Portland-based rock band Hemmit lifts off with a new line-up and a new album, RocketRide. It's a heavy payload of punkish power rock with influences like The Ramones, AC/DC, 60's rock, The Vines, Judas Priest and Ozzy ripping through Portland's strum-along indie scene. Founded by multi-instrumentalist Adam Rohosy as a solo project in 2004, Hemmit adds 2 new members: Keith Fleming (drums, bass, vocals) and brother Oszkar Rohosy (bass, vocals). Fleming steps in as lead songwriter, hammering out irresistible rock tunes swimming with pop hooks. Shunning all strings except the E, (quot;it's heavier that wayquot;) Fleming crafted songs on a borrowed bass guitar, bringing demos to band practice in the basement of Portland's quot;School of Rockquot; for the full-on Hemmit-Rock treatment. Adam Rohosy's rep as a top Portland-area producer (The Hell Yeahs, Deflower, My Regrets) and sought-after rock guitarist shines through on the record. The newly relocated Andras Music Studio was site of most of the album's recording, with Rohosy producing, engineering and performing. Two tunes (quot;Punk Rock Momquot;, quot;Strandedquot;) were cut at Portland's landmark Jackpot Recording Studio, with The Mediam's Adam Pike engineering, mixing and playing bass. Oszkar Rohosy, who contributed guitar and vocals to Hemmit's previous album, is back for RocketRide. He's credited with launching Hemmit's live career, landing the band's first gig at a Freightliner corporate picnic. Rock on. Must-hear tracks include quot;Hold Outquot;, a perfect late-night rock-and-roll drinking and driving song; the powerpop-tapper quot;Millionairequot;; scorching rocker quot;Black Shoesquot;, instant pop classic quot;Summertimequot;; punk-powerpop nugget quot;Punk Rock Momquot; and the 70's hard-rock tinged quot;Yeah Right Nowquot;. The band continues to live in Portland, working, writing and rocking.
