We find ourselves in The Northumberland Arms. Sitting in a quiet corner whilst bands that you would normally associate with your first trip (the one where you thought you could play guitar like David Gilmore) or with people who scream "play some fucking Slayer" to most questions, no matter how distantly related to their favorite heavy metal band.
MJH: So, whats the crack mate?
JH: Mark! What actually possessed you to play the
Northumberland arms??
MJH: You know, im asking myself that question now. Is that a serious question?
JH: It is
MJH: Well originally it was meant to be at Heart Attack and Vine
JH: Why the sudden change?
MJH: Inept management really. I was really looking forward to playing there, and not just because of the Tom Waits association, but it’s a pretty cool venue that sells pretty nifty gear, including two western shirts I got last week. They’ve got a fan in me because of that.
JH: So with the beard are you going full cowboy?
MJH: You Never go full cowboy. You never go full retard in a film either unless you want to win the Oscar, as Sean Penn has proven time and time again. How become nobody knows where there Northumberland arms is?
JH: Because it’s a god forsaken hole in the wall thats staircase winds down to…
MJH: Dante’s 7th Circle?
MJH: You know, im asking myself that question now. Is that a serious question?
JH: It is
MJH: Well originally it was meant to be at Heart Attack and Vine
JH: Why the sudden change?
MJH: Inept management really. I was really looking forward to playing there, and not just because of the Tom Waits association, but it’s a pretty cool venue that sells pretty nifty gear, including two western shirts I got last week. They’ve got a fan in me because of that.
JH: So with the beard are you going full cowboy?
MJH: You Never go full cowboy. You never go full retard in a film either unless you want to win the Oscar, as Sean Penn has proven time and time again. How become nobody knows where there Northumberland arms is?
JH: Because it’s a god forsaken hole in the wall thats staircase winds down to…
MJH: Dante’s 7th Circle?
JH: Dylan went electric – Will Hammond go electric?
MJH: That reminds me of my favourite Bill Hicks Quotes. Something about Chomsky too. But ill never go acoustic.
JH: Its just too sexy?
MJH: Sweet Baby James got nothing on this! But seriously, theres little way of masking my inability to play guitar properly. Whereas now I can run through a reverb pedal and delay and hide all my mistakes.
JH: I know you record in your own little studio at home right?
MJH: Yeah at home – Im not Dave Grohl!. But there’s also Roy Brown of Candy Black Records. He’s recorded me and hooked me up with some CDs I have for sale with the proceeds going to Mental Health Awareness. He’s…..well, he’s a mist, Roy Brown, A mist that I currently have no fog light for. Massive shout out to Roy please.
JH: You certainly have a tectonic relationship with him.
MJH: A very volatile and tectonic relationship. We’ve a had a couple of falling outs and I just want him to know that I really appreciate that he has given up so much time for me, just to record my silly little songs. I currently have 10 CDs for sale.
JH: You’re shooting for the capacity of this venue then?
MJH: I’m shooting for the moon. Im going to lasso the moon.
JH: Are you channelling George Bailey right now?
MJH: I might always be channelling George Bailey! I don’t think you could ever go wrong channelling George Bailey. Is that Paul Gascoigne? Hmm. No.
JH: The Inspiration behind Dhamma Brothers and performing under such?
MJH: It’s a public image thing. They talk about being a brand. Id account myself as a practising Buddhist.
JH: A Buddhist for modern times?
MJH: A Buddhist of suburbia.
JH:I think we might have to ask Green Day for permission on that one
MJH: Ask Billie before he has another meltdown!
JH: Its alright, I’ll Tell him Miley cyrus said it
MJH: Well I’ve already signed up to BandCamp with that name, so that’s pretty much set in stone! I don’t imagine many people are paying much attention anyway. So, who gives a shit, right? I want to keep this faceless. Theres some French guys who dress up as robots or something, not sure what theyre called.
JH: Stupid anarchists?
MJH: The thinking is, as pretentious as this is, is that one day hopefully, once im dead and gone, realise that I had this little treasure trove of music.
JH: The new Daniel Johnston?
MJH: That’s a huge inspiration
JH: You’ve had your sound described as Baroque and Roll, which is truly magnificent but how would you describe it?
MJH: Lengthy-Odyssey-Dreamy-Milkshake-Swirly-Cadbury-Candy Shell- Morose-Sad-Emo-Shit.
JH: You just cant quite fit that on a BandCamp subtitle though
MJH: There would be far too many hashtags
Mark J Hammond: http://thedhammabrothers.bandcamp.com/
MJH: That reminds me of my favourite Bill Hicks Quotes. Something about Chomsky too. But ill never go acoustic.
JH: Its just too sexy?
MJH: Sweet Baby James got nothing on this! But seriously, theres little way of masking my inability to play guitar properly. Whereas now I can run through a reverb pedal and delay and hide all my mistakes.
JH: I know you record in your own little studio at home right?
MJH: Yeah at home – Im not Dave Grohl!. But there’s also Roy Brown of Candy Black Records. He’s recorded me and hooked me up with some CDs I have for sale with the proceeds going to Mental Health Awareness. He’s…..well, he’s a mist, Roy Brown, A mist that I currently have no fog light for. Massive shout out to Roy please.
JH: You certainly have a tectonic relationship with him.
MJH: A very volatile and tectonic relationship. We’ve a had a couple of falling outs and I just want him to know that I really appreciate that he has given up so much time for me, just to record my silly little songs. I currently have 10 CDs for sale.
JH: You’re shooting for the capacity of this venue then?
MJH: I’m shooting for the moon. Im going to lasso the moon.
JH: Are you channelling George Bailey right now?
MJH: I might always be channelling George Bailey! I don’t think you could ever go wrong channelling George Bailey. Is that Paul Gascoigne? Hmm. No.
JH: The Inspiration behind Dhamma Brothers and performing under such?
MJH: It’s a public image thing. They talk about being a brand. Id account myself as a practising Buddhist.
JH: A Buddhist for modern times?
MJH: A Buddhist of suburbia.
JH:I think we might have to ask Green Day for permission on that one
MJH: Ask Billie before he has another meltdown!
JH: Its alright, I’ll Tell him Miley cyrus said it
MJH: Well I’ve already signed up to BandCamp with that name, so that’s pretty much set in stone! I don’t imagine many people are paying much attention anyway. So, who gives a shit, right? I want to keep this faceless. Theres some French guys who dress up as robots or something, not sure what theyre called.
JH: Stupid anarchists?
MJH: The thinking is, as pretentious as this is, is that one day hopefully, once im dead and gone, realise that I had this little treasure trove of music.
JH: The new Daniel Johnston?
MJH: That’s a huge inspiration
JH: You’ve had your sound described as Baroque and Roll, which is truly magnificent but how would you describe it?
MJH: Lengthy-Odyssey-Dreamy-Milkshake-Swirly-Cadbury-Candy Shell- Morose-Sad-Emo-Shit.
JH: You just cant quite fit that on a BandCamp subtitle though
MJH: There would be far too many hashtags
Mark J Hammond: http://thedhammabrothers.bandcamp.com/
Candy Black Records: https://soundcloud.com/candyblackrecords
Heart Attack And Vine: https://www.facebook.com/HeartattackVine
