Page 46 - Black Velvet Issue 101

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THE HUNNA / BARNS COURTNEY / RETRO VIDEO CLUB – BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 08.04.19
Originally scheduled for Autumn 2018, The Hunna postponed their tour following a split with their record label and management. The wait was
most definitely worth it though, as they show now more than ever that they are serious about their craft, and nothing and no one will stop them.
Support comes in the form of Retro Video Club from Edinburgh and Barns Courtney. Barns Courtney in particular makes a great impression with
outstanding songs and stage presence. He has almost an old-worldly vocal style, with vibes of western tales of yonder. ‘Golden Dandelions’ has a
monstrously catchy beat that gets almost the whole room bouncing up and down. ‘Kicks’ and ‘Fire’ stomp and strut, showing a folkish flamboyance to
the frontman. He’ll be headlining these rooms soon, mark our words.
When The Hunna enter onto the stage, they don’t kick into the opening number like most bands do, but instead vocalist/guitarist Ryan Potter ex-
plains how they’ve had to take some time out due to some ‘bad people who were trying to fuck us over, and you guys’. Because of that, ‘We Could Be’
makes the perfect opening number – the song includes the lyrics ‘God knows we’re survivors’ – and that The Hunna most definitely are.
Tonight, they don’t just survive, they thrive – and so does the crowd through them. With a setlist full of hypnotizing tunes, you won’t fail to be in
awe of the four-piece. Their songs are not just solid indie/alternative rock tunes, but they have emotion sweeping through, honesty and passion. Plus,
their impressive musical
talent and song struc-
tures magnify it all. You
can feel a mixture of
angst and pain in the
acoustic ‘Brother’,
there’s a big cheer for
the sumptuous ‘Babe,
Can I Call?’ while ‘Rock
My Way’ even brings
about a random swing-
ing umbrella in the mosh
pit. Ryan comments that
it’s the first time he’s ever
seen an umbrella in the
pit. ‘Dare’ is an in-yer-
face gem, while ‘Flickin’
Your Hair’ is a gorgeous
song that really sparkles,
especially with Daniel
Dorney’s atmospheric
guitar work. “I love that
song, but every time I
feel like I’m going to pass
out after it,” comments
Ryan at the end of the
song, taking a drink to
get his breath back. It’s
not long after when the
show is stopped due to
an incident in the crowd
with an audience mem-
ber requiring medical at-
tention. Ryan and the
band stop and make
sure the audience mem-
ber is taken care of and
everyone is ok before
continuing – which
shows what a caring
group of guys they are.
They play a couple
of new songs – ‘I Get
High To Forget’, which
lights up the room before
‘She’s Casual’ and ‘Bon-
fire’, and ‘DGAF’, which
shows the more raucous
side of the band. Ryan
heads into the crowd not
once, not twice, but three
times, for a small bit of
crowd surfing. A mass
sing-along ends the
show with ‘Never
Enough’. And ‘Never
Enough’ is exactly how
we feel after the show,
wanting to see the band
again and again and
again.
YYYYY
Shari Black Velvet

Ryan Potter (The Hunna) Photo
By Shari Black Velvet

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