The Hammers

Formed in 1986, The Hammers are one of Northern New Jersey's longest running rock'n'roll bands. With influences steeped in blues, rockabilly and R&B, their unique sound is the gumbo of four distinctly different musicians: singer/guitarist/songwriter Ira Spinrad, bassist Dom Zarrillo , keyboardist/singer, Jim Beckerman and drummer Steve Buzbee.

The band is road-tested, having played just about every venue, bar, restaurant and roadhouse in the area. They made their formal recording debut with 2006's "Newark Fried Chicken."

The disc and live shows draw on the group's varied backgrounds. Spinrad is an R&B and soul fanatic who lists Chuck Berry, Big Joe Turner and Jerry Lee Lewis among his creative inspirations. Zarrillo adds a strong blues element to the equation, while Beckerman provides a distinctive Louisiana vibe and Buzbee brings a boisterous rock'n'roll approach with elements of the Jersey Shore sound.

Together, they have satisfied many an audience looking for a great band to drink beer and dance to. The group mixes and matches their influences superbly on Newark Fried Chicken. Recorded at Coyote Studios in Brooklyn,N.Y. the set is mainly comprised of inventive Spinrad originals that connect contemporary sensibilities with classic influences.

Witty, sardonic blues tunes like "You're Right (Married Life),"and "Subsidize Me" are interspersed with vintage-flavored rockers like "Rippin and Runnin," "Since You Messed Up My Mind" and "Cause I Can't Have Her." The band also proves adept at rockabilly on the sweltering "Hot Hand," while the soul groover "Lookin For A Girl" sounds like a long-lost Stax Records gem. Of further note is "Downtown Lament" , a vibrato-laden intrumental that evokes a late-night feel.