From the dynamic core of Austin emerges a post-punk grunge band, Hunch, drawing in crowds with their captivating performances and new sound. Formed in April, this dynamic three-piece has been relentless in their pursuit of musical recognition, making a name for themselves amongst all those still stuck in the 90s. With one foot in the music of decades past and the other foot in today’s modernity, Hunch takes an experimental twist on the grunge sound popularized by bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Unique elements set them apart from the Seattle grunge legends while still honoring the raw emotion and noise that defined the genre. Now a familiar face in the Austin music scene, Hunch is gearing up to launch an album as the new year approaches.
“People always tell us we sound like Nirvana, but I prefer saying that we sound like boy Hole,” drummer Ben Zamarron said. “Our running joke is that we’re the boy version of Hole. So essentially Nirvana, but Barton does not want to be compared to Nirvana.”
Barton Pierre, the lead singer and guitarist, began playing guitar in high school after realizing his creative visions couldn’t come to fruition at the hands of musicians around him. After falling in love with the guitar, Pierre spent a few years looking for people to start a band with before ultimately creating a flyer he plastered all around Austin record stores. When Zamarron’s aunt and uncle saw the flyer taped to a window, they put the two musicians in contact. Zamarron, who was in Ohio then, sent over demos, and the creative spark was undeniable. Before they knew it, a plan to jam together was scheduled.
“We agreed to meet up when he came here,” Pierre said. “The first song we jammed on, I was like, ‘You got the job if you want,’ because it was the best drumming I’ve heard.”
Hunch became complete when Pierre bumped into bassist Jack Nelson at an Amyl and the Sniffers concert, extending an invitation for him to join the band. The two had previously crossed paths at Pearl Street Co-op, where Nelson filled in as drummer for Stalefish at a gig. With their lineup finalized, the band began brainstorming names, with Pierre writing multiple pages of possibilities in his notebook. Struggling to find the perfect title, they polled friends and family for outside opinions. Initially, they considered “Spitting Image,” but the word “spit” felt too similar to the name of their friends’ band, Die Spitz. Instead, they decided to use that title for one of their tracks. It was only later on, while Pierre was relaxing at home, that the name Hunch emerged.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame was sitting on the coffee table, and the word hunch looked pretty,” Pierre said. “I sent it to the group chat, and Jack was like, ‘That’s cool.’ It was a one-syllable word, and it looks like it fits our genre.”
Hunch has made a name for themselves throughout Austin, taking the stage anywhere from the Austin High Tunnels to VooDoo Doughnuts on 6th Street. Nelson, who has a background playing cello and bass in his school’s jazz band, credits those early years to his ability to incorporate ‘weirder kind of atonal guitar riffs’ into Hunch’s sound. He credits Tera Melos, a math rock band from California, for inspiring his penchant for unique effects and pedal usage. Nelson’s creative flair distinguishes them from the typical straightforward, gritty sound associated with grunge. Regarding lyrics, Pierre says his work often starts as poems before he “Frankenstein’s” them together into a cohesive song. He enjoys delving into macabre themes, frequently gravitating toward subjects that are “borderline messed up.” This blend of Nelson’s instrumentally innovative twists on grunge, paired with Pierre’s heavy lyricism, connects back to grunge’s true essence. Although Hunch has yet to release official singles, they have shared three live-cut demo tracks to their Soundcloud. As they gear up for their first full-length studio album, the band announces that they currently have six tracks recorded and primed for gradual release. Before the official album launch, they aim to add another four or five songs to the lineup.
“It takes so long because there’s a whole rollout period,” Zamarron said. “You record, and you have to work two or three months on mixes, and then everybody’s nitpicking, nitpicking, nitpicking. Then, finally, we’re okay with it, and then we have to work on the art, and that takes another month, usually agreeing on a name and all that. So I project it being sometime in the winter.”
Working with Ryan Huseman from Left Hand Audio, Hunch recorded at his backyard studio. Since Pierre is not deeply versed in “any music theory or lingo,” Huseman and he worked together to formulate his ideas into professional terminology for others to understand. During the sessions, Huseman contributed to one of the tracks, which is yet to be named, by playing the glockenspiel, though it remains uncertain if this addition will be included in the final version. Hunch credits Huseman not only for his inventive recording techniques but also for his contributions to the melodies and harmonies of their work. According to Pierre, Huseman is “about as Austin as it gets” as he tries techniques such as miking up a bass amp in his van.
“He does a lot of crazy stuff,” Zamarron said. “He has a very experimental mind with music, so he’s always trying cool stuff out. He’s always miking up his drums differently, miking amps differently. It’s very out there with how he records. He can make what we come up with, what we have, a lot more unique and interesting.”
The recorded tracks will feature various unique sounds, such as vocal harmonies, a potential glockenspiel and even a cello part. At shows, however, the three-piece performs straightforwardly while still making it a memorable performance. Pierre, who grew up sneaking into shows and seeking out mosh pits, says he often feels left out and wants to “be in the pit too.” Towards the end of some of their songs, the guitarist jumps into the crowd and joins in on the energetic mosh while still playing the lead. He encourages fans to push him around as Nelson and Zamarron let loose from the stage. As Hunch expands their fan base and grows more cohesive as a band, they invite their supporters to revel in their sound and enjoy themselves.
“The person who starts the pit, I have the most respect for because it’s a scary thing to do,” Pierre said. “Once you get it going and it domino effects, it turns into something so fun. Don’t aim to hurt people but everyone loves a good shove.”