Hammell On Trial

Big As Life (Polygram)
by Valerie Smith

With a name like Hamell On Trial, I expected a tortured, emotional-sounding band. Well, I got it, but in an unexpected package. Hamell On Trial is a one-man act featuring singer/songwriter Ed Hamell accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar, but don’t head down into the genre of folksy, mellow old guys sitting on stools, with old beat up guitars balanced on their knees, crooning ballads. If you go there, you’re in for a shock. This guy is in-your-face aggressive. He plays the guitar fast and furious. If he were electric, he’d be lethal. He makes me wonder how many strings he plays through in a live show.

His lyrics are emotionally sung, and sung directly to you. He’s more addictive than TV – once you start to pay attention, you get sucked in. You can’t just walk away or go about your business because you might miss part of the story. If he played on a sidewalk or subway platform, people would stop, mesmerized, emptying their wallets into his case without hesitation.