Tom Hambridge

Down The Hatch

Quarto Valley Records

Thomas Jay Hambridge was born December 20th, 1960 in Buffalo New York. Hambridge began playing the drums at the age of five and played his first paying gig, a bar mitzvah, while in third grade. He received a scholarship at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. After graduation Hambridge worked three years as drummer and lead singer for Roy Buchanan. Hambridge assisted promoters assemble backup bands for artists such as Bo Diddley, Percy  Sledge and Chuck Berry. Hambridge produced Susan Tedeschi’s album “Just Won’t Burn”, and contributed to Johnny Winter’s “I’m A Bluesman”. In 2018 Hambridge released his seventh album “The Nola Sessions” and followed-up with 2023’s “Blu Ja Vu” also on  Quarto Valley Records. Overall Hambridge has received seven Grammy Award nominations winning twice (once for Buddy Guy’s  ‘Skin Deep’ and again for ‘Living Proof’), two Blues Music Awards  (one for best drummer, and one for ‘Song of The Year’), seven  Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall  of Fame. Hambridge was given the key to his hometown of Buffalo  with the Mayor declaring December 28th, Tom Hambridge day. He  has also produced and written songs for George Thorogood, Quinn Sullivan and Mike Zito. Hambridge has also performed at the White House.

On “Down The Hatch” Hambridge has written two songs by himself,  eight with his regular writing partner Richard Fleming, one with Gary Nicholson, and one with both Fleming and Thorogood. His ensemble  is rounded out by guitarists Rob McNelley, Bob Britt, and Tom  Bukovac; keyboardists John Lancaster, Mike Rojas, Jimmy Wallace, Noah Forbes, and Kevin McKendree; bassists Tommy MacDonald,  Anton Nesbitt, or Glenn Worf; Tim Lauer, accordion; and special guest guitarist Buddy Guy on one track.

On the lead off track “Willie Dixon’s Gone”, Hambridge sings “well, way out in the country, when I was seventeen…spirits of the Delta, and the blues, ain’t blues ’til Willie Dixon’s gone…I went to see my baby, knockin’ on her door, and the blues ain’t blues until Willie Dixon’s gone”. “Every Time I Sing The Blues” features Hambridge as he chimes “somebody asked me why I sing the blues, I’m just trying to tell the truth everytime I sing the blues…I find my inspiration in tears and desperation, I’m just trying to tell the truth, everytime I sing the blues”.

On “I Want You Bad”, Hambridge chants “I want you bad, I can feel it in my bones, I want you bad, I can feel it in my bones, I want you  bad, I don’t want to be alone”. “How Blues Is That” is Hambridge as he cries out “I live way down south, livin’ from hand to mouth… I went to Chicago so I can get a break, singing on the corner, hole in my heart…how blues is that ?”

On “Hard Times” Hambridge moans “talkin to a neighbor…hard  times, talkin ’bout hard times if it wasn’t for my woman, I would lose my mind…went to the dollar store, prices going up…children are the future…if it wasn’t for my woman, I would lose my mind”. “What Does That Tell You” Hambridge groans “you keep makin’  the same mistakes, what does that tell you, baby?”

“Believe These Blues” features some great drumming from  Hambridge as he bursts out “I believe these blues, I’m never  gonna’ die…I see bad things happening everyday…I see children going hungry, nothing on their plate, I believe these blues will always be around”. “Making Lemonade” includes Hambridge as he shouts “the heats turned off…I’m making lemonade, no money in the bank, no gas in my tank…I’m making lemonade, fifty cents a cup…I just laugh it up, I’m making lemonade”.

On “What Might Have Been”, Hambridge sighs “thinkin what might have been, I’m beaten to the ground, again thinkin what might have been…I believe I’m going down, thinkin I’m a clown, thinkin what  might have been”. “You Gotta Go Through St. Louis” is a rollicking instrumental featuring Buddy Guy on guitar; Kevin McKendree,  piano; Rob McNeeley, guitar; and bassist Glenn Worf.

On “Start Drinking Early Day”, Hambridge chirps “hello, Mr.  Sunshine, peeking in my room…hey there empty bottle from the night before, the liquor store is just a mile away, gotta’ get another as long as I got whiskey, start drinkin’ early day”. On the closer “I Wanna Know About You”, Hambridge croons “I wanna know about you, don’t you wait in line, what’s inside your mind, I wanna know about you…are your stars aligned, is your head on straight, I wanna know about you, I wanna know”.

Recorded at Blackbird Studio A and Ronnie’s Place in Nashville. “Down The Hatch” was mixed and mastered by Michael Saint-Leon and Hambridge at The Switchyard. Hambridge has hand-assembled this stellar group of talented musicians. When you have a musical  career as a singer and drummer that includes writing 1000 songs, producing 100 albums, and working with everyone from Bo Diddley to Buddy Guy. You must be exceptionally talented. You must be Tom Hambridge.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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