The CLUAS Archive: 1998 - 2011

22

Some More Ham Sandwiches Please

Steven O'Rourke posted on June 22, 2007 03:00
It would be impossible to write about Ham Sandwich without addressing their chosen moniker. Ham Sandwich, in my opinion, is right up there in the ‘so bad it’s good’ list of band names alongside Bastard Sons of Boris Karloff, I’m from Barcelona and The Flaming Lips. The reason it’s a great name is because it’s not only eye-catching but it’s fun along with it, as the band themselves state “a band called Ham Sandwich manages to dispense with the expected clichés of what a modern indie band should be.” However, it’s not only their name that dispenses with any preconceptions you may have.
 
The last time I saw Ham Sandwich perform their frontman, Podge McNamee was wearing a gladiator outfit. It was bizarre, but it was much more original than seeing another indie band in their skinny jeans et al uniform. The gig, one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever attended, even included tickertape. Not something you’re likely to see The Things, a band who take themselves far too seriously, do any time soon.
 
Surprisingly, given the digital age we operate in, the band doesn’t have a website, using Myspace for its online activities instead.   Of course, by using Myspace and YouTube, they are clearly not naïve about what it takes to have your music heard by a, generally, fickle and fleeting musical audience. What is refreshing though, at a time when musicians compare the size of their Myspace friends as opposed to, well, something else, is that the band are not just using the technology to carefully cultivate an image or to project themselves as being more than just musicians. Instead Ham Sandwich concentrate on making great music first, and then using technology to share it.
 
It is here where a lot of bands could learn from Ham Sandwich. Forget about your name, forget about your image, if you make great music, people will eventually listen. It may well seem like more work than coming up with a fantastic image or employing every possible gorilla marketing stunt you can imagine (take a bow: The Urges), but as a music fan I’d much rather buy great music, than buy into an image.
 

Ham Sandwich play Mullingar tonight and Whelan’s tomorrow night.   The video below is their Late Late Show performance of 'click click BOOM.'

 


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2000 - 'Rock Criticism: Getting it Right', written by Mark Godfrey. A thought provoking reflection on the art of rock criticism.