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Hammer Alley Is the Best New Comedy Podcast of the Year

Hammer Alley Is the Best New Comedy Podcast of the Year

Hammer Alley is a comedy podcast that takes us on a laugh out loud journey of an ’80s rock band that could have made it but failed miserably. It begins with Alice Cooper touting how great the band was. Then the big question. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley? The band may be fictional, but the podcast is really funny.

It takes place in 2019, but flashes back a lot to 1987; the year they should have released their debut album. Through several missteps, as Alice Cooper says, “It was not to be.” It takes us back to what rock radio and MTV were like back then. (In fact, I heard about the podcast on the radio recently.)

The band and the podcast are made up of a cast of characters that includes Slim Jimmy Simmons, the egomaniacal lead singer (was there any other kind in the ’80s?). He’s not only your narrator for the two-season, ten-episode podcast; he’s also the guy who’s never given up on his dream of being a rock star. No matter how many years have gone by.

There’s also lead guitarist Denny Steele, bassist Dash Wilcox, drummer Stixx, and keyboardist Glenn Canyon. The rock songs they perform are actually good. A call from a big-time movie producer gives Jimmy hope that Hammer Alley will finally get its due. This leads to Slim Jimmy’s internal monologues, and a couple of songs about what’s going on in his “imagination”. (Including the band’s British manager, Miles Bloodstain.)

No ’80s band would be complete without petty arguments, and there’s no lack of the tension when you get to eavesdrop on their humorous recording sessions.

What makes Hammer Alley even more enjoyable are the outtakes after each episode. It becomes apparent that most of the scenes were improvised. The professional voice actors are clearly surprised by each other’s responses to the silly scenarios. All of the quick-moving episodes are fully produced with music and sound effects.

You didn’t have to live through the ’80s to enjoy Hammer Alley. But if you did, or you love classic rock, or were ever in a band, you’ll love jumping on the tour bus with Hammer Alley.

A trailer and a couple of their lyric videos are available on YouTube.