Fri 8/8 @ 8PM
Sat 8/9@ 8PM
Last week, the Bizarros. This week, Hammer Damage. Still to come on 8/15-16, the DEVOtional at the Beachland Ballroom Fans of Akron’s explosively creative ’70s underground scene are going to be run ragged this month.
Hammer Damage emerged from the ashes of irreverent punk rockers the Rubber City Rebels, formed by drummer Mike Hammer and guitarist Donny Damage, along with bassist Scott Winkler and guitarist George Cabinass, in 1978. The band played a lot of high-profile gigs around the region. They released a self-titled album on Capitol Records in 1980, but like the one-off major label releases of most of their Akron peers, it quickly sank from sight, except among adoring critics and cultists.
The group became active again in the early ’00s, releasing a second album in 2003. It still plays occasional shows, although the current lineup looks more like the Rubber City Rebels. It includes Hammer, Rebels lead vocalist Rod Firestone, Rebels guitarist Buzz Clic, and Clic’s brother Bob on bass.
They’ll play two nights at Jilly’s Music Room in downtown Akron, a testament to their one-time local popularity.
General admission is $10; reserved seats are $15.