Hank Pine And Shirley Gnome: Neo Pop Pride Rocks the Crowd

August 20th, 2024 – Vancouver, BC, Canada
By Kelly Williamson

I entered the fluctuating crowd of the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot on Davie Street in Vancouver just before Pride weekend kicked off. As I meandered through the crowd of about 100 to 150 people, I was able to catch the tail end of a Bollywood drag performance with the ‘dance floor’ cleared so the performers could dance and interact with the crowd. I could feel the energy building, or maybe it was my own anticipation as I waited for Hank Pine and Shirley Gnome to take the stage.

As the performers lip-synced and danced, you could see the passion and dedication of the dancers to their culture and traditions, who wove in and out of the crowd, encouraging them to clap along throughout their 25-minute nonstop set. The music and atmosphere were infectious, and before long, I was swept up in the moment, clapping rhythmically along with the rest of the crowd.

When the act was over, the stage crew set up for the next act: Shirley Gnome (linktree) and Hank Pine (linktree). During this time, Ash Bubbles stunned the crowd with an incredible display; the sheer amount of bubbles blown was impressive for the adults in attendance and would no doubt blow the children’s minds—a true master of the art of bubble blowing if I have ever seen one.

Finally, when Hank and Shirley came to the stage, they took off in what I wrote in my notes as a pop neo-noir-inspired interlude that sent the crowd into a flurry toward the stage. It was hypnotic and catchy, and before too long, the parking lot turned into an impromptu dance floor packed with dozens of people having the time of their lives. Then the lyrically engaging pop music crept in, blending the two genres uniquely.

The first song was a banger, with Hank singing his song “Bitch, You Got a Heart of Stone,” which gave me a feeling of ’80s synthwave dance music. As an opener, this track was solid and really set the tone for what to expect moving forward in the show.

The music wasn’t the only part of the performance of note. The outfits worn by the duo were a perfect blend of neo-noir tech and avant-garde fashion, with Hank changing into not one, not two, but three different outfits throughout the performance.

Shirley Gnome, a strong contender for lyrical queen of camp in Canada, belted her voice into the microphone, singing her hit songs like “Love Yourself” and “High Waisted,” which could be considered summer hits for my personal summer.

As a finale, the music team, along with DJ SHEPPY Luv, sent everyone off with a collective chorus of “Mirror Ball (Will Crash and Kill Us All)” with an uplifting and unitive high. By the end of the performance, the crowd size had more than doubled, with about 200 to 250 people watching and dancing.

This was a great experience, and I recommend checking out their music through the links below:

Hank Pine: Instagram / Spotify

Single: Bitch, You’ve Got a Heart of Stone

Shirley Gnome: Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music

Single: High Waisted