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The Hunts at Monmouth University

The Hunts performed at Pollak Theatre Friday night, October 26th, and it was like they had the whole campus whistling.

Compromised of five brothers and two sisters, The Hunts are a band from Chesapeake, Virginia who have been touring together for 10 years.

An indie-alternative-folk band having opened for O.A.R. and appeared at Austin City Limits, Red Rocks, Firefly, and Summerfest, The Hunts put on a spectacular show to a packed crowd, made up of attendees daring enough to come out on a stormy October night for an act well worth the admission.

Josh Hunt played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocals along with his sister Jenni on violin.

Their sister Jessi, who would have sang and played viola and banjo, couldn’t make this final show of the band’s current tour.

“We’ll go ahead and dedicate this one to her. Just because we look at her instrument and miss her” Josh reflected before the six siblings gracefully began “Peace Be Still,” an original by The Hunts.

The Hunts are also a one of a kind and fun band to sit and watch while listening to the night’s set, which was organized this particular night by Justin Hunt, the bassist and sixth of the seven siblings.

Jon Hunt, singing from behind the keys, ducked down behind his keyboard at one point, and some of the band thought he might have disappeared.

“I turned around and didn’t see our keyboard player and I kind of freaked out and thought ‘we lost another one’” Josh admitted startled.

Jenni stepped up to sing instead with her violin on her shoulder. “I’m just the stunt double” Jenni joked.

Jordan, Justin, and Jamison Hunt also displayed a disciplined and cooperate unspoken dynamic. With Jordan behind the drums, Justin blasting off from behind his Ibanez bass, and Jamison making the music with his orange mandolin, The Hunts illustrate on stage how family can be best friends, and how best friends can be a band.

Furthermore, The Hunts exemplified that there is no one way to be a band.

Besides the music, the band put on a wonderful show of visuals, especially by the way the silhouettes of their shadows casted onto the back walls of the theatre during their original song “Illuminate.”

Their stage presence was synchronized from the moment they roamed out into the blue hawk Halloween limelight, and even past their generous half-hour of hanging out with the fans and faculty who made the journey to Pollak theatre to listen.

“We’ve been in this area before, actually,” Josh said, “[when we opened] for O.A.R. at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park.”

“Yeah, and I think we drove through Ocean Township on our way here” Justin added during the fun and informal Q & A after the show.

     Because it was a windy night, The Hunts made sure to leave the Jersey shore for home before the real storm started.

     This show at Pollak Theatre on Friday night was a wonderful way to end their current leg of this tour. The Hunts will be performing again next at Top Hat Theater in Ulen, Minnesota on Nov. 3.