Interview 001: The Hell Club
We press a lot of records here at Hellbender. Some are more memorable than others. With a company name like Hellbender, how could a band called The Hell Club not stand out from the name alone? Mitchell McDermott, the man behind The Hell Club, crafted his latest album with elements of folk, pop punk, even a delta blues feel. The Pittsburgh native’s new album, God’s Sick Trick, is rich with twangy guitar, double vocals, interesting chord progressions, but the care in the little things is what really sticks out. It’s a beautiful album, and the small details are noticed. We sat down with Mitchell to talk about his new record, what inspires his ever-changing sound, and more.
HV: Could you tell us a little about your project?
THC: The Hell Club is my personal vehicle for sonic expression and songwriting. I make whatever I feel like making. Sometimes that's indie folk, sometimes it's post punk, sometimes it's more experimental. Right now I'm really into soft ambient hyper-pop and I'm super psyched to bring those tones and textures into whatever I make next.
My debut album God's Sick Trick came out in October. These are very old songs, written by a passionately naive young man waxing philosophically about the world, religion, heartbreak, and morality - convinced he had something clever to say about all of it. Honestly, he wasn't all wrong. But I'm not sure I'd say a lot of these things the same way now. When I perform some of them now it almost feels like self-satire, because I had a pretty youthful worldview at the time. But I still love those songs dearly, and I'm excited to finally celebrate them properly at the end of the month with real human beings in the flesh.
HV: How did you come up with the name?
THC: It just popped into my head while I was playing in another band. I searched it and at the time nobody had it, so I was like, this is a sick name. But it also means something to me philosophically. A lot of people struggle with the concept of hell, but to me it's just about feeling safe to embrace your darker thoughts and emotions. There are no rules in hell. You can suffer and you can celebrate it and you can cry about it. That freedom flows into the music. I never want to box myself into a sound, and the name gives me permission not to.
Oh, and "hell" is literally embedded in my name. m-i-t-c-H-E-L-L. So that felt right.
HV: How long have you been working on the album?
HC: Some of these songs are eight to ten years old. I started recording over COVID but the process was slow. I was DIYing most of it while finishing my degree and playing with other bands. So five years, on and off, is probably the honest answer.
HV: Is there anyone you look up to musically?
THC: Always. Growing up it was Billie Joe Armstrong, The Boss, Dylan, Neil Young, Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones, Lady Gaga.
Lately I've been really inspired by Madison Cunningham, Oklou, Joanna Newsom, Rosalía, Juana Molina, Dan Reeder, Judee Sill, Labi Siffre.
But honestly some of my biggest inspirations are people in my actual life. The first person I ever looked up to musically works here at Hellbender. Derek was my summer rec counselor when I was like ten, and I used to go watch his band Vinyl Six play at Niko's Coffee Shop in Green Tree. It meant everything to me at that age that someone in my real world was writing good songs and genuinely pursuing music. That always stuck with me.
I was lucky enough to go to a pretty good music school, and the people I met there continue to blow me away. My friend Hugh McDonald who goes by Fairhazel, Dora Jar, Brennan Wedl, Cole Haden of Model/Actriz. That band really busted my world open and were some of the first people to get me embracing less traditional sounds. Cole's unique courage to express himself so fully and so honestly, especially his darkest and most personal feelings, is a constant inspiration to me.
And now I'm getting reacquainted with the Pittsburgh scene and finding so much to love here too. Tory Silver (of course!), Mirabelle Skipworth, Julianna Warner, my friend Chad who makes music as Animal Scream. I'm so grateful the source of my inspiration isn't just the larger music world. It's also the music world in my backyard.
HV: How did you find your sound?
THC: I'm still finding it! Every day. Honestly I kind of resent the idea of "finding a sound" and sticking with it. Of course there'll always be a thread of "me" through everything I make, but I'm always playing, always listening, trying to take what I love and synthesize something similar but new. Emulation and synthesis. That's most of it.
HV: Anything else you want to share with us?
THC: After this show I'm really looking forward to creating and I want to open my world up to collaboration. So if anything I said or anything I make resonates with you, please reach out. No guarantees, but I'm always looking for people to work with. And if we don't make stuff together, I just like making new friends too.
Be sure to catch The Hell Club’s album release show for God’s Sick Trick at Spirit May 29. Tickets here.
