If the Hamm Sammies are fueled by cheap beer and quality whiskey, I think I might have to cultivate some new tastes. Their brand of swampy, yet Minnesota, county music is an absolute treat. You can find out for yourself at the album release for Poor Company at Eagles 34 on August 15.
Please tell us about the band. And maybe a few words about each member.
The Hamm Sammies is a band that gives the utmost respect to being a band and not a singular finger pointer. We enjoy each other’s company in life and music. We play country, R&B, rock, soul, just a drop of hip hop bass, and continue to try our best to be diverse with our personal grooves and experiences in mind. We share song duties, we communicate during the writing process, we let each other fly, and sometimes we eat crow. We like to say we play country music in between the cracks.
We also know when not to play. For example, our lead guitarist Clayton was brought in to play on the acoustic-driven song ‘Poor Company,’ either to add a lead or repeating riff. After running through it a few times, we felt the song was just fine without it – less was more in that case. The picking pattern by acoustic player Halley Pelfrey was much clearer than if Clayton had played over it.
That’s not to say we always take a minimalist ethos. In our song ‘Revolver,’ for example, we dial up the chaos and plow through tempo and dynamic changes that can make someone’s head spin. It’s about the yin and the yang, right?
On your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) you have listed the songs on your new album (Poor Company) as Side A and Side B; I don’t see that every day. I love the transition from Burden to Never Livin’ (A to B) in theme and sound (weirdly upbeat for bitter resolve to slowed down and regretful). How much do you think about the order or songs on the recording?
We all really loved and cherished this album being put onto vinyl. Question marks do come up when finding as close as you can to a perfect song order. There were a few different iterations in the beginning, but it all came into place quite naturally in the end, and we are very happy how each side has its ups and its downs to really take the listener on a journey.
The order of the songs is easier I think on an LP compared to an album. In a sense you’re creating two short moods, or vibes, or stories instead of one long flow of songs.
The path the album takes is reflective of us as people and a band too – as is the way we recorded it. Ups and downs, stops and starts, progress and utter devolution; all while in the warm, raw, vulnerable space of being together and playing live. We’re at our best when we’re together, pushing and pulling on our songs, and we wanted folks to hear and feel that as much as they could. This album was labor, and hopefully folks feel that work, pain, joy as they listen.
- The band is newish, but it seems like you’ve been through a lot since forming in 2023. What role does music (playing, writing and listening) have framing the experience? And what role does the camaraderie of the band have?
This band is new, though we’ve played together and been friends for decades. Our rhythm section first came together in 2000/2001, our guitarists have played together since 2014, and our horn has played with most members since 2019. That time to live, grow, fight, and change together really tells the story of how we work as a band: we all bring what we can, and we all work to support each other.
Even though the band is relatively new, our formula has not changed. The Hamm Sammies are a band of brothers that celebrates each other’s accomplishments and actively helps each other if there is a bump in the road. And we all live by the motto, Cheap beer, and great whiskey.
- Please tell me about the inspiration for Poor Company. There’s a comfort in the slow strumming and a comfort to the certainty of having company, even if it’s poor.
Poor Company was written by Shaun and his wife Winnie. It was an old riff that he had in the closet waiting for the right moment. It’s a testament to never being enough for people, when they expect so much. We named our album after this song not only because it kind of sets itself apart from the rest of the tracks, but is also exactly what this album is trying to say.
- Please tell us about the release party.
Our release show is around the corner: Friday, Aug. 15 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles #34 Club in South Minneapolis. We’re excited because we see it as an event more than just a show: upbeat MC Jon Eric, is serving as host throughout the night; a belly dancing troupe, Sehraya Raqs Bellydance, will be performing; doom country band Tomboyy is kicking things off; Stellar Body Art providing body painting all evening, and we’ll have some other special guests, too. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. and the cover is $15.
Plus, we just released an in-studio video of our latest single, Hey Sugar, to give everyone a sense of what we sound like playing together. Hope to see you at the party!
Mostly Minnesota 