Features

If you’re not yet acquainted with The Chugs, you’re in for a treat. These Indiana legends take punk rock, Hamm’s beer, and chaos and wrap them up in punk anthems that feel like summer nights, bad calls, and regret.

Julian caught up with The Chugs to talk about Hamm’s beer and what fuels their music. Turns out that's actually the same thing.

PRT: For those who have never experienced the sheer bliss that is Hamm’s beer, or as I endearingly call them, Hamm Sandwiches, can you describe it?

Sam: Hamm’s beer is the culmination of pure joy, absolute freedom, and the lengthy history of untenable chaos packed tightly in a very-crushable, very-beautiful, blue can.

Brian: It’s a beer that we all enjoy. Sometimes we drink too much of it and then we get silly!

Scott: The flavor of good times with those that mean most to you, also best served with a shot of Malort.

PRT: Has Hamm’s beer already reached out to you about becoming official brand ambassadors?

Sam: Nope!

Brian: And they better not.

Scott: It’s really none of their business.

PRT: Why do you think Hamms and punk rock make such a good mix? Are you in touch with Molson Coors, and are you pressuring them to take over Pabst’s stronghold on the market?

Sam: Hamm’s and punk rock share an “everyman” ethos. Anyone can afford it, so it’s cheap enough to buy for all your friends, and it’s cheap enough to dump all over them (and yourself) too. Plus, it has more alcohol content than its competitors. We aren’t in touch with Molson Coors, and that’s okay! Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be perfect. It’s going to be fine. We’re going to be okay. We’re going to be fine.

Scott: Our very existence puts pressure on PBR!!!!!! Honestly when there’s a cheap way to get drunk, you’re going to find punk around there somewhere!

Brian: Because we want to, man… We like to drink and listen to punk rock. And PBR can go to hell.

PRT: What’s the best snack to go with a Hamm Sandwich? What about full meal? Got any recipes that involve using Hamms while also drinking Hamms?

Sam: Malört. Here’s a great recipe for a full meal involving Hamm’s beer: one can of Hamm’s beer and one shot of Malört

Scott: Sam said the correct answer! The OFFICIAL name for that meal is “The Unholy Union”

Brian: Double fisting Hamm’s is also a good recipe.

PRT: I JUST came across the Hammnal. For those who haven’t been exposed to such a thing before.. what is it? What’s inside it? Can people buy it from you?

Sam: The Hammnal is a big-ass booklet showcasing all the lyrics for the entirety of our catalog. But guess what. We don’t care if you know the words or not. You can yell whatever you want into our microphones, because our mics are your mics, and our Hamm’s are your Hamm’s. People can buy them at shows. Then they can keep them or burn them in the bonfire to keep the party going.

Scott: Just one thing though, when you get on stage to yell, please try not to step on my tuner pedal, it will completely turn off my guitar.

Brian: You can step on me.

PRT:  It’s a bit unique for a punk band to have opened for not one but MULTIPLE comedians! How’d you land those gigs? Do you think people kinda take the band as a comedy bit because it’s about Hamms? Do you WANT people to take you seriously?

Sam: We have a friend named Carl Arnheiter who runs a venue called Arcademie here in Evansville. He and his staff are really nice people who do amazing things for us (like keeping the fridge jam-packed with Hamm’s). I just want people to get whatever they want from us. All jokes become reality eventually anyway, you know? 

Scott: Yeah Carl and Arcadamie have been so amazing to us! He’s got the connections to these comedians, because he came up in the comedy world getting to know them! I have always viewed us as somewhat of a comedy adjacent band, mostly cuz I think Brian and Sam are the funniest F*CKING people I’ve ever known

Brian: I don’t get it.

PRT: So Eternal Brewtopia. A summer EP about revisiting summer camp, great concept for a record. How did the concept come about?

Sam: Ideas usually come out of nowhere at band practice. It’s hard to say when this specific one originated, but once the seed is there, we have not just a tendency, but a duty, to blow it out of proportion and completely forget how we got there. Does that help?

Scott: We get this character in mind, we refer to as “The Hamm’s Man” and we have to put him in a situation that has potential for chaos

Brian: A lot of times we’re just joking around and then the jokes become an obsession that has to be seen all the way through. For example, we didn’t actually burn our neighbor’s house down because he didn’t like Hamm’s! We did it because that guy was a fucking asshole.

PRT: So far you have released three EP’s… is there talk of a full-length? Or do you prefer the EP format?

Sam: We really love releasing in six-packs. We don’t have plans to release a regular full-length, but we do have plenty of other releases in the works, and eventually we’ll obviously be releasing the thirty-pack, because we have to.

Scott: We exclusively release in 6-Packs, singles, or 30-Packs. If you’re not full after listening to one of our 6-Packs, then you might’ve been distracted. Just try listening to it again, or try listening to another one of our 6-Packs.

Brian: Sixers are the best way to release. It’s not too long and it doesn’t linger. We stick to the story, never stray too far from the objective. And that objective is to get you drunk and rowdy.

PRT: You know, I think this is the first time I’ve heard a song that mentions fibromyalgia that isn’t either utterly depressing or a longing reflection. Minnesota Sober is definitely a nostalgic throwback that invites you to forget about your problems. As someone who’s life was indirectly impacted by fibromyalgia, it’s a refreshing take. Is the song also a personal reminder, to not let the bastards drag you down kinda thing?

Sam: Never let the bastards drag you down. And guess what, you might be more like your idols than you think. Especially if your idol is a clown who drinks an absolute shitload of Hamm’s beer. Yeah, we’re in chronic pain, but sometimes reliving your past with a couple of thirty-packs and like-minded people is a great way to forget about it for a while.

Scott: I hope our band’s whole message makes you feel like not letting the bastards drag you down! Just as much as we’re about Hamm’s beer, we’re about making you feel better after having heard/witnessed us!

Brian: There is always shit man. There is always something that is going to suck, hurt, cost too much, be too far away. That is guaranteed. You’ll have plenty to be depressed about. So fuck it man, let’s get drunk.

PRT: (I think We’re) Gonna Steal a Jet Ski. Super cool song. Sounds like a fucking riot of a time. Got any other stories about your bud you’re willing to share?

Sam: That guy’s got a lot going on. You will definitely hear more about him in some upcoming songs. Like Hamm’s, he has a storied and eventful history.

Scott: Yes this character should make a return in future songs, for sure

Brian: There was this one time that he climbed all the way up a maple tree that I have in my backyard JUST to piss himself.

PRT: Do you think Howard Payne would have gotten into extortion if he had easier access to Hamms?

Sam: You never know what someone is going through. Sometimes we just need to be asked if we want a Hamm’s. And while Howard seemingly chose to use his genius for illegality, for all we know, he could have needed that $3M to purchase Hamm’s beer for the entirety of the community. He wasn’t even asked.

Scott: “Did you just need a Hamm’s?” needs to be the first question when people are going through the legal process

Brian: I think of this character as more of a continuation of Mr. Hopper’s character in Hoosiers. While a drunkard in Hoosiers, we saw the bottle as a burden. However, without his love, he turns callous, malicious. He moves from IN to CA in an effort to rebuild his life, but falls into a life of crime. I’m not so sure he wasn’t thrust into extortion for any other reason than his own sobriety.

PRT: Ok so, apart from a show in Evansville and a show in Lafayette in 2 months.whats next for the Chugs?

Sam: We have a new song in the upcoming “Fakes” compilation from Drunk Dial Records, and we’re working on launching a “garage sale” page on the website. So go grab your change jars, bozos. We got junk to move.

Scott: Next 6-pack production is kicking off soon!

Brian: More music about Hamm’s beer!