Live Music: Hair Metal Giants

Hair Metal Giants are an Austin tribute act devoted to the glam-and-pop-metal era. Hair Metal Giants is an 80s tribute band from Austin, TX devoted to that amazing era of rock from the late ’70s to the early ’90s most people call ‘hair metal’ — big melodies, big harmonies, big anthems, and big hair. The band traces its start to 2013 when founder Paul formed a variety classic-rock band called Emerson Giants, which later refocused on the hair metal era and rebranded.

The group puts heavy emphasis on authenticity and showmanship. Meticulously researching and recreating the looks, stage presence and sounds of the bands of this era is their highest priority, paired with the wild costumes — animal prints, spandex, leather — that defined the scene. They’ve become one of Central Texas’s most popular cover acts, leaning on the upbeat rockers and power ballads of the decade.