Brooklyn band Hunters played a killer show last night at Death By Audio, the very D.I.Y. venue in Williamsburg. Lead singer Isabel Almeida, a pink haired punk rocker who is at times seductive and at other times full of rock angst, put on a hell of a show, at one point leaving the stage and throwing herself on the floor in the midst of the audience. Guitarist Derek Watson also ended up on the floor, on his back kicking his legs up in the air, all while keeping perfect time on his guitar. Considering the cover art for their album Hands On Fire, one wonders if they make a point to hit the deck at every gig. “You’re bleeding,” Watson told Almeida between songs. Almeida put a finger to her lip and brought it back for inspection. “I think I am,” she replied coolly.
Hunters have an excellent single in “Deadbeat”, a guttural guitar riff with tag-team vocal duties shared by Watson and Almeida, the latter of whom yelps “I want it/I need it!” on the bridge, a true rock and roll expression of desire if there ever was one.
Also on the bill were Desert Sharks, an all-female outfit who mix Toby Vail-like vocals (Vail-esque?) with garage rock riffs and surf-rock inspired drums.