Prince Daddy & the Hyena in Austin

About Prince Daddy & the Hyena

Prince Daddy & the Hyena are a post-hardcore band from Fort Wayne, Indiana who've built a devoted following through relentless touring and a willingness to get messy with their sound. They emerged in the mid-2010s as part of a wave of bands digging into heavier, more abrasive territory while maintaining the emotional weight of emo and alternative rock. Their records are dense, layered things that reward repeated listening—full of unexpected turns and moments where screaming guitars suddenly pull back to let vocals breathe. The band's live reputation comes from a kind of controlled chaos, with frontman Kellen Hertz delivering vocals that range from melodic to gutural across the same song. They've never chased trends or tried to be polished, which is exactly why people keep showing up. Their fanbase tends to be deeply invested, the kind who know B-sides and remember specific setlist variations from tours past.

Their shows are physically demanding affairs where the pit gets legitimately intense but never unfriendly. Kellen rarely leaves the stage without looking completely wrung out. People sing every word.

Known for Torment, Waste, Come Together, Shape Shifter, Cosmic Joke

Prince Daddy & the Hyena + Austin

Prince Daddy & the Hyena have built a quiet presence in Austin over the years, the kind of band that shows up and delivers without much fanfare. Their May 2025 set at Mohawk was a masterclass in controlled chaos—they kicked things off with "Adult Summers (PART 2)" and immediately established the emotional whiplash that defines their work. The setlist moved between genuine vulnerability and something darker: "Klonopin" hit different in that room, as did "I Forgot to Take My Meds Today," songs that don't ask for sympathy so much as acknowledgment. By the time they reached "A Random Exercise in Impermanence (The Collector)" to close out fifteen songs, it felt like the right place to leave things—fractured, honest, slightly unresolved.

Prince Daddy & the Hyena in Austin News

• Prince Daddy & The Hyena Announce New Album Hotwire Trip Switch : Hear “Big-Box Store Heart” Stereogum · Mar 3, 2026
• Prince Daddy & the Hyena announce new album 'Hotwire Trip Switch,' share new song BrooklynVegan · Mar 3, 2026
• Arm’s Length Announces Sophomore LP, Drops “Funny Face” idobi · Feb 12, 2025
• Tours: Joyce Manor/Citizen/Prince Daddy & The Hyena/Phony (US & CAN) Punknews · May 19, 2022
• Hot Mulligan, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Sincere Engineer & Super American announce fall tour BrooklynVegan · May 12, 2021

Live Music in Austin

Austin's indie rock landscape has always had room for bands that prioritize emotional honesty over polish, and Prince Daddy & the Hyena fit that tradition. They exist in the same space as other Austin acts who treat anxiety and depression not as punchlines but as material worthy of serious attention. The city's venues—places like Mohawk—have long been sanctuaries for artists working through darker subject matter without irony, which is exactly where this band thrives.

Austin road trip to see Prince Daddy & the Hyena?

Stay in East Austin, where you'll find better restaurants and a neighborhood that actually feels alive. Dinner at Suerte—confident, creative food in a space that doesn't try too hard. During the day, wander the galleries and vintage shops along East 6th, or head to Zilker Park to sit with a coffee and watch Austin be itself. If you've got time, catch live music at Mohawk or Hotel Vegas—smaller rooms where you can see how Austin's songwriting community actually operates. The city's best asset isn't any single thing; it's the density of good people doing interesting work.