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Jan 10, 2012
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Dead Pets [Music as Math Remix]
Hello Hammerheads
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[DOWNLOAD "DEAD PETS REMIX" BY CLICKING HERE!]
Behold Chris Ploeg (the other half of Hello Hammerheads) shares his very own remix version of Dead Pets from Hello Hammerheads Greatest Hits! Chris is working under the new moniker Music as Math and has his own project well underway.
Dead Pets
Sitting in a parking lot
with promises that you forgot
God this is a lonely place
and by the look on your face
it's safe to assume that
I’ve been replaced
Oh haven’t you heard
I’m just bones and fur
Put to sleep for a trick that I couldn’t learn
Am I nothing but a dead pet?
Is heaven filled with all your friends?
Do you count me one of them?
Or do you plan to bury me behind your house
away from where the kids come out
in a tiny little grave
a creature that no one could save
I meant it... all these years of crying out
for you to make life meaningful
and me, more than an animal
If I didn’t make it
I’m nothing but a dead pet
Oh if I didn’t make it
Don’t want to be a dead pet
Dec 8, 2011
Glory Singers
Sometimes I play with this band called the Glory Singers. Want to hear some Glory Singers music? Click here.
The Glory Singers are a musical group consisting of rotating members from various Chicago musicians. The mind-child of Darren Spitzer (The Changes) and Rocco Labriola (Cracklin Moth, Van Ghost) the Glory Singers usually play original songs (written by its members) or dreamy old-time covers by such artist as The Everly Brothers, Hank Williams Senior, The Soul Stirrers and Eddie Arnold.
Other members of the Glory Singers typically seen at shows include: Josh Kalmus, Josh Seib (Satelite 66), Jeremey Lindsey (JT & The Clouds, JT Nero), Matt Ammerman (Hello Hammerheads, Cracklin Moth), John Kimler, and Chad Cheatham The Glory Singers have normally performed in Chicago at venues like Schubas and the Burlington.
Want to visit Glory Singers on Facebook? Click here.
Nov 18, 2011
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Pole Star Blues
Matt Ammerman
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[DOWNLOAD "POLE STAR BLUES" BY CLICKING HERE!]
Pole Star Blues
Last night I saw an Indian's ghost in the shadow of my front door
He said, "Boy you're livin' on my bones and I'm gonna have to settle the score."
Either way tomorrow honey won't be round here no more
Which way does the wind blow?
Which way does the wind blow?
Which way does the wind blow?
...and that's the way I'm going
Lately my dream catcher's only catchin' all of my good dreams
Dragging my ass throughout the day and at night I lay awake in my sleep
If I don't find my pole star baby won't be nothin' left of me
Which way does the wind blow?
Which way does the wind blow?
Which way does the wind blow?
...and that's the way I'm going
I know that its a bummer that you don't have my number
But I can not risk talking to you
Its not me baby, it is you
* Also another great picture by Teddy Waffles that was just right for this tune.
Nov 8, 2011
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City Gal
Matt Ammerman
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[DOWNLOAD "CITY GAL" BY CLICKING HERE!]
Here's a little tune I wrote recently with the Glory Singers in mind. The Glory Singers are some Chicago musicians, from different bands, that get together to play old-timey covers and some original material as well. This tune was inspired by love and late evening rides on Chicago's elevated Brown Line to Schubas Tavern. I thought the above picture by Teddy Wachholz (a local Chicago photographer who also goes by the name of Teddy Waffles) went just perfect with the tune.
City Gal
Aug 8, 2011
A Little About Hello Hammerheads: Greatest Hits!
THE ALBUM
During one of our survival weekends camping in the woods in Michigan, Chris Ploeg and I started to talk about what to do after Cracklin Moth. Chris, a drummer, producer, recording engineer and occasional song-writer, had dedicated literally years of his time to recording two EPs with me and my former band, Cracklin Moth. Having played at least 50 shows in and around Chicago with the band, as well as recording 2 EPs with which I couldn’t have been happier with some really generous, talented musicians, I was interested in devoting more time to my real passion: recording.
I knew I wanted to do a full album that meshed my melodic song-writing style with my favorite subject matters: love, God, nature, bears, and prehistoric animals. Chris had recently introduced me to some great electronic music and instruments, and we figured we could throw those things in too. The result: We made music that sounded electronic. We made music that sounded like Big Foot. We dubbed this new direction "Hairy-Atari Music".
Channeling synth bands (Depeche Mode, Postal Service, Dave Bazan's Headphones, The Notwist, Active Child, Washed Out, Twin Shadows, LCD Soundsystem etc.), we spent the past few years messing with new gear and programs and writing and recording songs.
Lyrically, I can say every word on this album has a personal connection. Many songs have blended meanings and histories. ‘Fangs’ deals with a person who has burned his last bridge and run out of friends. ‘Only Lonely’ speaks of yearning to hear from a silent God and to be with a distant mate. ‘Wars’ looks at the thin line between physical war and a disastrous relationships. ‘Shallow’ expresses fear of not knowing what you're doing with your life and a hope that perhaps it isn't too late to change. ‘Hands’ explores faith and the irony of following without being able to see what's up ahead. ‘Clouds’ tries to explain depression to a committed lover. ‘Bear Hugs’ conveys a commitment to a relationship and the struggle to stay together even when it seems that couples around keep splitting up. ‘Dead Pets’ is a sincere lament by someone who wants to be accepted and wants to believe that they really have a soul after all.
This is the best summary I can come up with for what we've done here. We're glad to be done with it, and hope you can both connect with and be entertained by it at the same time.
- Matt Ammerman
THE COVER ART
The artwork for Hello Hammerheads: Greatest Hits! was created by the photographer Barry Underwood. I flipped through hundreds of images online and in magazines and was instantly engaged by Barry's work. His subjects have been described as “typically modified natural landscapes”.
I felt like Barry's work complemented the blending of the organic subject matter and electronic presentation found on Hello Hammerheads: Greatest Hits! Barry’s work has been featured in Real Simple Magazine and the London Times Spectrum. If you want to see more of his wonderful artwork check out the following sites.