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CHOOCHTOWN

by HAMELL ON TRIAL

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  • Hamell not only records music, performs live, does independent writing, he also paints. All of the images below, and many you see as the accompanying artwork on the digital releases, are Hamell paintings. These vary in size and price, but are all acrylic on canvas. Hamell paints scenes inspired by the 'underground' and 'disenfranchised' of our society. Ed uses bold and bright colors in his paintings which contrast the darker subject matter, championing the underclass, drawing you into the characters he depicts, endearing you to them and sparking emotions one might not anticipate.Hamell is also available for specific painting commissions. For serious inquiries to purchase Hamell original art contact Emily at hamelltv@gmail.com
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1.
2.
I don't want to be 'round, when Bobby comes down, you know how that can be, yeah you know better than me. I don't want to be here, when Bobby gets clear and he gives you that weird eye, I think I'd better say goodbye. Yeah the party always starts out really cool, then Bobby's got to go and find himself a fool. Fun to hang here when he's high, you couldn't find a nicer guy, he would give you his own shirt, he starts to crash, someone gets hurt. So it was me, Bobby, Little Chooch and Tim. Chooch is alright you can always count on him, Bobby can be cool if he's hanging out here, if he gets too high and goes out that's when things get weird. So we're going to the toddle house to get something to eat, the foods pretty good at 3A.M. but this time it was beat and we're sitting in the booth and to tell you the truth, bobby's throwing shit around and he's acting real uncouth. And I figure it's only moments 'til the manager calls the cops, when Bobby gets all quiet and into his eggs he drops, he passes out at the table, wakes up and heaves, and there's vomit all over the counter and he pays the check and leaves. And he's almost to the corner when out comes the waiter, Bobby says "Get the fuck off me man, I wasn't sick until I ate here.", Bobby smacks the waiter, blood all down his nose, Chooch says, "Hang out with Bobby man, that's just the way it goes." Well Bobby feels bad from what I can guess because the next day he sends a mop to the Toddle House UPS, lights a big fat one, stretches his legs he says, "Man I gotta learn not to put that chili on my eggs." Yeah the party always starts out really cool, then Bobby's gotta go and find himself a fool. Well I guess you gotta stay, Bobby likes his girls that way, and I hope you'll be alright, I'll be back tomorrow night. I don't wanna be round, when Bobby comes down, I don't wanna be round.....
3.
Everybody wants to talk to me they want to give me good advice designed to set me free, in one ear and out the other I would never say the things you do my brother, insults all dressed up as aid, who the hell was asking you anyway, Don't condescend and don't talk down, who elected you the mayor of opinion town? I gotta figure no great detection, you stuffed the ballot at that election, you rigged the vote and that's all she wrote, the next day in the Times I read your quote, "I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna do, Hello Mr. Hamell let's start with you, How much money you got, you can't have a lot, your clothes, your car, your hair, your gear is shot. Got a lot of things hanging round my head. Feel a whole lot better when it gets said. You gotta give me just three minutes to unload, if I don't let it out I might explode! That ain't the stuff that cuts to the quick, you keep on talking you think I'm thick, this one or that one how good they're doing, the deals they got brewing you act like I'm ruined but NO! sour grapes rap, so called success nothing but crap, feels good tied with a bow and they got to make the money 'cause that's all they know but the quality's like a plane on the dive, people call 'em artists but it's nothing but jive, people wonder why I lock the door and put The Stooges on, turn the volume up to ten. I got a gnawing sensation, history won't be kind to my generation, gets any worse it occurs to me no president without plastic surgery. I listen to your talk show on the TV and the radio, audience is cool let their conscience rule but the front of your shirt is bathed with drool because you're chasing that celebrity you got your camera on the trailer you won't let it be, affairs with the sister, affairs with the mom, first time live when you drop the bomb, now watch that fifteen minutes of fame, become a life of shame, who am I to say, what do I know, I'm stuck to that show Cops like it's made of velcro, and the Bounty Hunter show sucks me in, ain't gonna lie could be me and my friends, chased by acid wash and bad hair Oak Ridge Boys with a badge my worst nightmare.
4.
I'm gonna watch you sleep awhile, you don't like it when I'm gawking in the morning before you've had your coffee you say I am warning you. I'm going to watch you sleep awhile, you don't like it when I'm barging in the bathroom, staring at you while you take a shower now's the best time to gaze at you. Man you look so beautiful, I could gaze for hours 'cause I really get a kick here, I wonder what you dream your eyes just gave a little flicker. Dream, beautiful dream. Knowing you the way I do, maybe you are dreaming 'bout a summer on the ocean, there in Provincetown you read a book and spread the lotion, rest, rest, rest. Maybe you are dreaming that, we have bought a house and now we do not have to answer, to some dumb landlord that treats us like we are a cancer, yes, yes, yes. So your childhood wasn't great, there in your subconscious there's a door you cannot latch it, do you dream I find your dad and chop him with a hatchet, cool, cool, cool. I'm gonna watch you sleep awhile, you don't like it when I watch you when you put your clothes on, I kiss your forehead I hope that only good stuff goes on, in your dreams.
5.
UNCLE MORRIS 02:27
When it gets a little scary with the winds all breathing hard with the papers and the subway don't you want to fence your yard? Check the fridge and scan the cable thanks the radio's the same, maybe you should call up Charlie, catch a buzz and watch the game. Where's the yearbook '86, check the lineup in gym class, where's that little wussy Tabin, Jesus how you kicked his ass, caught outside the mall at sundown, never liked his clothes or walk, 16 stitches broken shoulder, man you should have heard him squawk. Arm yourself says Uncle Morris, meet me in the fields at night, bring along the Constitution, teach the children how to fight. How's about the pussy lately, getting cocky for control, if you do not have a gold card you can pull your own damn pole. At the office don't be joking now the cunt don't have to smile, you start grabbin' and she'll sue you set your ass in jail awhile. You can't date without a rubber, you can't date without a line, call 900 call 'em bitches, whores and dykes and then feel fine. Every faggot homo downtown, every nigger, spic and yid, every jerk off who ignores you, don't you want to flip your lid? Scan the channels they're invading, every TV show has more, arm yourself says Uncle Morris then we'll show them whats in store. Can't they build a mall bi-coastal? Enter Jersey leave LA? Mick-D's in Pennsylvania,Baton Rouge and Monterrey? Didn't it once all ring familiar? Weren't the bells all bright and clear? Why's the sound all getting muffled, like there's cotton i my ears? Arm yourself says Uncle Morris, look out 'fore it is too late, what the hells the country built on teach the children how to hate.
6.
DISCONNECTED 02:12
I need more than inspiration tonight I got a chill in my soul and everyone wants to fight, I'm tired and scared and nothing seems right: I'm disconnected, I'm disconnected. I know it's the fashion to say I don't care, to give the cynic's knowing glance and grunt, "I've been there", no sooner does it pass my lips I'm wrapped in despair: I'm disconnected, I'm disconnected. Early in the morning and it's just about, 3, I'm carrying a lantern and I'm looking for me, I ain't here nor there as far as I can see. Love thy neighbor, that's a big goal, love thy enemy, like yelling down a hole, maybe trying to comprehend each other might save our soul. Well I got a flat tire and my car is broke down on the information highway leading far out of town, I'm not down loaded, I'm just loaded and down. I'm disconnected, I'm disconnected. the TV and the radio and the mail and the phone. The road the hood the church the bars and right here at home, I stop to think a crowd walks by I feel so alone. I need more than inspiration tonight, I got a chill in my soul and everyone wants to fight, I'm tired, I'm scared and nothing seems right, I'm disconnected, I'm disconnected.
7.
She works days at Wendy's, one shift Friday night, hes got a cherry La-mans, it was love at first sight, here we go again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend. Broke down in Houston on a Pep Boys run, she seen an El Camino so she stuck out her thumb, here we go again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend. He had a story when they parked about a Nike world drop, after dark. The cash was sweeter than a Burger King shake, she barely used the gun that he asked her to take. She stole the car from the Motel 6, she seen a hitchhiker he was in a fix, he had two grams of white he had an OZ of green, he was the cutest damn thing that she ever seen, here we go again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend. The drugs ran out, so did his appeal, she gave him the car, you know he lost on the deal. At the used car lot, the salesman grinned, She said "Can I drive?" He said, "Get in!" Going 90 in the desert with the top down had to shout. He screamed, "I'm married." She screamed, "Get out!", here we go again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend., Flashing lights in the desert, unbuttoned it was warm, he was writing the ticket he had a fine uniform. He had a Crown Victoria, the detail had style. She liked his gun, he liked her smile. Here we go again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend.,
8.
CHOOCHTOWN 03:47
My name is Chooch I don't know what you heard, about the night in question: Word, it's only half the story, a lot more went down, I don't hang out with Bobby, he's a fucking clown, I mean I might sell him drugs or a stereo that's hot but I hang out with players and Bobby definitely is not. I hang in bars uptown, I got a credit card scam, I got a call from McClusky, you know he thinks hes the man. Some kind of hot shit lawyer, friend to the stars and it's mad crazy money and it's styling bad cars, he calls me up to his office, he knows I know the street, he says, "Hey close the door", I say, "Oh very discreet." seems he's got a famous client that had his house cleaned, in more ways than one if you know what I mean, and the house maid stole some photos of him and some kids, and if this stuff should surface, this client hits the skids, there's a blackmail letter, I didn't ask how much and he gave me an address and I said, "Yeah, I'd be in touch." I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm Chooch don't you now. I check out the address, she moves out on the 15th, there's a guy Joe Brush who lives there and he spills the beans, seems she moves out at night, she don't pay the rent, she's got a boyfriend calling the shots and he don't know where they went. Then Joe remembers this boyfriends a cook, at the Toddle House, I go over there and take a look. It's the graveyard shift, I'm there about 3AM, I ask about the photos but things get out of hand, so I stuff him in the cooler, I rearrange his face, I rifle through his pockets, I find a lease on a new place. There's noises in the back, I go out where they're eating, and there's fucking Bobby man giving the place a verbal beating. And I'm trying to be invisible, and he's yelling, "Chooch come here!", I figure I can sit with guys til I can make it clear but I gotta hit the cook's house you know tonight and of course when we're leaving fucking Bobby's gotta fight. Hey, I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm Chooch don't you know. So I ditch these guys quick I take a cab to the address, and the housemaid gives up the photos with very little stress, but as I round the corner something dawns on me, I recognize from the photos, this old actor from TV, and he's having sex with children, now this would close the door on future shots on Bay Watch and Mary Tyler Moore. So i visit this old actor, firmly explain my situation and he gives me 90 G's to show his appreciation and I buy an El Camino until the heat dies down and I figure I'll run some product down to Texas, I like that Houston town. Hey, I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm good to go, I'm Chooch don't you know. I
9.
SHOUT OUTS 02:21
10.
THE LOTTERY 02:54
I'm gonna win the lottery, a dollar down you wait and see, Ping Pong balls speak to me, exacto match numerically. I'll be flying when I enter, the lotto redemption center, get calls from new family members, it's a shame I never met ya.Yeah, yeah, yeah,... get 'em easy I'm no jerk, call the Psychic Network, dial 800, she will say, What's the way to San Jose? I am just a common fella, let me talk to the fortune teller, crystal ball, what you gotto? Pick me six for my lotto, I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win the lottery. I'm gonna get a brand new car, with stereo TV and bar, fax and email, cellular, room to crank up my guitar. Do not say, you ain't able, to fit in my billiard table, then the sauna, then the cable, backseat is a polo stable. yeah, yeah, yeah... A new house, for my wife, we've been dreaming all our lives, six blocks long, 40 acre spread, have to take a cab from the bath to the bed. My wife thinks of her family, a woman of generosity, that's okay I dig her mother, bribe the judge, parole her brother. I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win the lottery. Now i got the dough to feed 'em, I'm gonna get to work and breed 'em. their dad is a high roller, Porshe engine for their stroller, I'm gonna find a charity, people who took care of me, cancer and alzheimers, money well spent no social climber, I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win the lottery.
11.
I'm a private detective, I left at midnight, I got a 5 hour drive, a place I don't want to go. A lawyer woke this morning, looking for a girl, I didn't like his attitude, I can't pass up the dough. I knew her from the photo, the fiance of a dead friend, I didn't let on sometimes it's best to pretend. Her name was Cynthia, her boyfriend Glover, she was brilliantly doomed, I got a kick how he loved her. The Long Drive. Got to the hotel, set the alarm, I would check the old hangouts so I got up at 10. no luck by afternoon, I stopped at Brunels, the bartender said he's seen her, but couldn't remember when. A ten refreshed his memory, Friday she was round, the night that Joe the Box got poisoned, and ended up face down. His funeral was this evening, though I doubted she'd be there, they were drug dealing acquaintances and she could hardly care, the Long Drive. The funeral was quiet, Box wasn't that popular, Cynthia was a no show I headed to the car. I saw Yugoslavian Mike, runs an all night card game, for years I saw him nightly, I was there trending bar. Hows the game, I asked. It's a living, Mike said. And I'm glad to say it, now there's 4 drug dealers dead, every one of them poisoned, like Box the same, later, I gotta run, you, drop by the game. The Long Drive. I went and caught a movie, would have gone to Glover's grave, but he'd been cremated and I wondered about the ashes. Turned up empty on Cyn, some said she'd moved, I had a hunch, sometimes I get these flashes. I was outside of Mikes, she was leaving with a box, I made a U, it was raining, I tailed her 15 blocks. She parked outside of Glover's they'd kept a two room flat, I waited half and tapped light, mind Cyn if we chat? The Long Drive. Smoked cigarettes in the dark, I remember when I met her, these last years a waste. All of Glover's drugs, all of her prayers, I eased the box from her, I took a little taste. His ashes Cyn? Did you cut them with Strychnine? She wasn't hiding nothing when her eyes met mine. Not a dealer at his funeral, these so called friends deserved to die, I slip him in their drinks she said, and then it's pfft good bye. The Long Drive. they're on to you Cyn, they sent me to find you, they're small time dealers but they got bosses. They probably won't search, it ain't that big a deal, but you gotta leave now, you're causing them losses. I can get you set up, come with me to the city. She said, "I guess I should go, do you think I'm still pretty?" we left her car there, she got into my ride, we hit the bridge after sunrise and threw the ashes over the side. The Long Drive.
12.
JUDY 03:25
Oh we are gonna party, when Judy gets back from the rehab, she ain't gonna know, she might not even be invited. She taught me everything I know, know, she taught me everything I know, who is a dirty so and so who might be coughing up the dough. She told me Eve got raped, it happened on the first date, it was the first of the first dates, they dance to some band called The Snakes. She had a bloody party dress, cursed at the heavens, what a mess, God said, "Eve you're under stress." No one in Eden would confess. She taught me everything I know, . She taught me everything I know, who is a dirty so and so who might be coughing up the dough. When Judy gets back from the rehab, we're gonna talk if she will want to, I will be quiet if she wants to, make myself scarce if she wants to. She told me secrets of the King. I told her don't say a thing. That him and her had a fling. his wife was in on this thing. Yo8 can bet that the press, had the palace address, everyone digs playing chess, they had their pictures all undressed. She taught me everything I know, know. She taught me everything I know, Who is a dirty so and so who might be coughing up the dough. I said one two three four, one two three, one two, three, one two three four, one two three, one two three,one two three, yeah! Welcome back Judy!!! She told me secrets of the night, the purple black and the white, out on the road it feels right, Masters of the Airwaves, getting tight. He comes home at 5:15, everyday he just acts mean, his says his life is obscene, I dig the light when it's green. She taught me everything I know, know, she taught me everything I know, who is a dirty so and so, who might be coughing up the dough. I said 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Yeah! Welcome back Judy!!!
13.
JOE BRUSH 02:55
His name was Joe Brush, he could play that guitar, that's all he ever did, til he met Susan. this put a curve into Joe's lack of plans, he knew that his heart he was losing. they got a place, right in the city, wouldn't you know his band began to draw. joe would take Susan swimming in the ocean, prettiest damn thing you ever saw. this is too important to let slip through his fingers, like sand, like plans like smoke. Before his mouth had knew what hit it, his mouth, it spoke. The discerning listener knows this is too good to be true, Joe's gonna mess it up and he did.Could be the garden of Eden, could be original sin, could be the cocaine or bourbon, this ain't no judgement call. Susan caught Joe in a Motel 6, with a redhead, she couldn't have been 19. she packed up and left, never to return, gone so fast she couldn't have heard him plead. He thought about what's near and dear, he remembered Van Gogh's ear, he cut off his guitar playing finger instead. Susan got it in the mail, oh, he lost his finger, oh, it seems he also lost his head. Susan liked to have given the finger to Joe but she moved to San Francisco with some money from an inheritance and Joe now plays a mean slide guitar. (Chorus to end)
14.
THE MALL 03:01
This is a story of a swamp and the monster that lies in that swamp and a couple of buildings that lie around hat swamp...it's a love story. At the nuclear plantsite lies a swamp that glows at night and a mall is built by developers and a monster lies beneath, raises hell with her. She's got a venom, makes them want to buy, or there's a flame in the brain, and the skull will fry. Whores and slaves, and drugs and crooks, in the shadow of the mall and everyone's hooked. This strip of sin surrounds the mall, I play in a band and I've seen it all. the drummer's sister waitress's nights at the Toddle House, she seems alright. I hit the Toddle House every night to eat, we start dating, even exchange keys. Do you want to buy? It was the call of the mall that kept me on the ball, she keeps me hoppin' with the shopping and you know I cannot find her at all. It was the lure to procure that challenged our amour, it was the buying that was trying and did nothing for the loving ensure. Then one night after practice with the band, I open up the door and I screamed, "OH MAN!", Shew cleaned me out, but I didn't care, I cried real hard 'cause I lost her. I went by where she worked to say, "No harm done", some guys were beating on a waiter so I just moved on. Do you want to buy? It was the lure to procure that challenged our amour, it was the buying that was trying and did nothing for the loving ensure, it was the sheets of concrete that swept her off her feet, she was my honey with my money couldn't see her for the showers of receipts. Do you want to buy?
15.
16.
BILL HICKS 03:40
I wish Bill Hicks was alive, I wish Bill Hicks had survived. But as Bill would be the first to answer, this is the real world and he had cancer. I wish Bill Hicks was alive. I would bring my friends to see Bill do brilliant comedy. Watch him needle an aristocrat, I wouldn't resurrect him only for that, I wish Bill Hicks was alive. The Devil calls up to heaven, he says, "Put me through to God." God gets on the phone and says, "What?" The Devil says, "You got Bill Hicks up there?" God says, "Yup. Two weeks. Sold out. Gabriel arena." The Devil says, "Sold Out?" God says , "Yup, we love him up here, we're busing them up from Purgatory." The devil says, "Can you get me tickets?" God says, "Huh!? What have you ever done for me!??" The Devil says, "Hey without me there would be no you!" God says, "Well I'll see what I can do." The Devil says, "You think you can get me some of those backstage passes?" God says, "You're pushing it, you're always pushing it!" For all the reasons I just gave to bring Bill back from the grave, the world is crazy and you're on your own, I hear Bill's voice i feel I'm not alone. I wish Bill Hick's was alive.

about

I was living in Brooklyn, constantly on the road, and been dropped from my major label deal on Mercury/Universal. I really had nothing to lose and I was very inspired, if I remember, by the movie Pulp Fiction and the Biggie Smalls record: Ready To Die. I recorded anywhere I could. My friend Billy Nicgorski had an analog one inch studio in his basement, his younger brother had a band and I would use them. I also did a bunch of it in my basement in Brooklyn which had a dirt floor and I set the recording gear up on plastic paint pails. Used them as drums sometimes too. I released it on my own label Such-A-Punch and it got licensed to Evangeline in the UK where it got rave reviews and established my career over there. After all the press I got for my first two albums on a major I couldn't get shit over here in the States, only that CMJ magazine which took their silliness pretty seriously who basically said, "We don't know what it is but it's art." Duh. I'm pretty proud of all my records, I've been very lucky in that I've always been able to maintain complete creative control but this one I was particularly proud of because every inch of it, from the recording which one track as you'll see was recorded on my boom box, to the artwork, was all mine.
"...amazing and entertaining and poignant..." -- The Stereo Times Online Magazine, October 2000

"...high-spirited...manic energy..artful" -- CMJ, April 2000

*****(5 stars--highest rating) "Absolutely brilliant!" -- UNCUT Magazine, April 2001

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released October 7, 2013

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HAMELL ON TRIAL Austin, Texas

Hamell on Trial is loud, fast music informed by politics, intelligence and a wicked sense of humor.
1995-Mercury Records-Big as Life, The Chord is Mightier Than the Sword.
1997- Choochtown
2003-Righteous Babe Records-Tough Love
2005, Songs For Parents Who Enjoy Drugs.
2007-“The Terrorism Of Everyday Life,” (Edinburgh Fringe Herald Award)
2012-New West Records -The Happiest Man Alive.
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