Review: Ex Hex, Thekla

The last time Ex Hex’s Mary Timony played Thekla was with the acclaimed, if short-lived, coolest band on earth at the time, Wild Flag. Where former member Carrie Brownstein (some of you may have heard of her) has returned to music via her old band Sleater Kinney, Timony is doing something new.

Self-described ‘power trio’ Ex Hex’s set at the Thekla epitomised the very best pop and rock of the past thirty or more years. Hook laden and riff heavy, the band rocked out unapologetically in semi-retro style from the opening chord of the first song. Think early Go-Gos, The Runaways, in their more alt.rock moments the Breeders when they hit a good groove, and the Ramones for their buzz riffs and the relentless driving power of their best three minute songs.

Throwing shapes like Bowie and Ronson circa Ziggy Stardust the on-stage interplay between guitarist/singer Timony and bass maven/singer Betsy Wright was a joy to behold. This was a band who threw cool to the wind and seemed to love what they were doing and have fun doing it, which instantly made them cooler than 99% of the bands currently beloved by musos and hipsters.

What set Ex Hex apart from most bands that wear their influences and passions on their, in this case, glittery almost sleeves, and who are easily dismissed as unoriginal was the astonishingly high standard of musicianship.

Drummer Laura Harris never missed a beat throughout the gig: her metronomic, efficient-but-creative drumming held the songs together even when Timoney and Wright appeared to improvise at will. The improvisation took the form of guitar and bass solos – yes, bass solos – which surprised some of the appreciative crowd.

Usually soloing can be viewed as self-indulgent posing and showing off by musicians who want their audience to see they are musicians. This was not the case at this gig, possibly because Timony and Wright are outstanding musicians. Wright’s bass soloing was tuneful and melodic and if you want to see a bassist shred and hammer on melodically this is the band to see. Timony’s guitar work was note perfect, precise and, importantly, she knew when to stop and bring the audience back to the song.

The majority of Ex Hex’s set was taken from the 2014 album Rips, stand out tracks being  Hot and Cold, Waterfall and Everywhere. They even threw in a cover of All Kindsa Girls by pre-punk Boston band The Real Kids and exhorted the crowd to go and check out their back catalogue. The band’s interactions with the crowd were engaging and entertaining, they genuinely appeared delighted to be playing to an appreciative audience – and on a boat too – and their enthusiasm for their music was infectious throughout.

Mary Timony has said that the music she is writing and playing with Ex Hex is what she really wants to do and following this performance long may she continue to do it.