It’s been seven years since Albert Hammond Jr.’s last solo album was released and since then, everything has changed for him. When Hammond’s first two solo albums were released, he was living a life of excess, swept up in the success of his band, The Strokes. Now sober and married, and following an EP that he released in 2013, Hammond has put out his third solo album, Momentary Masters, one that’s bolder than anything he’s done to date. It’s much more focused on his vocals and less effects heavy. We shared the videos for his singles “Losing Touch” and “Caught By My Shadow,” from the new album, with you recently. Hammond will be playing tonight, Sept. 30, at Exit/In along with lo-fi, indie, band Day Wave and Reno Bo, who has previously played bass for Hammond’s band. The show is 18+, begins at 9 pm (doors at 8 pm), and tickets are available for $12 here.
ALBERT HAMMOND JR.
Albert Hammond Jr.’s new album is the first he’s recorded with his touring band, which he’s put together over the last several years. Hammond said he considered recording the album to be a test for the band, and they set up shop out at Hammond’s home studio in upstate New York, where they fell into a relaxed, summer camp like atmosphere and started recording the demos for the new album, which would become Momentary Masters. The album tackles the dichotomy between the genuine self and the person we try to be in front of others. Named after a quote from Carl Sagan’s “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,” it also deals with the concept that anytime something is mastered, the joy of having done so is fleeting. Hammond’s said that, for him, the feeling of achievement is usually followed by feeling down, because the achievement doesn’t last forever. Hopefully, Hammond’s achievements with the new album don’t leave him feeling that way; we’ve enjoyed hearing the progression of his music since his earlier solo work and are excited to hear the band that recorded it with him and that he’s been touring with for several years now.
DAY WAVE
Jackson Phillips’ project Day Wave started just this year, but has already released an EP filled with lo-fil, surf influenced, gloom-pop songs. The EP, Headcase, garnered attention from a slew of notable musicians, including Mark Hoppus, which coalesced into some Sirius XM airplay for the California based Phillips.
RENO BO
If you haven’t seen any of the Reno Bo billboards that have been up around town recently, we’d be surprised. If they didn’t prompt you to go home and do a quick Google search, you’re probably still wondering what all the fuss is about and we couldn’t blame you. As it turns out, the fuss is because Reno Bo is good. He’s played bass with both Albert Hammond Jr. and The Mooney Suzuki. His sound conjures a sense of nostalgia and is catchy, pop rock that is reminiscent of some of the best music of the 1970s.
Albert Hammond Jr., Day Wave, and Reno Bo will perform Sept. 30 at Exit/In. The show is 18+, begins at 9pm (doors at 8 pm), and tickets are available for $12 here.
