July 14, 2008 18:16

Strokes watch Albert Hammond Jr solo show

Stars turn up for guitarist's packed LA gig

Albert Hammond, Jr. debuted material from his brand-new solo album in Los Angeles at a star-studded sold-out show Friday night (July 11).

The Strokes rhythm guitarist confidently led his four-piece backing band through an hour-long set at Spaceland filled with a fair amount of crowd-pleasing older material from his debut album 'Yours To Keep' including '101' and 'Holiday'.

Hammond didn't say much in between songs aside from "It's very good to be here," concentrating on the powerful guitar riffs from his new album 'Como Te Llama? ' on tracks including 'Victory At Monterey' and 'In My Room'.

The sweltering club temperature didn't dampen the spirits of enthusiastic crowd, which included Hammond's girlfriend Agyness Deyn, Weezer guitarist Brian Bell, John Krasinski from 'The Office', Hammond's mother and his father, renowned musician Albert Hammond Sr, who mouthed along to the words of his son's songs.

Fellow Strokes Fab Moretti and Nick Valensi also came out to support their bandmate.

A couple of false starts slightly slowed the momentum of the 90-minute set, but the band quickly regained its footing and soldiered on.

Guitarist Marc Philippe Eskenazi told NME.COM after the show that the day had been really hectic because their flight from New York had been unexpectedly canceled the day before so they had to fly into LA the same day as the gig.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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