Hot Ham & Cheese

Hot Ham & Cheese formed in February 2005 when Robby Mitchell (Drums) and Charile (Vox/Guitar) jammed together for the first time. Bassist Louie Styx completed the line-up in July 2005. Shortly after signing with Cleveland indie label, Jib Machine Records, HH*C released their first CD (HH*C e.p.) in 2006, followed by a lo-fi instrumental album (beta) in 2007 and their first full-length (Revolution & Revelations) in April 2008. HH&C has built a strong following thanks in part to their energetic, aggressive live performances, which have stretched across the country in cities such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, New York City, Chicago, Vegas, Sacramento and Salt Lake City.

HH&C’s sound has been described as an eclectic mix of rock, punk, funk and metal combined with in-your-face lyrics that cover all things relevant in life. They’ve been compared to the likes of Black Sabbath, Primus, The Melvins, Clutch and the Dead Kennedys to name a few.




"Cleveland power trio Hot Ham & Cheese moves between punk, metal, and hard rock like it's throwing a triple combo to your ribs, kidney, and head."

"Singer-guitarist Charlie gets political on "New Bomb/Vietnam," singing, "Said it wouldn't be Vietnam/Just gonna get Saddam." You can practically hear his spit fly. The band faces more danger at home, navigating a minefield of pills, loose women, and assorted homicidal maniacs. Bassist Louie Styx and drummer Robby Mitchell play rugged and rough, captured in the act by Track Six studio engineer Brandon Youngs and producer Don Debiase, who (again) provide some of the city's most reliably crisp-and-crunchy sounds. Another couple of albums like this, and they'll all be heavyweights."

- Scene Magazine

"The kitchen sink approach to song writing has treated the Cleveland trio well, mixing elements of Tool, Clutch and Black Sabbath into its own brand of hard rock. Revolution & Revelations, the band’s full-length debut, had enough staying power and quirky metal goodness to last the whole year."

- Saw Kick Media

"Local alt-rock trio Hot Ham & Cheese offer a self-described "strange mixture" of many different musical styles; their kitchen sink philosophy on creative songwriting recalls everything from punk and the apocalyptic dirge of Black Sabbath, Melvins and Soundgarden, to avant rockers Primus/Sausage, swirling post-psychedelia and even a pinch of 311 for good measure. Edgy, but never sloppy, the group seems to dig that rebellious, lo-fi sound."

- coolcleveland.com