Saw*Kick Media

Cleveland’s Hot Ham & Cheese released its debut full length album Revolution & Revelations on Jib Machine Records in April of this year. Since then they have embarked on the nationwide Churn n’ Burn tour and received a considerable amount of favorable press for the effort. This tasty lunch time treat has attracted a solid following by creating an ambitious brand of modern hard rock. We sat down with the guys to talk about their personal revolutions and revaluations, some of the bands favorite gear, and ridding the world of no talent, weasel fucks.

S*KM: You guys have been laying low since you finished the Churn n’ Burn tour and CD release show, what has been going on in the HH&C camp?

HH&C: We’ve actually been planning our fall schedule as well as recuperating. We’ve had some family and health issues that we had to deal with, so it’s good that we’ve had a little bit of down time.

S*KM: The title of the new album is Revolution & Revelations, what kind of revolutions and revelations would you like to see happen?

HH&C: Revolution - We’d like to see the American people take charge of our country again. The Bush Administration consists of a bunch of renegades who abused the Constitution for the past 8 years and used 9/11 as an excuse to carry out a false war. Revelation - We’d like to see the masses figure out that religion is BS and the root of most of the world’s problems.

S*KM: Along with a review here at S*KM you were also recently reviewed by Cleveland Scene magazine. How has the new album been received and has it opened any new doors for the band?

HH&C: The new album has been received really well. It’s sold better than expected thus far and the reviews have been mostly positive. No new doors have opened yet…at least that we know of, but the disc has only been out for a little over two months so we’ll see what happens.

S*KM: With a name as zany as Hot Ham & Cheese I can’t help but ask how the name came to fruition?

HH&C: Well, the story really isn’t that exciting. When Charlie and Robby jammed together for the first time, it was apparent that we had something. After the session, Robby jokingly said, “I always wanted to be in a band called Hot Ham & Cheese,” and Charlie replied, “okay, then that’s what we’re called.” The rest is history.

S*KM: Other then your label, who or what from the Cleveland area has provided the most support for bands like yourself to help gain exposure?

HH&C: Scrub Radio, Track_Six_Recording, Cleveland Free Times/Cleveland Scene, Toxic Entertainment, Cleveland Rock Network. We also had sponsorships from Budweiser & Vitamin Water for our tour, which was really cool.

S*KM: How has your label, Jib Machine Records, helped give you an edge over the slew of unsigned bands patrolling the area?

HH&C: It mainly helps because you’re taken more seriously when you’re on a label. But, it also helps because we’re able to partner up with other bands on our label to cut costs for things like promotion, merchandise and even touring. Plus, our label has its own radio show (JibNation on Scrub Radio…every Tuesday night from 10pm - 1am EST) that really helps to get the word out in the underground.

S*KM: Let’s get technical, name some choice gear featured in a HH&C rig?

HH&C: Charlie uses a Mesa Single Rectifier, Custom Mesa Cab, Gibson SG Gothic with custom pick-ups, Washburn Dime V, BOSS pedals. Louie uses an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro, Ampeg 8×10 cab, Schecter Studio 5, Fender Jaguar, Ernie Ball Strings. Robby uses a 97′ mapex 7 piece mars pro series with maple shells, DW5002 double pedal, zildjian hi hats, zildjian, sabian and paiste cymbals, all sorts of hardware and Nova 5A nylon tip sticks.

S*KM: Take a band vote, what is your favorite song in the HH&C catalog?

HH&C: “Gias”…track 10 from Revolution & Revelations.

S*KM: Some of your lyrics harbor political overtones stating, “I’m not a nephew of Sam” and “Just gonna go and get Saddam” Why do you think it is important for musicians to keep the government in check every now and then?

HH&C: We don’t think it’s important for musicians to keep the government in check…it’s not our job. But, we do believe that through our music we can help open other people’s eyes to the lies, manipulation and corruption that permeates our government…especially today. If we can make just one person not accept things at face value and/or seek out “the truth” whatever that is, then we’ve done our job.

S*KM: With that being said, what party is most inline with your political views?

HH&C: The one with the hot chics and free drugs.

S*KM: If you had the power, what is one thing you would change about the current state of the music industry?

HH&C: To rid it of all the no talent, weasel fucks that make a living by taking advantage of young bands with a dream and screwing them into signing their lives away. Along those lines, we also wish that rock n’ roll could once again become more relevant to the youth of today as the majority are brainwashed with mainstream rap and other crap like that.

You can check out Hot Ham & Cheese for yourself at www.myspace.com/hothamcheese and catch them live next on Saturday, August 16 at Fat Jimmy’s in Kent, Ohio.

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