HOUSTON – Following the pandemic and a series of setbacks, JunkBunny, an Austin-based band with Houston roots is ready to reclaim its place in the music scene.
Founded by Mac Johnson at just nine years old, the band has come a long way from starting in Montgomery, Texas. Johnson alongside his bandmates Seth Reissig and Isaac Moore joined Houston Life co-hosts Derrick Shore and Tessa Barrera in Studio B. Johnson shared his journey from starting a band with little knowledge of playing guitar to eventually scoring a record deal at 16 and sharing the stage with rock icons.
“We lost the deal, and the members dropped, but I just love making music. It’s fun. We kept chugging away at it.”
However, the road to success has been anything but smooth. When COVID-19 hit, JunkBunny saw the loss of their record deal and band members, a devastating blow that could have meant the end for many bands. Johnson has other plans. He was always the driving force writing all the songs, lead singing, and lead guitar but he decided to take 100% legal ownership of the band and found new bandmates in bassist Seth Reissig and drummer Isaac Moore. Reissig, has known Johnson since middle school, and Moore joined after a chance encounter at a show. Together, they’ve been working to push the band forward, eventually resulting in the release of their debut full-length album, Starting Over.
Released in April of last year, Starting Over has already garnered over 200,000 streams on Spotify. Not too back for an independent release. Despite admitting to not promoting the album, the band has garnered a loyal fan base with its hard rock and early 2000s vibes. JunkBunny treated Studio B to a live performance of “Make Me Smile.” The most listened to song of their album with over 85,000 streams. Their most streamed song “Sedona” has received over four million streams as it is featured in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Soundtrack.
The band credits their producer, Roy McCraney, for helping bring their vision to life, recording and mixing the album at the Rat’s Nest Studio in Houston. JunkBunny is coming back to Houston with an upcoming show this Saturday at The End, where they will perform alongside other bands. Doors open at 8 p.m.
We know Houston’s music scene is big and worth the hype so make sure to check out Starting Over on Spotify and catch the band live as they continue their journey.