Albert Hammond, Jr. is easily my favorite person on Earth (sorry to my parents, family and friends). There is just something about this man that gets to me. Albert is one of the guitarists of one of my favorite bands, The Strokes. The Strokes came out with their first album Is This It in 2001 with immediate success and a dedicated fanbase. The Strokes went from a low-fidelity to a more polished sound within three albums spanning from 2001-2006 and having a comeback album in 2011 while headlining festivals, like Coachella, to promote the album.
The Strokes don't tour. They play festivals. They are clearly too good to go on tour and when they do festivals I prepare the YouTube livestream to watch my favorite band. When I had the chance to see Albert perform his solo material in November 2013 I took that opportunity and bought two tickets right away. I wasn't a huge fan of his solo material as it's much different than The Strokes but I wanted to see him in concert anyway because that would be the closest I'd ever be to a member of The Strokes (I have since seen Julian Casablancas + The Voidz but I'll save that for a later post).
The concert was
in Allston at one of my favorite venues, Brighton Music Hall during my freshman
year of college. I made my friend Ashley come with me (it didn't take
much persuading) and she came from her tiny college in Aurora, NY to see
one of the best concerts either of us had ever seen.
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| Pictured at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA with Ashley before seeing Albert Hammond, Jr. of one of our favorite bands, The Strokes in November 2013. |
Albert
Hammond, Jr. and his band walked onstage dressed in all-black. Albert sported
his signature lighting bolt guitar strap, red suspenders and red Doc Martens.
Albert opened up with “Everyone Gets a Star” making the crowd go wild. The
audience matched his energy with nearly every song and anyone there could see
the happiness on Albert's face, his smile covering his entire face at times and
even making jokes between songs. At that point in time, I don't think I had
ever had so much fun at a concert.
Albert sang
all of his biggest songs and all five songs off his then-new EP, AHJ
released in October 2013. I remember the crowd chanting
every song with Albert and swaying to match the beat of the drums. After
performing a cover of The Misfits’ “Last Caress” the band and Albert existed
the stage and the crowd starting chanting Albert's name for the encore. They
came back to play “The Boss Americana” off Como Te Llama. His backup
band existed the stage leaving Albert alone on stage for the first time that
night. Albert slowed it down to play an intimate “Blue Skies” by himself and
just his electric guitar. Something I'll never forget.
Albert played an
outstanding show that cold Friday night in November, concluding the night with 19 songs in total,
two of them being covers and even came to greet fans at the merch table at the
end of the show. That is when Albert became my favorite person on Earth. He has
grace and charisma onstage, as well as surprisingly authentic stage presence.
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| I met Albert Hammond, Jr. after his set in Allston in November 2013. I've always been a long-time fan but after seeing him in concert he quickly became one of my favorite musicians. This picture has been my phone background ever since. |
Meeting Albert
Hammond, Jr. didn't seem real. I told Ashley on our entire ride to the show
that we would meet him and then we did. I was overwhelmed by his
friendliness, shyness and the fact that it was Albert Hammond, Jr. He
said he saw the picture I posted on Twitter before the show and apologized for
not replying then signed every piece of paper that I shoved at him while I
attempted to make conversation and stay sane at the same time.
There is not
much that can explain my love and my obsession for Al (my personal nickname
for him). Maybe it's because he's an Aries (as am I) or maybe it's just because
he's your normal down-to-earth guy doing rock star things. Albert
is genuinely funny on social media and cares a lot about his fans.
He's the kind of guy you'd kick back with to have a few drinks with and do
drunken karaoke with.
That was an amazing weekend with one of my best friends. I'll be seeing Albert again in September and this time it will mean so much more to me. I begged Ashley to come with me but I'll be taking my friend Samantha with me this time with an attempt to convert her to my full-blown obsession with Albert.
"Momentary Masters" is Albert's new full-length album that was released at the end of July. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and I won't stop listening to it until he releases another new album. I can't wait to see Albert again in concert next month and I have complete faith that I will be meeting him again.