Powder Mill

"Pride is a decomposing virtue in this day and age. We are very proud of where we came from and I don’t think we will ever leave." - Jesse Hammock

Interview with Jesse Charles Hammock II (Vocals, Guitar)

By Randy Mallett

December, 2009

BP: So what's up guys? Tell us a bit about Powder Mill.

JCH: Powder Mill came about after I came back home from Oxford, MS to record a

solo record. Old friend Pat MacSpadden on bass and my cousin Andrew Bedell on

drums. We had ideas for several guitar players. And Jeff Chapman of Trumble Hill

Studios was going to produce the effort. One morning I woke up on the floor in the

studio and decided the album could not be entirely my fault. Everybody kept bringing

ideas to the table. So we all took the blame and named it after a part of the river which

we all grew up on.

BP: It sounds like you guys are extremely proud of where you're from, and in a way,

your self-depricating humor seems to be your way of expressing that pride. Would

that be a fair statement?

JCH: I reckon that is fair enough. Pride is a decomposing virtue in this day and age. We are

very proud of where we came from and I don’t think we will ever leave. As far as humor goes

we do poke a little fun at the culture we were brought up in. Sometimes you must laugh to keep from crying. Our songs about drug abuse, death, and heavy drinking are actually sad stories but they are truth. They are neighbors, friends, and kin we are singing about.

BP: Tell us more about the naming of Powder Mill, and what it's like around your "neck of the woods."

JCH: Powder Mill is up river from where we live. We spent alot of time there growing up but the name just seemed to fit. Something explosive, something produced. A lot of folks think its a drug reference. They are a whole lot dumber than a sack of hammers.

BP: Haha. In what ways have your surroundings influenced your songwriting and style?

JCH: Our surroundings have been a huge part of our sound and songwriting. Some people call our music, “Country music”. I believe this is true because we are from the country and our stories are about people from the country. We first heard banjos, mandolins, and fiddles as young uns. As we got older and got out into the world we discovered rock and the blues as individuals. We take the instruments our daddy's and uncles played and try to throw 'em on top of the rock and roll we discovered as young men. It's honest and original. I'm really proud of that.

BP: Your last album "Do Not Go Gently" was released in this last Summer. Have you gotten good feedback so far?

JCH: Yeah we have gotten a few nods here and there. We have had great feedback across the pond in countries like Germany and Spain. I think Southern Rock is popular over there right now. In fact we saw a band on the internet that was from Germany covering one of our songs. It was flattering that these German gentleman took the time to learn our songs and sing like a hillbilly. Jambase and Honest Tune magazines have given us great recognition over here in the states...especially in the South. And Sirius satellite radio stations have put us on the rotation. As well as some college radio stations and local ones as well. Can't say enough about Z95 in Poplar Bluff and how they have helped us gain recognition. The best feedback to me personally was the great Jim Dickinson (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones) saying, “The songwriting is top drawer...” in his review of the album right before he passed away.

BP: Ah man, that's great. Well hey, he had good taste, haha. So where can the viewers go to check out your stuff? MySpace? iTunes?

JCH: www.myspace.com/powdermillmusic

And you can get all of our music on iTunes and cdbaby .

Also check out Powder Mill on Facebook.

BP: One of my favorites is the single "Trailer Trash". We had the video as Video of the Month in October and people loved it! Tell us about that song.

JCH: I actually threw that song in the trash can after I wrote it. I wrote it about a friend of ours over here in the woods. I threw it away cause I thought it was stupid and he might figure out it was bout him. He’s backwards as hell but a good family man. Later that night I went pilfering through the trash and fished it out. It was the last song we cut on the record. Glad no one puked in the trash can before I decided it was a keeper.

BP: Haha. Tell us more about that video (which is posted below). It's incredibly funny. Who shot it, and where?

JCH: We actually shot it right by Trumble Hill Studios in Jeff Chapman’s (Lead Guitar) old trailer. A fella named Neil Rosenbaum shot it and directed it. Very talented fella. He lives West of us somewhere in the woods. In fact the name of his company is Somewhere in the Woods Productions. We are currently workin' on a video that will be out before our 3rd album in 2010.

BP: So tell us more about Sirius Outlaw County spinning some of your tunes....that's awesome.

JCH: Yes they are and we very proud to be a part of Outlaw Country. It has been a dream to be played on the radio right after a Waylon Jennings song. If it had been after a Kenny Chesny song I’d rather soon die. Sirius Outlaw Country is one of my favorite radio stations. They do not try to put anything in a box. No fences. No boundaries.

BP: Personally, who are some of your favorite bands and artists?

JCH: We all come from different musical backgrounds. My influences are too many to list. Locally, Bob Camp is a hero. As well as Fred Friction. Bruce Zimmerman is great. Mike Limbaugh is one of my favorite pickers. Levon Helm (The Band) is my favorite singer prolly. I am really into Billy Joe Shaver right now. He is a poet.

BP: What does the local scene need more of?

JCH: Originality.

BP: What does the local scene need less of?

JCH: Top 40 cover songs.

BP: And lastly, who's hotter? John Malkovich or Natalie Portman?

JCH: John Malkovich today or John Malkovich 1994?