Rock Badass Calls Greene County Home

Rock badass proud to call Greene County home

By Steve Barrett
Creative Content Writer, Hilltop Packs LLC

Greene County not only has its share of creative businesses, but is also home to countless creative individuals who, through their own talent, initiative, hard work and determination, are making a name for themselves in their respective fields.

One of those creative minds belongs to local native Adam “Joad” Corwin, lead singer and guitarist for Scattered Hamlet, a band with a long and interesting history, a band that has toured across the nation, has released a great deal of music and continues to rise in popularity.

Adam, whose nickname is “The Appalachian Apostle,” said the band’s music – which has traces of rock, metal, punk and outlaw country – is difficult to describe because of the wide array of influences found in the songs, ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Prince and Def Leppard to Hank Williams Jr., Creedence Clearwater Revival and Motorhead.

“The closest I can identify the sound is ‘honkytonk metal,’ but it’s so much more than that,” he said. “This band is made up of dudes with different backgrounds and musical tastes, and it works. Our sound is definitely our own.”

The musicians who currently comprise the band with Adam are bassist/vocalist Rich Erwin, lead guitarist/vocalist Sean Shepperd and drummer/vocalist Grant Jenkins.

Since its inception around 2010, Scattered Hamlet has released full-length albums “Skeleton Dixie” (2013), “Swamp Rebel Machine” (2016) and the most recent album, “Stereo Overthrow”, which was released last year. The band also released an EP titled “Wishing Well” in 2020.

Over the years, Scattered Hamlet has toured hundreds of shows throughout nearly every state, either headlining their own high-energy concerts or opening for numerous national recording artists. 

When he’s not rocking stages across the country, Adam is at his Greene County home, where he devotes a lot of his time in the room he calls his “Bunker” and handles the business aspects of the band, including merchandise, booking shows, writing music and lyrics and maintaining Scattered Hamlet’s website and social media outlets.

Adam said he got a taste of what he calls the “redneck lifestyle” as an adolescent in Greene County, riding motorcycles, hunting and fishing with family and friends. Music was also deeply rooted in his life at an early age, as he was musically influenced by family members who either played instruments, sang or performed theatrically.

Adam has many tattoos, but one of his favorite works of art on his flesh is a spider web covering his right elbow … which he has coined a term with a local flair that has floated around the area for decades.

“I call it the ‘Bucktown Elbow,’” he said with a proud smile. “It’s like the flying elbow used by the late pro wrestler Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage. If I was a pro wrestler, it would definitely be my finishing move. I have always joked that if anyone crossed my path I would give him the ol’ B,E. I guess the nickname caught on.”

Indeed it did. So much so, that Ben McMillen, owner of Hilltop Packs LLC, decided to name one of the company’s signature fresh and locally roasted coffee flavors in its honor. The dark roasted blend proudly wears the “Bucktown Elbow” moniker and continues to be a popular item at Hilltop Packs.

Having a coffee named after his signature tattoo is just one of many interesting facets of Adam’s life. In addition to his rock star status, he earned a Master’s Degree in Humanities (History) from California State University (his degree is signed by then-California governor Arnold Swartzenegger), he has experience in mixed martial arts and has trained with top UFC fighters such as Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, and he earned a blue belt in 10th Planet Ju-Jitsu under Eddie Bravo, and he also previously taught civics and U.S. history for high schoolers and communications skills at Pittsburgh Technical Institute. .

However, no matter how many accolades he earns and achievements he accomplishes, no matter how much Scattered Hamlet tours across the U.S. and no matter how much time he spends in Nashville or Los Angeles as he continues to drive the Swamp Rebel Machine, Adam is, has and always will be a Greene County boy.

And he’s proud of it.

“Greene County has always been home to me,” he said. “I have great memories of growing up from every street, every place. There is no other place that will remain a huge part of my life like Greene.

“My family has strong connections here, and I will always remember how much fun my summers were growing up here,” he continued. “When you’re a kid, this can really be a magical place.”

As for the unique name of his band, Adam said even that has roots to the area.

“I found the term ‘Scattered Hamlet’ while reading about the Civil War,” he explained. “The term is slang for a small and dispersed rural community, usually hilly or mountainous, like Appalachia and Greene County. Seemed like a perfect name to me.”

For more information about Scattered Hamlet, visit www.scatteredhamlet.com.