Recap: Rod Hamdallah, Motor Exploder, and Massive 45 at The Earl
By: Stephen Wilkins
Photos by: Jordan Neal
Originally published December 17, 2019, by Plasma Magazine
Friday, December thirteenth was a soggy night in East Atlanta Village, but the Earl was packed like a fresh cigarette. Christmas lights adorned the back wall, center poles, and nearly every other crevice that could be found. All the holiday illumination added an extra sparkle to the Irish Christmas tree made of Jameson bottles. Despite the rain, the Village was anything but empty as patrons ducked into their normal haunts to escape the downpour. Patrons downed rounds of PBR while waiting for the doors to open for Rod Hamdallah, Massive 45, and Motor Exploder.
Before he could buy his first drink, Rod Hamdallah was cutting his teeth at local blues bars from Kennesaw to Atlanta. Heavily influenced by early soul, garage rock, and delta blues, Rod has honed his skills and influences into something all his own. He seamlessly blends roots and rock ‘n’ roll without sounding like your average bar-room blues band stuck in twelve-bar purgatory.
Motor Exploder started out the night with some loud, raucous, and unkempt numbers, somewhere between blues and grunge, with a hint of country twang. It was the four pieces inaugural show which, while well-rehearsed, still had some kinks to work out. The set held tunes with some swagger, but much of it just turned into a wall of noise with no discernible distinction between instrumentation and vocals. Next on the bill was Massive 45, a three-piece band fashioned after the likes of The Kinks, The Who, and other mod bands of the late 60’s “Swinging London” scene. Lead singer and guitarist Sean Thompson with his layered haircut, short in the front to long in the back framing his face, lead the trio through a set of bombastic rock ’n’ roll and proto-punk. Massive 45 sounds closer to hard rock than flower power, but is still soaked in psychedelia.
Rod Hamdallah was the last act of the night, bringing his signature lighthearted swagger to the evening. Accompanied by Shane Pringle on bass, and John Manley on drums, the trio brought the house down with tunes off of Hamdallah’s 2014 Think About It EP, which is set to be re-released in 2020 on vinyl. Hamdallah’s guitar chops were on full display as they tore through versions of “I Don’t Mind” and the title track “Think About It”. Hamdallah has always had a jovial stage presence, frequently cracking jokes between songs, but his time touring with the Legendary Shack Shakers has obviously allowed his guitar skills and comfort on stage to flourish.
Since his break with the Legendary Shack Shakers, which took him touring across the U.S. and Europe, Rod became a founding member of The Gartrells. A rock ‘n’ roll outfit including Jonah and Jared Swilley of The Black Lips and John Kang. Through all this, Hamdallah has made enough of a name for himself to set out for a short run in Europe to share his solo work in February of 2020.
All in all, it was a well rounded night of some good ole rock ‘n’ roll. At show's end, everyone poured out of The Earl to their respective destinations, doing their best to stay warm and dodge the downpour. Atlanta never ceases to amaze; whatever niche you’re into, it’s here. It might take a little digging, but that’s the beauty of our vastly diverse city.
