In the weeks leading up to the Houston Press Music Awards showcase on Sunday, August 4, Rocks Off will be profiling a handful of performers each day, mostly in their own words - part of the best top-to-bottum lineup the showcase has ever had, in our humble opinion. See the showcase schedule and ticket information at HPMusicAwards.com, and watch Twitter (@hprocksoff) every day until the showcase for your chance to win tickets.
To which member are we speaking? What are you nominated for? Chase Hamblin of Chase Hamblin & the Roustabouts. We are nominated for Best Pop.
Please list all of your regular band members and what instruments they play. Myself on vocals and guitar, Corey Power on vocals and guitar; Jeremy Nuncio on keys and synths; Josh Applebee on vocals and percussion; Rally Terrill on bass and Marcus Hughes on vocals and drums.
Describe your band in four to seven words. Rock and roll, psych-tinged roots-pop.
Who is your single biggest musical influence and why? My biggest influence overall is The Beatles for several reasons. First of all, they were willing to write in any style any of them chose: rock, country, pop, psych, raga, folk, experimental, you name it.
Secondly, they used the studio like no other band before in terms of the sounds, production, and arrangements. They were always trying to push ahead creatively. Third, they were all individually fantastic singers, writers, and performers.
What recordings do you have readily available? I have two releases, my EP A Fine Time, and my new full-length record, VAUdeVILLE. CDs of both albums are available at Houston music retailers and at cdbaby.com/chasehamblin.
Downloads are available on iTunes and at chasehamblin.bandcamp.com.
Have you ever been HPMA-nominated before? When and what for? Yes, I was nominated Best Pop and Best Male Vocals last year and won both! I was nominated Best Male Vocals the year before last, but did not win.
Where and how often do you perform (publicly) around Houston? We usually play once a month or so in Houston. Lately we've been doing events like Free Press Summer Fest, Houston Beer Fest, the Discovery Green and the Sugar Land Town Center.
We usually book shows at Fitzgerald's and the Continental Club, but you'll find us at various bars here and there.
What is the next step for your band? We'd like to get a tour going to promote the new record. I'm working on a number of licensing opportunities as well.
Finish this sentence: "Houston music is..." Houston music is as diverse and multi-faceted as this huge melting pot of a city.
Chase Hamblin's HPMA showcase spot is 8 p.m. Sunday, August 4 at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar, 1201 Fannin. See more about the band at chasehamblin.com or facebook.com/chasehamblinmusic.
Follow @hprocksoff