Mountain Times- Volume 48, Number 51: Dec. 18-24, 2019

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 ROCKIN’ THE REGION / MUSIC SCENE • 23
[MUSIC Scene, cont.]
SAT. (CONT.)
7:30 p.m. McGrath’s
Irish Pub
– Bank of Ireland
8 p.m. Pickle Barrel
Nightclub
– Good Noise
9 p.m. Jax Food and
Games
– Joey Leone Duo
9 p.m. Moguls Sports
Pub
– Super Stash Bros
QUECHEE
7 p.m. Public House
– Fiddle Witch
RUTLAND
9 p.m. Center Street
Alley
– DJ Dirty D
9:30 p.m. The Hide-A-
Way Tavern
– Christmas Party/20th Anniversary
of No Mercy
SUN.
DEC. 22
KILLINGTON
1 p.m. Pico’s Last Run
Lounge
– Duane Carleton
2 p.m. Snowshed Base
Lodge
– Pallutto and Prior
4 p.m. Killington Beer
Company
– Rick Redington and The Luv
4:30 p.m. Nite Spot
– Julia Rose
5 p.m. The Foundry
– Jazz Night with the Summit
Pond Quartet
8 p.m. Nite Spot
– Local’s Night with Duane
Carleton
9 p.m. Jax Food and
Games
– The Idiots
LONDONDERRY
4 p.m. New American
Grill
– Sammy B
LUDLOW
6 p.m. Du Jour VT
– Silas McPrior
8 p.m. Mangiamo’s
Ristorante
– Open Mic with Mando Bob and
the Bubsies
QUECHEE
4 p.m. Public House
– Soulful Sounds of Kevin
Atkinson
RUTLAND
7 p.m. The Hide-A-Way
Tavern
– Erin Powers
9:30 p.m. The Venue
– Open Mic
STOCKBRIDGE
12 p.m. Wild Fern
– Cigar Box Brunch w/ Rick
Redington
1 p.m. Wild Fern
– The People’s Jam
MON.
DEC. 23
KILLINGTON
2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge
– Duane Carleton
LUDLOW
5 p.m. Main and Mountain
Bar & Grill
– Sammy B
8 p.m. The Killarney
– Open Mic with Silas McPrior
WOODSTOCK
6:30 p.m. 506 Bistro and Bar
– Jim Yeager
Submitted
Hamjob is made up of Zack Jepson on bass and vocals, Alex Abraham on drums and Connor McGinnis on guitar.
A lot has happened with Hamjob since my first article
four years ago. They’re playing monthly this winter at the
Nite Spot in Killington on Dec. 27, Jan. 11, Feb. 22 and
March 21. Plus, there’s a bonus Moguls appearance March
14. They’re also playing this Friday at Center Street Alley in
Rutland. All shows start at 9 p.m.
This time I got to talk to Zack Jepson (bass, vocals) and
Alex Abraham (drums). Connor McGinnis (guitar) rounds
out this super trio.
Alex Abraham said you really
need to see a full show to be able
to grasp all their music. They get
asked a lot to describe it and Abraham
said, “I could give 100 different
answers to 100 different people.”
The music they play is a wide
variety. Abraham added, “There’s a
Rockin’ the
Region
By DJ Dave
Hoffenberg
Rockin the Region with Hamjob
lot of funk, a lot of reggae and a lot
of blues. Then some jazzy soul, hip
hop, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass and a
little metal and even some polka.
We try and cover every end of the
spectrum and make music that’s
not so much a genre but a feeling. If it feels good, it sounds
good and you dig it, there’s a little something for everybody
in there. There’s parts of our songs where the metalheads
will love this and then the jazz crowd, the funky people and
the jam band kind of folk will get into stuff and it’s all part of
the same song. That’s the fun part about this.”
Jepsen said, “We really feed off the crowd and the energy
of the room. If we walk in and it’s crazy, it will stay crazy. Our
genres may change and the music too but the energy of
the music is always in your face. We could be playing a slow
song but it’s going to come around and hit you with something
to make you dance, jump around or scream.”
The band’s major influence is Primus and that’s who
they’ve been compared to. They share many similarities like
being a three piece with the bass player as the lead singer.
They’ve played whole Primus sets before.
The band started in 2013, split up a couple years ago and
now is back and making more music together. They have
a digital album out on all the online platforms and been
shooting some music videos that you can find on YouTube.
They’re back in the studio working on their second album,
which will come out in 2020. Abraham said, “We’re more
excited about that than playing shows.”
They played their first gig at the Nite Spot two weeks ago
and it was a great show. Abraham said, “We were all pleasantly
surprised by the turnout. It was fantastic. It was a great
combo of the locals and the out-of-towners.”
Jepsen added, “We only had a week to advertise so didn’t
know who could make it out but it was a great Saturday night
in Killington. We’ve cultivated a strong local following that
should keep coming once a month. It’s a great spot, too.”
Jepsen runs the Open Mic at the Alley, which happens
this Wednesday, Dec. 18, and then the last Wednesday of the
month (Jan 29 and Feb 26.) He took it over after Steve Audsley
passed away. Jepsen said, “It means a lot to me to keep
the tradition going. Open Mic was the first place we played
as a band so it’s cool for me to be able to host that and pass it
along and provide that opportunity for others in the area.”
Hamjob owes a lot to Audsley. He was the one in the
owner’s ear, pushing her to hire them.
I asked Abraham what he likes most about Hamjob and
he said, “everything.” It’s in your best interest to see their
show. You won’t be disappointed.
Abraham added, “If I wasn’t doing this, I would probably
have to explain why I have so many face tattoos.” He has
a tattoo that says “Party” right across his cheek. Not many
people can get away with the face tattoo... but he can.
What Abraham really likes is the social aspect of things.
He said, “Making friends along the way is my favorite part.
People in different towns and states, it’s fun.” He also said
playing with Jepsen and McGinnis is the best/worst thing
in the world. He added, “They’re my best friends, 100% and
we’ve been through a lot of stuff together. Sometimes it’s so
great and sometimes it’s a mess. Sometimes we argue but
don’t let it go further. Accept it for what it is. These guys are
the best time I’ve ever had working with people.”
Jepsen also really likes working with the guys. “There’s
such an original aspect of the three of us working together,
getting in a room and making music together. The process
of that is what keeps me going back. I’ll write a song whether
we’re going to perform it or not. The writing process is
what’s important.”
I asked him for a favorite he’s written and he said laughing,
“No they all suck.” He loves the effect their music has
on people and added, “You play a song and everyone’s
smiling and dancing. They have a surprised look on their
faces because they weren’t expecting to have such a good
time. It’s hard not to feel good about what you’re doing after
experiencing that.”