Photo Credit: Bob Sweeney

Over the past three decades, singer-songwriter and guitarist Tom Hamilton has been on a path of musical self-discovery, fronting groups like Brothers Past, American Babies and Ghost Light, while also supporting the Grateful Dead cover band Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. After defining his role in a collective, Hamilton is seeking an avenue to focus inward through the release of his first solo album, I’m Your Vampire, due on January 23, via AWAL/Relix. 

Hamilton has shared the first single, “Don’t Give Up on Me,” and accompanying music video, directed by Joe Lee, out today. Visually, it evokes vintage vibes, pixelated frames, and intentional scanlines that fortify a mid-nineties through-line that alludes to the onset of Hamilton’s own tenure as an artist. Similarly, the track draws on the pre-aught via a sonic likeness to rock-and-roll heroes with an edge, Soundgarden. 

The single is moody, angsty, and demanding, with the repetitive push of “Don’t stop loving me, baby,” cushioned by instrumental catharsis and releases that explode as emotions expand rapidly, elicited by guitars and pulsing drums. The best of the song is packed into Hamilton’s guitar solo, which starts to scream around 4:10, and snarls for thirty seconds before underscoring the sentiment that expresses the musician’s desire for eternal admiration and emotional commitment. 

According to Hamilton’s press release, the album was inspired by the melding of personal and societal plights that pushed him to revise his approach and what it means to release songs under your own name. “When you’re in a van on the road for 20 years, you live in your bubble, you think that your world is one way—and it’s not. The pandemic break gave me the time to see that. Then my band broke up and my dad got sick. The only respite I had was the studio.” 

I’m Your Vampire, co-produced by the namesake and Alex Farrar (MJ Lenderman/Wednesday), reintroduces Hamilton over 10 tracks that range from ripped denim and flannel rock to the sparkle of hope that gleams like a silver chain. “It takes effort to not just be jaded as we age — to not look at the world in a hardened way,” Hamilton says. “Yeah, it’s a dark, dark fucking time, let’s make some lemonade.”

With the promise of new music comes an accompanying tour. Hamilton and his band, bassist Taylor Shell, keyboardist Tom McKee, and drummer Nick Paternostro, will hit the road in November with support to UK-based Band of Skulls, before the onset of their headlining run, which is slated for the East Coast in January and February. Scroll down to view a complete list of impending live appearances. For tickets and additional information, visit https://www.tomhamiltonjr.com. 

Pre-order I’m Your Vampire. Watch the official music video for “Don’t Give Up on Me,” below.

Tom Hamilton On Tour 

Nov. 16 – The Basement East – Nashville*

Nov. 19 – Eulogy at Burial Beer Co. – Asheville, N.C.* 

Nov. 21 – Black Cat – Washington, D.C.* 

Nov. 22 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, Pa.* 

Nov. 24 – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.*

Nov. 25 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston* 

Nov. 27 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto* 

Nov. 28 – Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, Ohio* 

Nov. 29 – The Loving Touch – Ferndale, Mich.* 

Nov. 30 – Vivarium – Milwaukee, Wis.*

Dec. 2 – Turf Club – St. Paul, Minn.*

Dec. 3 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago* 

Jan. 21 – Neighborhood Theatre Tap Room – Charlotte, N.C.

Jan. 22 – Brooklyn Arts Center – Wilmington, N.C.

Jan. 23 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, S.C.

Jan. 24 – Flat Iron – Greensboro, NC

Jan. 25 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, Va.

Jan. 27 – 5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, Va.

Jan. 28 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, Va.

Jan. 29 – XL Live – Harrisburg, Pa. 

Jan. 31 – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, N.J.

Feb. 4 – Portland House of Music – Portland, Maine

Feb. 5 – Pickle Barrel – Killington, Vt. 

Feb. 6 – Broad Brook Opera House – Broad Brook, Conn. 

Feb. 7 – Lark Hall – Albany, N.Y.

*w/ Band of Skulls

Tracklist: 

Don’t Give Up On Me

The Octave Below

Kissing With Our Eyes Closed 

Running in Place 

Walking Backwards

Wrecking Crew

Daddy Daddy

Haven’t Used My Voice In So Long

This Could Be All Yours

It’s Been a Long Time Coming