Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Volume #249: Hot Dog Fest IV feat. Hams, Main Breaker, Dirty Lines, The Strains & Bill De Gidio

July 17th, 2026

Judd’s City Tavern, 10323 Madison Ave. Cleveland, OH

Hello to you my dear reader and fellow Rocker. I am so pleased to be back at the keyboard, describing another most excellent installment of the RBRR. This week I traveled to Judd’s City Tavern to take in the swinging sounds of Hot Dog Fest IV. This annual wiener themed event is the brain child of one Mr. Dill HAMS, Guitarist of HAMS and Saints of Lorain. This years show was coupled with an effort to raise money for HAMS frontman, Tommy, to finally get a vasectomy. With the power of Rock N’ Roll, we hope they raised enough cash to meet that goal. For me the evening began around 5:15 when the homies, Joha and my brother, scooped me up. We headed west and soon arrived at Judd’s. It was a smokey night in Cleveland as far to the north the Canadian wildfires were burning unchecked. The sky was hazy and the air thick as we approached the bar. Outside we encountered Tommy and his boy Corey, who were laboring away at a grill, setting up to… cook some goddamn hot dogs. Soon I was joined by my home girls, Jessica Mowrer of Stargazer Studios and Kelly Funk of Funky Photos. Together we headed inside and perused the scene. The bar was small and I didn’t see a stage, it was only then that I learned that it was out back, on the patio. So that was where we headed, back out into the smokey air. On the patio the air quality was even worse. You see, this area was not only the stage, but also doubled as the bar’s designated smoking area. So as you can imagine, it was a hazy affair at Judd’s as we settled in and waited for the show to begin.

In time the music did start. It was kicked off by Bill De Gidio, a solo performer, just one man and his Guitar. He produced what I believe was a mix of originals and covers. His play was lively and his music was well received. The themes were often comical. There was a song about a beer drinking dog and another about Toby Keith being an ugly woman. He was joined on stage by his band mate from “The Robert Conn Band” and together they kicked out one of their own songs. If my count is correct, he played a total of eight tracks before calling it a set. It was a nice warm up to start the show with.

Up nest was Detroit’s The Strains… well at least 2/5 of The Strains. Due to a last minute cancellation by their bandmates, this quintet was whittled down to a duo. The act was comprised of two members, a man named Paul and a woman by the name of Greta, both wielding Guitars and providing Vocals. Paul took the lead Vox, while Great provided back up. This was a cool dynamic. Their Vocal ranges were so different that it made for an interesting sound as the two played off each other. The Vocals were big, clean and soulful. The music was quite Punky. Despite missing their percussion department, they still managed to have great stage presence, especially Greta, who was Rockin’ hard. They had a song about stalkers (Satellite), another about fighting (Meet you in the Streets) and one which simply proclaimed “Fuck Rock, let’s kill!” I think they played a total of nine songs, closing out with a number called “Blinded.” It was a great set, despite the hurdles the band had to jump over just to get to the stage. I would love to see what they can offer with their entire lineup.

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Third to the stage was Dirty Lines. This four piece is made up of Two Guitar/Vocalists, Bass/Vocals and Drums. These guys came out blazing. They played an upbeat and danceable style of Punk Rock. With a lot of energy they took over the stage and promptly took it over. They had clean Vocals with strong Backing Vox. They delivered solid Bass Lines, and ripping riffs, but what I really dug was their Drumming. The pure Rock rhythms delivered were relentless and power packed. They hit on a KISS cover early in the set that went over well. Beside it they had a whole slew of drinking songs including the bouncing “I Ain’t Drinking Any More, but I Ain’t Drinking Any Less.” Towards the end of the set they initiated a killer call and response with the crowd where we all sang out, “I believe that Rock N’ Roll can save me.” It was most excellent. I think they played ten songs before taking a bow. It was a great set and the crowd seemed to eat it up.

Our fourth act of the night was Buffalo, New York’s Main Breaker. This trio, was built from Bass/Vocals, Guitar/Vocals and Drums. They opened with a progression that was both ominous and bitchin’. The Bass work was on point and the Vocal’s were gravelly and coarse. The Guitar tone was like a fuzzy buzzsaw and the Drums… well, the Drums hit like a runaway truck. The sound was bad ass and it didn’t take more than two or maybe three songs before I was certain that Main Breaker was the real deal. A Hot Dog shaped balloon bounced around the space, volleyed by the fans as the music stomped along. The crowd steadily got further and further enamored with the sounds, Rocking out hard and then harder as the set progressed. By the seventh song Dill HAMS leaped from the stage and crowd surfed across the patio, nearly falling to his death a number of times. The fans began to clap rhythmically to the beat and moments later a Moshpit was spawned. It was true and righteous and it tore across the patio spinning out bodies like a mad cyclone. This energy, this divine violence, carried onward into the final track. It was merciless and magnificent and then it was over. The closing song ended and the dance came to an end. Main Breaker played eight songs of pure thunder before ending on a devastating high note.

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Then finally it was time for the HAMS:Cleveland’s bad boy, Rock N’ Roll, five piece murder cult. Made up of Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums, HAMS is a powerhouse of sound. Known for their unparalleled rhythms, ripping Rock riffs and signature Bass tone the boys are always ready to throw down. With the patio packed they turned on a bubble machine and they led the crowd in a chorus of “Electric Avenue” followed by the Oscar Meyer Wiener song. Once the singalong ended it was go time. Dropping into “Trouble” they issued to the crowd an early dose of the “Whoas!” The pit exploded on “Riot” as Tommy snarled into his mic. The moshing was wild and forceful as the Patio exploded. I ran to the fringes to escape the punishment, but was still constantly jostled as I tried to write. This maelstrom would continue to turn for the entirety of the set. The energy was undeniable. It seemed not matter what song Hams dropped the kids responded with kinetic force. “Oh Yeah!” led Tommy off of the stage and down onto the floor with the fans. With dozens of backing Vocalists around him, he wailed out the familiar lyrics. Next they broke it down with “Bad Things.” Slowing things down the produced their anthem to debauchery. The break was brief however when they immediately ramped things up to break neck speed with “Angry.” Someone released a bag of balloons and the pit boiled beneath the bouncing orbs. “Comeback” gave way to a new song, called “Snitches” which was fast, driving and vicious. “Suits” was next, followed by a cover of an old song by the Hemingway Hammers. After that they played the show stopping anthem to Punk Rock poverty, “Broke Forever.” This sent the fans into a further frenzy. Bodies swirled and slammed; flying and colliding. We screamed. I mean we absolutely SCREAMED our heads off, but HAMS wasn’t done. They decided to treat us to one final cut, their awesome cover of CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising.” The Pit burst to life one final time and the fans sent HAMS off with much to be proud off.

And then it was over. HDF4 was at it’s end. We milled about for a time, buying t-shirts and chatting with fellow members of the Scene. Eventually we headed out into the night and to the East. It was one hell of a show though! A certifiable banger, if I do say so myself. Great music, good friends, an amped crowd and all the free hot dogs you can eat... what’s not to love about HDF? Even with the smoky air to contend with, it still packed in more than enough fun to out weigh the atmosphere. So there you have it. Another amazing evening of Rock music under my belt. Another of Cleveland’s fantastic annual events attended and now reported on. So for those of you who were there, I hope you had as much fun as I did. For those who missed it, well, you might want to get your ass in gear and get out to these shows, because… if you missed this one, you surely missed out.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

07/19/2026

Vol. #249: Hot Dog Fest IV

Vol. #245: Dog Rock IX