So why is a band that hardly ever plays Cleveland driving up I-71 on a Wednesday night for a gig in a room the size of a Subway restaurant? To open up for the legendary Hamell on Trial, that’s why. Besides, we are linked forever to Hamell by our merch guy-roadie-rock n roll junkie-performer extraordinaire Ricki C.

See, when Ricki isn't tooling around the country in our van, (usually riding shotgun and explaining to Poochie that Jim Morrison didn't play himself in The Doors movie) he is riding around with Ed (Hamell) disputing what was the exact catalog number on the 1977, Japanese, colored vinyl 45 re-release of the MC5's "Kick Out The Jams."

Ricki, "Ed, What the fuck? I'm telling you, it was 633887456."

Ed, "Jesus Christ, even a child knows that it is 633887-5-4-6, dumb ass."

Both together: "Call Kyle!"

Anyway, if you haven’t seen Hamell on Trial, he is described as "anti-folk" or a "1 man punk rock show." I would put it like this: Strictly sonically speaking, Ed by himself, with only his acoustic guitar, makes us sound like Bread. His one acoustic guitar has lower end, higher end, more distortion and more volume than our entire band. It kind of sounds like Johnny Ramone playing Tom Peterson’s 12 string bass if you can imagine that.

The show starts and never stops. It is a barrage of songs, hooks, jokes and relentless rhythm.

All this begs the question, "If this guy is such hot shit, how come I never hear him on the radio?"

I do not claim to know the secrets of getting radio airplay, but I am reasonably sure that having the word "FUCK" liberally spread throughout most of your songs does you no favors with Clear Channel or the FCC.

Still, his last two releases "Tough Love" and "Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs" are essential to every music collection. They are available on Ani Difranco's label, Righteous Babe.

For more info on Hamell- www.hamellontrial.com