Hunky Dori is a local teen band consisting of four people who play a mixture of grunge and punk music. On lead guitar and as lead vocalist, there is freshman Cash Stevenson, on backup guitar, there is sophomore Addyson Magnus, and there are Stevenson’s two younger brothers: Roscin Stevenson on bass and Vaughn Stevenson on drums.
Hunky Dori has played two shows so far, one of them being at Ruth Musser Middle School at their 8th grade dance. Now, Hunky Dori has two upcoming shows. They are playing Saturday, June 14, at Dr. Strange Records in Alta Loma and at Packing Brewing Co. in Riverside on Saturday, July 12. Both shows are all ages and free.
Hunky Dori started out with Roscin as the drummer and Vaughn as the guitarist, and then Roscin picked up bass in the band and Vaughn switched to drums. Cash then came in for vocals and guitar. Roscin and Vaughn were a band before Cash even started playing guitar.
Magnus ended up joining the band after being recruited by Cash. She went over and played with them a few times at the beginning of the year for fun, and then Cash asked her one day if she would be interested in being in the band.
With the creation of the current band, the members had some experience going into it. Magnus, who joined as the backup guitarist, had some playing experience. Magnus played on stage a few months earlier with Everclear, an alternative rock group.
After being asked what their goals were for the future of their band, Cash said, “To get mildly successful, seal some records, play a lot of shows, and just have fun with it.”
The band now has practices where they prepare for future shows. Something that the band does to warm up is that they play “jam songs.” Typically, Cash will start with a riff on guitar, and then they all will figure out a part based on what Cash is playing. Then once they are comfortable with the movement, they will all take a solo, usually from oldest to youngest.
“You know, it is really great most of the time, but it is also a lot of fighting and compromise, but in the end, we all still love each other and have the musical bond. It’s really a special thing,” Magnus said.
With practice, the band has bonded and has gone through conflict, still ready to play.
“We all have a very sibling relationship when it comes to band. We argue, we make up. At the end of the day though, we all would fight for each other, and I think it’s very special to have a bond like that, in a band or not,” Magnus said.
Magnus said that she believes that the band’s goal for their early future would be to just get their music out there, whether people like it or not, because it’s what they are feeling and putting it out there makes them feel good.
