The Griff Hamlin Band

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Blues & rock coming together with a great mix of power & sensitivity.

tracks

: 1 Don't Lie
: 2 Louisiana Holiday
: 3 Coming Home
: 4 Running On
: 5 Morality
: 6 G String Shuffle
: 7 Got To End
: 8 When Evil Comes
: 9 Where Would I Begin

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USA: California

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notes

There is no doubt after hearing just one song performed by The Griff Hamlin Band - be it one of their juicy renditions, or one of Griff's mouth dropping originals - that this band is traveling the road to legendary.

In 2001, after an exhausting year in the studio, The Griff Hamlin Band's self-titled CD was released. While keeping up his chops in the local circuit, Griff used all of his spare time to put together this musical masterpiece, of which he maintains is his "...greatest accomplishment so far." Members of the local press agree, and The Griff Hamlin Band has been nominated at the 2004 Orange County Music Awards.

Griff's love for music, guitar specifically, began at the age of 9 when he started his first guitar lessons. By the age of 12, Griff was enthralled with the guitar, practicing sometimes as much as eight hours a day. Entering adulthood the Blues were sinuous in his blood, and the sounds of Blues legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, Scott Henderson, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, and BB King, were sounding out from his guitar.

For a time, Griff Hamlin attended USC where he majored in music. While he admits that the experience was bittersweet, Griff also admits to being a more learned musician now because of it. In December of 1999, Griff left USC to record a Classical CD with well-known and respected Classical Guitarist, Eric Henderson. The project was completed in mid-2000, and the CD release concert was an enormous hit. Eric humbly introduced Griff as "the greatest electric guitarist in the world."

The Griff Hamlin Band made its debut in 1993 with Bassist Mark Smith, Joe Wente on drums, and Griff handling the guitar and singing. The band played steadily in Orange County for three years, but in 1996, the band went on hiatus to pursue other musical opportunities. While separated, each member found success with various projects, and occasionally played shows for enthusiastic audiences all over Southern California. In 2000, the Blues/Rock band, second-to-none, reunited full-time, this time with veteran drummer Bernie Rubio.

With the 2001 release of their self-titled CD, the group turned on the heat and began touring and performing at a whirlwind pace, which they still maintain. They play at least 100 shows per year in the southern California area, and they've recently taken the show to Hawaii, and are scheduled to perform in Aspen, Colorado. On a summer 2004 European tour the band will be headlining the International Galicja Blues Festival in Poland.

-- blues & rock coming together with a great mix of power & sensitivity - Rocksector Reviews

-- Ran across your CD on CD Baby, listened to the clips, and immediately ordered a copy. The great feel and sharp playing really has me looking forward to hearing the whole thing - D.
Lemire

reviews

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WOW !
author: Bill P
Many people try to do this but most fall short. This guy combines very good vocals with awesome guitar to become a one-man wrecking crew. No blues person will be disappointed. Do another one just like this !!
His playing gives you the impetus to swoop up your own guitar and perfect sounds
author: Sami A.
This album is riddled with fresh musical concepts - full with soul and spirit. There are sound-curves that will bend your understanding of what the Blues are and should be. Griff Hamlin strikes the strings with passion and know-how. You’ll find yourself exclaiming, “Huh! Wow! Ah!” as each song swells with red hot, raw talent. The roots of this musician are firmly planted in the rich and thick soil of the juicy Blues! There is such supreme authority over the guitar, one can’t help but applaud it. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Technically masterful. A very unique and passionate approach to the blues.
author: Laura Hamlin
His playing is on fire, loaded with passion and an harmonic appraoch that is unmatched. Listen carefully, and you will hear passages that will blow your mind - both technically and emotionally. His technique is astounding, and he knows exactly what he's doing - every note. I liked it so much, I married the guy! Lucky me.
great cd
author: rick shafer
good strong vocals,outstanding guitar playing.sure hope there is a follow up cd, please.keep up the rockin blues.
what a fantastic cd
author: Lorraine
This is the greatest cd i've heard in ages. I came across The Griff Hamlin Band purely by accident - it's the best accident i've ever had!! It's very rare to find anything like the calibre of this album over here in the UK. Can't wait for the next album to come out.
Correction to my previous review
author: John Stern
The song I was referring to is When Evil Comes, not Running On. The label mistakenly lists Running on at track #4.
A cd to make Stevie Ray Vaughn proud
author: John Stern
There is no question listening to this cd that Stevie Ray Vaughn and, to a lesser extent, Robin Trower (Listen to Running On and tell me you don't think of Trower's Bridge of Sighs) were big influences on this group. Very worthy addition to any blues rock collection
Love it!
author: BMC
Blues the way I like it - rockin' and groovy! Everyone does a great job and Griff certainly knows his way around the fretboard. If you like guys like Walter Trout, Jeff Healey and SRV then I know you'll enjoy this CD as well. Well done guys!
Dazzled
author: Eric van den Bosch
I make it a habit to listen to a new cd a couple of times and then sit down and take note of the characteristics for every titel seperately. I was dazzled here, not because of the music itself, but because the listing given is not the listing on the CD. However, recovered from this I must say this is a band with great potential and a couple of really appealing songs here! "Don't Lie" is the first song on the CD and I do not intend to. I liked "Don't Lie", "Louisiana Holiday", "Coming Home" and "When Evil Comes" (a very intriguing song) very much, but then my intrest was tested by "Running On" and "G String Shuffle" and when I arrived at "Got To End" I firmly agreed. I like 'heavy blues' (I am a fan of Poppa Chubby...), but Griff Hamlin and friends get quite noisy here. "Morality" is not really my cup of tea but then a complete surprise with a slow and easy, even sensitive "Where Would I Begin". Well, just begin at the begin I would say and maybe with the titels mixed as said on the cover of the CD it would be less of a strain for me to appreciate it as a whole. Nevertheless I am glad I bought this and curious what The Griff Hamlin Band is going to deliver in the near future. This is some real powerfull blues.
Love the CD so much that I'm taking lessons from Griff
author: Ben
I have been listening to Electric Blues for years and ran across The Griff Hamlin Band CD on the MP3.com website. Some of the songs on the CD have the traditional blues format and others have a more progressive rock sound. All of the songs include gutsy (and technically sophisticated) guitar playing that definitely stands apart from other electric blues. In fact, I like the playing so much that I now take lessons from Griff... he is an excellent teacher. The great vocals on the CD are an added bonus... a white guy that sings like he's black (is that okay to say?) If you appreciate great guitar work, this is the CD for you!
Killer Tunes, Great Energy, Talented Musicians and Songwriting
author: R. Hatcher
These guys can write, play and have great vocals to boot. My fav's are the Bass line in "Runnin' On", vocals on "Louisiana Holiday" and ALL the guitar licks. Buy This CD!
Great Music!
author: JBP
Excellent CD! Truly great voice. I'm glad i found this band. Great job guys, thanks for making this cd!
Great Blues Rock...Smokin' Guitar!!!
author: Steve (Two Guys Music)
Griff Hamlin Bands s/t CD is as good a blues rock CD as you are going to find. If you like your blues drenched with killer guitar work...look no further. Griff displays his talent through out the entire disc. Either smokin' on the majority of the cuts like Don't Lie, Runnin'On & Morality or tasty licks on the New Orleans flavored Louisiana Holiday Griff delivers big time. I'd recommend this CD to all who like blistering guitarwork and great tunes in a blues rock format.
Smoking Blues-Rock With Outstanding Guitar Playing
author: David Lemire
This CD is loaded with energetic, wonderfully played, FUN blues rock in the tradition of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Griff Hamlin is a whomping-good guitar player with a muscular musical style, and he's assembled a bunch of great tunes. He's backed up by a strong rhythm section, and this CD rocks from start to finish. Track 5 "Morality" has a wonderfully spooky atmosphere. Track 6 "G String Shuffle" has the sound of a trio of terrific players just stretching out and having a good time. Throughout the disk the potent, no-nonsense sound of Griff Hamlin's guitar sets the tone and propels the music. Good stuff, highly recommended.

The Griff Hamlin Band