#albert hammond jr.ahj.

[themodernbeat-blog]

Albert Hammond Jr./Drowners @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (6/13/2014)

Concerts have a habit of building themselves up all on hype. Arctic Monkeys are a band that told us not to believe the hype, but fast forward almost ten years later, they are easily one of the best live acts out there.

Albert Hammond Jr. finds himself in a sea of hype as well, especially as The Strokes are making a fairly large comeback, as well as a new EP out in stores. On top of that, Drowners are receiving a tremendous amount of hype right now for their debut album, which is a mix of The Strokes and The Smiths. How do two acts prove to a crowd that the hype is worth it? Hammond Jr. and Drowners stormed the theatre with energy, proving there is a reason for the hype.

Kicking the night off, Drowners played through their entire debut album with such ease. Seeming to enjoy every moment out there, they resonated with the audience. As a fan, I knew I would enjoy it, but plenty of people in the crowd told me they didn’t know who they were. Those people seemed to be walking out with either their vinyl or CD. What gives Drowners such a unique taste is Matt Hitt (yes, the model). His quick and catchy songs are a formula for success. If you haven’t had the chance to see them, it’s a must-see. It’s English (or Welsh) music, growing up in New York City.

After they quickly got off stage (although their bassist Erik Lee Snyder seemed eager to talk to fans), there was a bit of a waiting period as stage hands prepared for Albert Hammond Jr. As someone who isn’t too familiar with his entire catalog, I wasn’t expecting myself to get a huge kick out of his set as I did Drowners. Slowly but surely, his famous white Strat came on stage with the chips and marks from thirteen years of touring with The Strokes. It was time to see someone who has made history.

He and his band came on stage with such a genuine happiness and gratefulness that it could cheer the saddest of men up. AHJ, who has a fairly large catalog of music to play, rocked through his set. The last time I have seen this much energy was when Arctic Monkeys played MSG. There wasn’t an inch of space on that stage the band missed. He held on to the audience, even with lesser-known songs. It seemed that the night was just an entire moment of energy and fun. Alas, the night had to end, as he closed with “It’s Hard to Live in the City” off his debut album. It felt like a classic the way everyone in the crowd belted the lyrics back at the singer/guitarist.

To be fair, for me, the day didn’t start at the concert. I had been outside for five hours before doors opened, with the goal of getting a good spot and meeting Matt Hitt from Drowners. Mission accomplished. Although I didn’t speak to him too much, it was great for him to take the time out to say a few words to me. Along with that, I met Fabrizio from The Strokes, who just seemed so happy to be supporting Albert. Then, on top of that, I met Albert Hammond Jr. and helped him carry his amplifier in. AHJ was super happy to be there and was nothing but a great guy. It’s always such a pleasure when a talented musician is also a great person. So, while the concert may not have been for everyone, it was something worth seeing. The start to my day only made it better. It didn’t even matter there were flash-flood warnings everywhere.

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