Ax and the Hatchetmen

The lively indie rock crafted by Ax and the Hatchetmen gains momentum from its memorable melodies and compact horn lineup. Launched in 2018 by lead singer Axel Ellis, the Chicago outfit draws several members from jazz circles while anchoring itself in upbeat rock territory. Their opening tracks “Silhouette” and “Peach Trees” surfaced in 2019, ahead of the Bear on the Roof EP in 2020. Later releases such as “Beezlebub,” “Grace,” and “Existential Crisis, Pt. 1” expanded their reach, followed by the live concert recording Ax and the Hatchetmen on Audiotree Live in 2023. Throughout 2024 the group issued “Goofy (Acoustic),” “Where tf Did I Park My Car,” and “Flagstaff” as they finished work on a debut album.

Ellis began assembling the project that year as a music student at Columbia University in Chicago, reaching out to guitarist Sal Defilippis after viewing his fingerstyle acoustic video online. Vocalist and guitarist Kenny Olzewski, bassist Hunter Olshefke, drummer Nick Deputy, trumpeter Phil Pistone, and saxophonist Quinn Dolan soon completed the seven-piece roster, allowing the players’ conservatory jazz experience to shape precise yet hook-driven charts. “Silhouette” appeared first in 2019 and gave way to the widely circulated “Peach Trees,” after which the five-track Bear on the Roof arrived in July 2020. Stronger follow-ups including “Mako,” “Existential Crisis, Pt. 1,” “Beezlebub,” and “Utah” arrived in 2021 and 2022 together with two headlining tours. The seven-track Ax and the Hatchetmen on Audiotree Live EP came out in 2023. While maintaining an active concert schedule and readying a full album, they continued dropping singles in 2024, among them “Goofy (Acoustic)” and “Flagstaff” plus a live take of “Where tf Did I Park My Car” that had already featured on the previous year’s recording.