Chris Hazard is no stranger to the rock & roll life. With his ‘80s rockers Funhouse, he performed alongside the likes of Guns N’ Roses and Motorhead, and earned praise around the world. Ginger Merkin is his country music pseudonym, and the name of his band too (though he recently amended it to Mr. Ginger Merkin). We spoke to him a year ago, and he’s performing at the Cinema Bar again this week, so he told the CCN about what we can expect…
It’s been a year since we chatted — how was your 2024?
2024 was good year for the band. We added George Richman (bass) and Tom Gramlich (lead guitar), and new songs to the set. Steve Wilkins (keys), Connor Conan (drums) and I were working with different guitarists and bassists from show to show, so having a solid lineup made our shows more consistent. I also changed the name of the band to Mr. Ginger Merkin to go with a comic book character I created. He’s my alter ego. My band Funhouse had a mascot and I felt that I wanted people to know that Ginger Merkin is a person, and the comic book character and name change was the right vehicle to explain that.
How did you celebrate the holidays?
The holidays were fun this year. I just wanna play, so the holidays are usually a nuisance. It’s usually the time of year that bar bands wind down, but I did a holiday show at Maui Sugar Mill, and we played at the Killer Yacht Club a few days after Christmas. I also saw W.A.S.P. in December and went to see LA Guns for the New Years show at the Whisky.
How were the shows at Cinema Bar last year?
The Cinema is our home base. For a small bar, the sound system is one of the best. So I like to play there. Tom Gramlich is a regular there, and that’s how he came to join the band (he is one of the best guitarists in L.A. in my opinion), and has built quite a reputation at the Cinema. The shows at the Cinema went well. It’s a great place to build a following.
What can we expect from the set this time?
We have adopted the term Heavy Honky-Tonk for our sound ,and that’s what you’ll hear. We have guided our sound to get folks to dance! I grew up on a lot of rockabilly, and KISS. We combine that with the lyrical ethics of outlaw country and the melodies of western swing, and it seems to make the crowd dance. We really get a kick out of watching the crowd dance. So we’ve gone more in that direction.
What else do you have coming up in 2025?
Hoping for the best. Gonna record new songs, and add them to the set. Play new venues, and shoot for the stars. I was given the opportunity to invigorate the cowpunk scene at Maui Sugar Mill last year and I’m continuing this year with the Punk McCountry third Thursday out there in Tarzana. On the 20th, I have Alice bag and Kid Congo, and Mr.Ginger Merkin will be playing The Venice West on Feb 12, and South Bay Customs on the 28th. Then our home away from home, the Cinema, on the 15th.
Ginger Merkin performs with Talkin’ Treason and Sons of the Engineers at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the venue.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys and and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next concert at Boulevard Music is on Feb. 15, with Laurence Juber. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more info.