Touring in support of his latest solo album Momentary Masters, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. took the stage at La Sala Rossa on Saturday evening and put on one the weekend's most outstanding performances. Commanding the stage with erratic bravado, Hammond Jr. proved that while his recorded music is indeed good, his live shows are a completely different beast.
Embracing the punk-infused pop qualities of the Strokes records that initially launched him into the spotlight, Hammond Jr. and his talented backing band took the excited audience for a trip through the tracks on Momentary Masters, with songs like "Losing Touch" and "Caught by My Shadow" really highlighting his powerhouse vocals.
There were a few minor technical difficulties, as well as an unexplained instance when the drummer disappeared offstage for a minute or so, but Hammond Jr. managed to keep a firm grasp on the audience's attention. He wasn't even deterred when the inevitable "play a Strokes song" was yelled out near the end of the evening. Hammond Jr. merely responded coolly with a "No, we shan't dapple in that tonight my friend.
Embracing the punk-infused pop qualities of the Strokes records that initially launched him into the spotlight, Hammond Jr. and his talented backing band took the excited audience for a trip through the tracks on Momentary Masters, with songs like "Losing Touch" and "Caught by My Shadow" really highlighting his powerhouse vocals.
There were a few minor technical difficulties, as well as an unexplained instance when the drummer disappeared offstage for a minute or so, but Hammond Jr. managed to keep a firm grasp on the audience's attention. He wasn't even deterred when the inevitable "play a Strokes song" was yelled out near the end of the evening. Hammond Jr. merely responded coolly with a "No, we shan't dapple in that tonight my friend.