Tom Hamilton’s American Babies are set to release An Epic Battle Between Light & Dark on March 18.
Listen to the album’s opening track, “Synth Driver”:
American Babies is the pseudonym under which Philadelphia-based songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Tom Hamilton can be found creating his most personal and idiosyncratic work. Known for his relentless creative drive, Hamilton also shares his time with bands including Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Billy & The Kids (featuring Grateful Dead drummer Billy Kreutzmann) and Electron. It’s American Babies, however, that’s the home to which he always returns. And thus Hamilton is back once again with American Babies’ fourth studio album, An Epic Battle Between Light & Dark. True to its title, the songs assembled for this latest effort seem to define epic in sound and spirit. The opening track “Synth Driver” is a sprawling, seven minute-plus, War On Drugs-meets-Springsteen surge that’s spills over with despair, but finds hope in its darkest hours. “Oh Darling, My Darling” boasts eerie, soulful harmonies and a keening guitar solo reminiscent of Pink Floyd. “What Does It Mean To Be” is an exquisite example of Bowie-esque glam-funk. The brisk “Fever Dreams” starts and ends with horn-peppered twang-rock, but boasts a sparse, pedal steel-augmented bridge that’s straight-up vintage country, while the instrumental “Not In A Million Years” segues from zoned-out psychedelic rhythms into a hard-charging coda. And yet with all of it’s wide-ranging sonic hue and lyrical depth, these eight songs form a remarkably cohesive statement. Shapeshifting between Americana, psych-tinged indie and vintage rock, An Epic Battle Between Light & Dark proves Tom Hamilton’s American Babies to be one of this generation’s most consistently compelling musical endeavors.
Tour Dates:
January 26 – Jacksonville, FL – 1904 Music Hall
January 27 – Orlando FL – The Social
January 28 – Gainesville, FL – The Jam
January 29 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar
January 30 – Boca Raton, FL – Funky Buddha
January 31-February 7 – Miami, FL – Cayamo Cruise
February 18 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
February 19 – Indianapolis, IN – Mousetrap
February 20 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
February 23 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground – w/ Anders Osborne
February 24 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater – w/ Anders Osborne
February 25 – Albany, NY – The Hollow
February 26 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre – w/ Anders Osborne
February 27 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club – w/ Keller Williams
March 4-6 – Live Oak, FL – AURA Festival
March 17 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – River Street Jazz Cafe
March 18 – New Haven, CT – The Acoustic
March 19 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
