Old Time Hammer

Mountain Music. If you don't know exactly what it is, think Bluegrass, and then imagine what must have come before bebop jazz got a hold of it. Whatever the image, you are probably NOT reminded of three smart, cool Houston teenagers. But that is who comprises Old Time Hammer, and they are educating me as to how Mountain Music is supposed to sound, and how it should be played.


Colin Sutherland, Elise Southwick, and Jordan Johnson have deftly crafted a sound that is technically a bit raw, but incredibly beautiful--full of heart. Their instrumentation includes steel string acoustic guitar, washtub bass, four string, and 5 string banjo, National resonator guitar, and washboard (with bell and coffee can).


There's no amps, no pedals, no whammy bars, and no tattoos (that I saw). This is so refreshing as to be revolutionary. Colin, Elise, and Jordan play traditional standards and have penned their own tunes in the genre, and I can't tell the old from the new because their material is so good.



I am really excited about this project. I believe that an opportunity like this only comes around once or maybe twice in a producer's career: The chance to work with something, someone, so pure that the focus can only be about the music.