Albert Hammond Jr., rhythm guitarist for The Strokes, proved he didn’t need his compatriots to demonstrate his worth at High Noon Saloon Wednesday night — he was more than enough on his own.
With quirky jargon and loads of enthusiasm, the New York City musician provided a high energy show that got the crowd’s feet stomping and good moods rising.
Apart from jamming with The Strokes, Hammond Jr. has entered into the sphere of solo work — he has produced four albums since 2006, dropping his most recent work, Momentary Masters, in summer 2015. He has also been featured as solo guitarist on a handful of The Strokes’ songs. His caliber of talent manifested itself Wednesday night.
Walking Shapes, touring with Hammond Jr. for the past two weeks, opened the show with a raw, garage sound best fit for a brawl with an enemy. The band fit the part — the lead singer screamed, the rhythms were fast-paced and shaggy-haired members donned leather jackets and jean shirts.
As openers, their talent, especially for multitasking, was remarkable. At one point, the lead guitarist grabbed a violin, started playing it, then when he stopped, continued to clutch the instrument under his chin while playing guitar.
Hammond Jr. showcased his ease with the guitar the moment he stepped on stage. His playing was mesmerizingly smooth, and his finesse at simultaneously mastering complex guitar riffs and strong vocals further bolstered the performance.
Hammond Jr.’s guitar playing was not his only asset — he had a worthy stage presence and impeccable style, both in terms of his appearance and stylistic choices.
The show began with the stage flooded in red light, while a recorded voice chanted, “You can petition the Lord with prayer.” Hammond Jr. then entered dressed in white pants, a white shirt and holding a white guitar.
The first words he uttered: “I was hoping I’d find you here.”
The show’s patterned lighting managed to bring out the best of Hammond Jr.’s style. With the beat of each song’s chorus, the lights pulsed across all shades of the spectrum, eventually returning to an encapsulating darkness that shrouded the players.
Beyond visuals, Hammond Jr.’s personality kept the crowd entertained. He laughed and mumbled between songs, telling the crowd he and his bandmates best spread their wings in the comfort of their van. Possibly his best advice of the night was to just “fuck it, right?”
Hammond Jr. showed the crowd how to get down with sick guitar riffs, engaging rhythms and appealing melodies. With his energy and fervor, one can only hope some of it rubbed off on his High Noon audience.
