Worth the Drive
Albert Hammond Jr. graces L.A.
07/10/2008
Albert Hammond Jr. You may know Albert Hammond Jr. as the curly-haired guy with the guitar who stands next to singer Julian Casablancas during Strokes performances. But he wants you to know that he’s more than just a supporting cast member for the conquering Brooklyn hipster quintet. He’s an artist too, dammit. That shouldn’t come as a surprise: His dad is the singer-songwriter with whom he shares a name. While Hammond has developed a punchy rhythm and lead style of guitar that is instantly identifiable, the 12 tracks on his debut record, 2007’s Yours To Keep, are definitely not merely extensions of the Strokes, but melodic, bittersweet pop rock that stand on their own, with or without his famous pedigree. And on his newest release, Como Te Llama, Hammond distances himself further from his primary band, adding elements of reggae and Afro-pop to a stew that already includes bits of the Kinks, Clash and Crazy Horse. Hammond plays what’s sure to be a packed show at Silverlake’s Spaceland on July 11.
Spaceland 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 661-4380
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT