s solid set Friday.
Performing just before Bleached, Hunters delivered an equally raw and energetic set. Pink-haired frontwoman Izzy flailed, screamed, and wallowed on the floor as the rest of Hunters plowed through domineering punk rock songs. The band proved to be one of the most photogenic bands I’ve shot in recent memory, so make sure to check the gallery at the end of this post.
Fleshlights opened the bill earlier in the night, playing to an already full indoor room at the Mohawk. As hometown heroes, the band inspired as much fervor in the crowd as the later acts. Concertgoers chanted along with lyrics, moshed, and slung beer onto the stage. Rocking, punk-leaning music is on the upswing in the indie-rock world, and all three bands at Mohawk last Friday exemplified this trend well.
All photos © Bryan Parker and Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
