Mike Hammar and The Nails
10th Annual Gospel Song Nominee
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Record Label: n/a
www.mikehammar.com
Home Base: Winton, California (in heart of the San Joaquin Valley)
Genre: We are actually a blues band with multiple-genre influences. Most all of the band members have played a great variety of music in many other bands. American roots music of all types is what inspires us the most and blues is our favorite.
Categories Entered: Blues Album, Blues Song, Gospel Song, Americana Song
Works Submitted: Recipe for the Blues; “Recipe for the Blues”; “Who’s Richer than Who”; “This Ain’t Goodbye”
Label: Unsigned
URLs:
www.mikehammar.com
www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Mike-Hammar-and-The-Nails/109869545333
www.myspace.com/mikehammarandthenails
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mike+hammar+and+the+nails&search_type=&aq=f
www.cdbaby.com/cd/hammar/from/viglink
Influences: BB King, Albert King, Chris Cain, Tommy Castro, Muddy Waters
What’s the meaning of your band name? Initially we went by The Bluzitions. My real name is Mike Hammar. Many times folks would joke around saying “you got the hammer, the band should be the nails”. My drummer Greg Merino was the one to bring up the idea of actually changing the name. We were booked at the Central Valley Blues Festival in Merced, CA. The posters and t-shirts had us billed as “The Bluzitions” but when we hit the stage we were announced as Mike Hammar and The Nails for the first time.
Describe your nominated work: Our Gospel Song “This Ain’t Goodbye” was a song that I wrote for my friend Earl Punches. Earl asked me to sing at his father’s funeral. I couldn’t find an appropriate song. So, I thought about what Earl had told me of his father’s passing. Before his father went into surgery Earl told him “I won’t say goodbye, I’ll just say, I’ll see you later.” Earl’s father, Gene, didn’t make through the surgery. I had known Gene for quite some time. He was an honored patriarch and Earl is his first born son. I thought of different paths that Gene and Earl would be taking during this time. I thought of how prophetic Earl’s words had been on that day at the hospital and how the two of them would eventually meet up again in God’s time. I wrote the song and sang it for my friend Earl at Gene Punches funeral service.
Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMA’s? I am an independent artist. I have written and produced two albums. The IMA’s shine the spotlight on and celebrate the many independent artists who do what I do. I am honored to be a nominee.
Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? Not really. I did play country style guitar licks on this song. I played in a couple of successful local country western bands. I felt that the Gospel song required that feel to it. So I put the blues licks on the shelf and let the guitar cry a few country tears.
Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned? I was fortunate to have Jeff Sanders engineer, mix, and master the record. Jeff mastered Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life,” which won album of the year at the Grammy’s. Jeff had changed careers and had basically retired from the record industry. I heard that his was getting the itch to do a local project with some new equipment that he wanted to dial in. I called him and the rest is history. He is “pro” in a “hobbyist” costume. We had great times in the studio and I learned a ton from Jeff.
Did fans help you fund this project? Ultimately, they did help us fund the project. Using money earned from live shows, money from our first album sales, and money from digital downloads allowed us to take the time to get it right. Our fans “Hammarheads” are simply the best. Our CD release parties were humbling experiences. I can’t express enough gratitude towards our fans. They’re the best.
Who’s sitting in your audience? Blues fans, our fans, family, and friends, 8 to 80.
What makes your fans unique? Our fans are completely supportive and they are not afraid of telling others why they like our band. From forwarding emails, to helping with texting trees, to social media bulletins, to phone calls to request lines, they roll up their sleeves and pitch in. We work together.
Are there any songs you wish you wrote?: No. I do wish that I would have listened more carefully throughout the years. Just when I think I am catching, there is flood of new stuff. I am just amazed my how many gifted song writers exist in this world. Regardless on genre, when the message and the music make emotion it’s magic.
What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans? I think it’s pretty clear to our fans that we have an eclectic ear for “good.”
What is your dream show lineup? BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jonny Winter, and Me and my crew, yeah
What is your guilty pleasure on the road? Sleep
Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? We don’t tour very far from our home base. When we are on the road and setting up big shows, it is funny to work with event managers or producers. They are used to artists who have a ton of professional support. As an Independent, I do most everything. They say “I will send it to your publicity person, webmaster, road manager, booking agent, stage crew”. I laugh and say I am all of the above.
Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? Relax and hand it over.
Should music be free? I say we respect the intent of the writer/artist. Art has value. The artist should decide how to deal with that value.
How has digital affected your career? It has greatly helped us share our music with the world in a format that is current, relevant, and world wide.
Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? I think the album itself is more than just the music. The artwork, the title, design and theme, when there is one, communicates with fans. It’s a physical representation of message and emotion. I think we like songs in bunches. That being said, digital is the future for the masses. It’s the source for everyone’s greatest hits.
Finish this sentence: The music industry is… an industry much like any other. There are corporate giants and there small sole proprietorships. I represent the latter. I am one of those who keeps the dream of selling the secret recipe to a nationwide chain for a little comfort money. It would make producing my own independent albums a lot easier.