BLAMM-O!
Today's highlighted Madison-based musical act is BLAMM-O!.
Exuberance is a state of mind for BLAMM-O!, a quintet whose music unites the bounce of pop punk with the ferocity of hard rock. Hitting stages around town through most of this decade, the group picked up their live pace in 2006, adding a member in the process. BLAMM-O! also released its first album last year, one highlighting both an active political mien and their rock swagger.
Here is how the band describes itself and its history:
Formed in 2000, BLAMM-O! has experienced a rollercoaster ride, losing and gaining members while still maintaining their presence in the local rock scene. Stripped down to a four piece consisting of original drummer John Dillett, vocalist Joel G. Hooks, Matt Ackerman on bass, and Jake Martell on guitar, BLAMM-O! recorded at Paradyme Productions in Madison, Wisconsin and released their self titled CD in the Spring of 2006.
The five-song disc contains two hidden tracks, "Indonesia" and "Fading" recorded in 2001 (unreleased), and is a sample of their set-list of all original music. The recent acquisition of Matt Acker on bass has allowed Matt Ackerman to join Jake Martell on guitar, returning BLAMM-O! to their desired five-piece format. Refusing to be boxed in, BLAMM-O!'s mix of hard rock, punk, and pop with an underlying 60's vibe is difficult to label.
Polished and professional, BLAMM-O! is firing on all cylinders and is eager to expand their bomb-blasting horizons. Explosive, exciting, and entertaining, BLAMM-O!'s live shows are always a crowd pleasing experience.
The antics of frontman Joel G. Hooks blur the lines between stage and audience. With thought provoking lyrics about life, love, and politics, BLAMM-O! delivers a performance which creates light in times of darkness, action rather than apathy and a voice not to be ignored, which cries, "Wake up. Open your eyes. The fuse is lit. The clock is ticking. BLAMM-O!"
In addition to photos of the band in action, the self-titled EP released by BLAMM-O! last year is available in its (listed) entirety at blammomusic.com. The tracks available here for listening are: "No News," "Winter's Dormancy," "Wake Up America," "Life Spills (Again)," and "Love Songs." The latter four are also available on the group's MySpace page, while lyrics from the final three are available here. The two hidden tracks, though, can only be found on the EP itself.
BLAMM-O! performances are well-known for their boisterous energy, with lead vocalist Hooks regularly departing the stage to sing and leap from a variety of perches around the venue. This has elicited both cheers and criticism, both of which speak to the visceral nature of their shows.
The first BLAMM-O! performance of the New Year is set for Thursday, Jan. 25, when they will take the stage at the Club Tavern in Middleton. More details about the show can be found here.
This is the latest featured entry from the Madison Music Project, an online database of Madison-area musicians. Please register or update your current profile on the project for consideration in these highlights.
