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Their past - Good times and strong drink
 Hamilton has always been the heavy industry capital of Canada. Although
the city had a tradition of producing "punk rock" pioneers in
the 1970's, including Teenage Head and the Forgotten Rebels, these and
other subsequent bands were cultural by-products of the industrial environment,
kids who felt different in a working class town. Not until 1997 did the
Hamilton scene produce a band that chose not to whine from society's sidelines
but to proudly embrace it's working class identity.
The Hammer Boiz as individuals knew one another through years of running
into each other at pubs, gigs, parties in the "Hammer" (a.k.a.
Hamilton). Because they found themselves unhappy in, or thrown out of
other bands for various reasons, they decided to start a band that would
be more about booze and fun than anything else. Booze and fun for them,
and booze and fun for their ever widening circle of friends.
Early Hammerboiz shows featured "punk" and "Oi!"
classics that crowds could sing along with, beer in hand after a hard
week at work. To this day, the Hammerboiz only do shows on weekends in
the belief that neither them, nor their friends should go to work with
a hangover. Cover songs were personalized such that the audience could
sing along with familiar tunes albeit with new, more relevant lyrics.
Cock Sparrer's "England belongs to me" become "Steeltown
belongs to me" and so on. At Hammerboiz shows throughout Ontario,
crowds loyally came to drink, sing along and be part of the event.
Their present - Making anthems
Hammerboiz originals such as those on their demo an the "Brewed
in Canada" compilation - although those last ones were mastered at
a too slow speed by the label - are written to be infectious live, demanding
audience participation. The first originals were reminiscent of British
Oi bands, "Burn's pub" is a good example. Lately though, there's
been more variation in their sound to allow a distinct personality to
develop. despite the conscious variation from traditional Oi to a more
rocking sound, lyrical content remains consistent. The Hammerboiz deal
in common sense without any artsy-fartsy poetry or patronizing political
dogma. Most of all, it's authentic. While other bands fall back on "artistic
license", making up bullshit stories to impress, the Hammerboiz relate
true experiences from their own lives and those of their friends. No preaching,
no bullshit, just a slap on the back and a heartfelt "cheers".
Their future - More good times, more strong drink
The time has come to start committing Hammerboiz to disc. The ultimate
intention is still just to have some laught live, but recordings will
familiarize fans in a wider geographical area with their material. Their
music should be a soundtrack for enthusiastic drinking, and then showing
up in towns throughout North America and Europe to raise their voices,
and their pints with new friends. Thus the album "Steel city brewed"
was recorded in February 2000 and should be available in September.
Anybody interested in contacting the Hammerboiz can contact them at Hammerboiz,
c/o Martins Bowling Alley, 929 King Street E., Hamilton - Ontario, L8M
1B9, Canada
or hammerboiz@hotmail.com
Hammerboiz photos courtesy of Mike RCS
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