Friday night at Shuba's was bound to be a success because it featured Hamell on Trial. It's weird, having seen Ed Hamell for at least 10 years now, I would have always described his show primarily as a concert with some biting humor. And what a show it is. Never before have you heard such pounding acoustic guitar. How does he work that sort of energy and sound out of an acoustic? Hamell's lyrics are also amazing. Speaking of political corruption, odd characters met in seedy places, and a love for drugs that just seem to hold together this tortured soul, Hamell never fails to mesmerize.
Now don't get me wrong, Friday at Shuba's Hamell still mesmerized, but Hamell on Trial's approach had changed. Hamell focused more on his humor to stimulate the audience's mind than on his music. He not only rocked the house to the ground, but shared the true inspirations for his lyrics. It definitely was to the crowd's benefit to know why he transitioned from a song praising eatin' pussy to one about his dad killing his mom and then himself.
If his lyrics are at all true, Hamell has endured more than any of us should. We're just lucky that he's found such an amazing way to show us what he's feeling. Hamell keep preachin to us! Ani Defranco thanks for signing Ed Hamell when we could have lost his spirit forever.
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