Although Tom Hamilton counted himself among the many men preoccupied with “chicks and partying” during his 20s, the American Babies frontman found himself “digging deeper” for musical and personal inspiration over time. Last year’s resulting effort, a “40-minute existential meltdown” titled Knives and Teeth, addresses heavy topics like mortality, cruelty and frustration, often vacillating between delicate, stringed intricacies and hard-driving rock at a moment’s notice. American Babies’ most recent acoustic album, Stark and Red, on the other hand, sees the band returning to a more stripped-down songwriting process. American Babies share the bill with Asheville bluegrass-inspired quartet The Bread and Butter Band at One Stop on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 10 p.m. $5. ashevillemusichall.com. Photo by Jay Blakesberg
Smart bets: American Babies
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