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XPN Welcomes American Babies with The Great Unknown

Presented by The Blockley Pourhouse at The Blockley

July 30, 2011

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American Babies
Since 2007 American Babies has been the mouthpiece for Philadelphia based musician Tom Hamilton. After spending the early 2000s building a national fan base fronting the electro-rock band Brothers Past, releasing two critically acclaimed albums and averaging 150 shows a year, a change was in order. Hamilton looked to shed the electronic “bleeps-n-boops“ production that had become his calling card and make an album that was loose, rolling and full of vibe.

“Being in a band can get to be very political, where everyone needs to be happy. That doesn’t always lead to artistic fulfillment,” Hamilton says. “I had a vision I wanted to follow but felt that going solo as a singer/songwriter wasn’t a very comfortable fit for me. Then it dawned on me to just start another band where I’m the only real constant member. Problem solved.”

So Hamilton moved to Brooklyn and enlisted friends Joe Russo (Benevento/Russo Duo, Grateful Dead offshoot Furthur), Kevin Kendrick (Fat Mama), and brother Jim Hamilton to hit the studio with producer Jon Altschiller (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Rachael Yamagata) and a dozen songs that spawned American Babies self-titled release (2008 Sci Fidelity).

 

The Great Unknown
Philadelphia’s The Great Unknown coaxes gentle, nuanced alt-country from the convergence of five voices, riding atop a plethora of stringed instruments that gracefully dance in and out between an amiable backroads shuffle. When it cuts loose, the quintet rocks convincingly, adding soundtracks of rowdy to postcards of roadside attractions.