If
the Hussy sound 33.3 percent bigger, louder, and noisier on 2019's
Looming than they did on their previous albums, there's a good reason for that. After years as a guitar/drums duo, Bobby Hussy and Heather Hussy have expanded their combo into a trio with the addition of Tyler Fassnacht (aka Baby Tyler), who pitches in on guitar, bass, and backing vocals. The personnel expansion does give this group a more muscular and better-detailed attack, but stylistically,
Looming reveals
the Hussy haven't changed all that much. Then as now, this band is dedicated to punky crash and bash with a garage-style flair for tunes that are equally catchy and snotty, a trash rock love of random bits of atonal texture, and a goofball attitude that prevents them from taking much of anything too seriously, even at their most sincere. Even by the standards of garage punk, Bobby Hussy isn't afraid of an eloquently ugly guitar tone, and the periodic interjections from a variety of cheap synthesizers prove keyboards don't have to be a bad idea in punk rock. Heather Hussy's drumming is great, holding down a solid beat with the right amount of frills to keep things interesting without getting in the way, and her vocals show that you can sound awkward and arrogant at the same time, and even make something out of it. If Tyler's role seems less clearly defined, he makes
the Hussy sound stronger and more full bodied without making them feel slick or cutting back on their engaging chaos. And "Hung Up (Circle)" and "No Credit" show they've learned how to connect without going for laughs.
The Hussy aren't reinventing the wheel, but on
Looming they are stepping up their own game, and they've delivered a high-octane session of punk rock fun as proof. Hopefully the new lineup will prove successful enough to make up for having to split the gig fee three ways from now on. ~ Mark Deming