Momma Hankton is wrapping up its busiest month so far. The band, nearly two years old, is capping a run of five shows in and around Philadelphia in March with an appearance at the Roadhouse Inn in Levittown this Thursday.
Usually the band only plays once or twice a month. But, as seems to often be the case for the four-piece, it just worked out that way.
“We were looking for shows anywhere and it kind of fell into place that we got offered shows each weekend,” explained drummer Sam Guarnieri.
It’s similar to how the band came together: Guarnieri and old friend and bassist Mike Dreger were jamming regularly, if informally, with Dreger’s roommate, guitarist Pete Bowman, when someone asked if they knew a band who could play a party. The trio drafted guitarist Dan Schrader and played it themselves.
“We got a pretty good response,” recalled Guarnieri. “At that time we had practiced for three or four months, four days a week. People said they were surprised it was our first show.”
Later, a gig at the club Bourbon and Branch put them in talks with producer Bill Moriarty, who’s worked with bands like The Districts and Dr. Dog, favorites among the guys in Momma Hankton. Moriarty’s manager caught their set and put them in touch, thinking they’d be a good fit. The band is now planning to work with him this summer to record their follow-up to last year’s EP.
“It’ll be a big break for us to work with a producer and someone of his caliber,” said Guarnieri.
Even a signature part of the band’s sound, a laidback, swampy feel fused with classic rock muscle and catchy hooks, can be attributed to certain degree of serendipity.
“I think a lot of the jamming before writing songs, it inadvertently gave it this grimy sound. It’s very rooted in rhythm, and then the melodies came after that,” offered Guarnieri. Overall, he said, “We always wanted to make something that was catchy but not super poppy.”
Of course, those strokes of luck wouldn’t amount to much without some hard work behind them, and Momma Hankton is certainly doing its part. Fans at the recent string of shows will have heard a few new songs. Those are just a sampling of the new ones they’re gearing up to record this summer, including a handful that are almost ready to go.
“We’ve been slowly working them into the set, and there are four or five songs we haven’t had time to sit down and really finish yet,” said Guarnieri. “Right now we’re just trying to get through this month, but we definitely have a lot of new stuff in the works.”
Momma Hankton will perform at the Roadhouse Inn, 2200 New Falls Road in Levittown, on March 24. For information, visit www.mommahankton.com.
