100 Gigs Exclusive Interview with James Hampton

PAT: So Hampton it is a privilege for me to introduce you to some of our readers, how the hell are you?

JAMES: Thanks Pat. I'm feeling great.

PAT: So lets start off with you recent gig at the Toff - huge turn out in comparison to your first gig sporting Land or Sea material - How do you feel about this exponential growth in popularity?

JAMES: I was rapt with the turn out, i think we had more people because the venue was bigger this time and because we did more advertising for this gig.

PAT: I've noticed at your gigs a wide variety of ages and interests in the crowds you are attracting; who do you see as the target audience for your tunes?

JAMES: That's a really hard one. I think my music will appeal to a younger crowd. Probably in their late teens or early twenties.

PAT: What do you think of Land or Sea? Does it live up to your expectations?

JAMES: Land or Sea was a learning curve for me, I am very happy with the final product. But next time i think the album will be better because I've learned a lot about the production side of things from my Producer Carl Schubert. I think I will be more efficient in making the album next time.

PAT: Be honest, how many times have you listened to it?

JAMES: (Laughs) enough! Maybe one hundred times! but now I never listen to it!

PAT: How long does it take you to write a song?

JAMES: Some time no time other time some time! Some times i hear music so loud it wakes me up in the middle of the night other time I'm stewing over a song for weeks! Even when a song comes all at once I still make adjustments. A song is never perfect so I just have to know when to stop.

PAT: Lyrics or music first?

JAMES: Often a word or a concept will get me started. Music is usually the first.

PAT: So we've heard some songs that are not on Land or Sea at your gigs, were these omitted or are you saving them for a future release?

JAMES: Those songs are new ones for the next album. I wrote those one while recording land or sea.

PAT: Last question Land or Sea; Who designed the cover?

JAMES: My good friend James Morrison! Not the trumpeter. My cousin Amanda Radovic took the photos and the turtles were supplied by roaming reptiles.

PAT: Now that you're in a happy relationship with the enchanting Evonne, how do you feel about singing some of your 'lost love' songs?

JAMES: Awkward!

PAT: Do you find that the emotion prevalent in many of your songs loses meaning after a while?

JAMES: Yes, I love the songs more than the girls I'm singing about.

PAT: So where do you see yourself a year from now?

JAMES: By then I hope to have new album realised.Performing often, lots of new songs written and I hope I have got a bit more of a name for myself. Id also like to have a Lamborghini and a Butler.

PAT: Jim and I agree that to host RAGE (music video show) on ABC would symbolise 'making it' in the music industry, What moment for you will tell you you've 'made it'?

JAMES: I think you have really made it if you're hosting rage that's a good one! I think if you're playing a second show at Rod Laver you have really made it!

Thanks again to James for participating and if you don't have/like your mothers, you can check him out at Manchester Lane on the 10th of May at 6pm.

James Hampton - Land or Sea Album Launch (22/4/2009)

The Toff

This night was my frst experience of The Toff in Town. It's a comfortable place with an intimate stage setup, superlative sound and dripping with mood! Drinks were fairly pricey and the bar lacked beer variety on the night. Mood lighting and a big red curtain on the stage are a great touch and scores big atmosphere points in my books; overall I'd give the place a 69%.

James Hampton

Put on another excellent gig; the mixing was perfect, the band was huge and very skilled, they were all perfectly timed and obviously well practiced. As you have probably already guessed James is a good friend of Jim and I and rather than deliver to our readers a potentially biased review of our good friend. I offer you a gift, stay tuned into this blog for future posts...
Back to the usual stuff for now though, Hampton delivered a top notch show and deserves a modest 87% for his magnificent effort.

Good night overall and churning through the numbers comes out with a 74%. Keep up the good work Hampton!

James Hampton Trio (21/3/2009)

To preface this, I'm not afraid to say that James Hampton is a good friend of mine... So while there may be some bias there, everything I say is dead true. 

Wild Oscars was apparently on that dodgy show The Chopping Block, where it had to battle another restaurant for some reason. I don't know if it won or not, but it's a good looking place, comfy couches, well stocked bar (this weekend was the Coopers festival, so there was understandably little variety) and a prime spot for loungy cruisy tunes. 

The James Hampton Trio provided the nights entertainment, with James on the keys, and dudes on bass and drums. Well stripped back compared to his last performance, and even moreso based on plans for future gigs (I'm pretty certain this sentence makes zero sense). Over two sets we were treated to most of the songs from his album, a bunch of new songs, and a few covers, one of which impressed me greatly. The great thing about James is you can tell he genuinly enjoys what he's doing... which really really matters. 

James Hampton (4/2/2009)

-by Pat

Tonight we ventured out to the Paris Cat deep within the CBD of Melbourne to see a singer/songwriter who has been getting a some press recently with the release of his debut solo album Land or Sea.

Paris Cat
This was the smallest venue visited in the 100 gigs so far and chock full of character. High quality furniture, mood lighting and intimate stage arrangement made for an excellently classy gig atmosphere. Of course this level of class doesn't come without drink prices to suit but you can never have everything.

James Hampton
This was James' first gig with the new album and I had not previously heard anything as it is recorded on Land or Sea. I'd probably put James' style deeply submerged in pop, but that doesn't tell a reader anything, I would suggest you listen to it here. Throughout the performance James sang/played piano and was accompanied by a guitar, drums, bass and a choir of 3 fine young ladies. The arrangement and utilisation of each instrument provided a lot of depth and variety to the music making it all the more interesting.
The bass and piano combination were a noticeably prominent driving force in most of the songs while the guitar seemed to noodle around and deliver a memorable riff occasionally. The singers sounded great and gave a very live feel to the act, particularly when they were dancing.
One memorable moment during the set was the song Got No Friends which was very amusing to hear. Another great moment came unexpectedly in the form of a Reprise! It's a great move to finish where you start and a reprise was a fantastic way to top off an excellent set.
Watch out for James Hampton!