Nostalgia is a powerful feeling. Fueled by vivid dreams of living up their musical idols, many an artist has become trapped in a box of their own fantasies of what music should be by artists that influenced them in the past. Ex Hex and Kuroma are two bands have no illusions about where they stand and have sounds that are heavily stemmed within the past. But, at Great Scott, they proved that they are also two bands that thrive within those old roots and translate their aspirations into something more.

10:30 is a late start time for any opening band, even one at Great Scott. But, even with a delayed start due to a comedy show before hand, Kuroma made up for it with a short and sweet set. Sweet being the operative word, as they fully showed off their roots in fluffy glam and psychedelic rock of the 70’s and 80’s. Even the band’s look and attitude on stage echoed visions of classic bands like T.Rex as they urged the crowd to get closer. Once the audience obliged, the band proceeded to entrance those with a willing ear with warm choruses and even more inviting guitar hooks. Ending with “Thee Only Child”, Kuroma wasn’t without their surprises as they busted out an energy and pace that flashed them back to the present for the outro.

Where Kuroma might have been too light for some, Ex Hex was the sharp edge that they were looking for as they took the stage. Even with a mix-up at the start which was played off with ease, the energy in the room was palpable when they hit everyone with “Don’t Wanna Lose”. The unabashedly punk/hard rock queens with matching sequined shirts immediately followed up with another single “Waterfall”. And, despite the unapologetic throwbacks to artists like Joan Jett and KISS, the audience was completely eating it up, screaming their approval. Ex Hex even effortlessly weaved in covers of Sweet and The Real Kids into their set without dropping a beat. And yet, it was more Ex Hex that everyone was clambering for by the end of it all.