The crowd went “ham” for this band of college students
- kayla condrey
- Apr 30, 2025
- 3 min read
On Thursday, April 24, a crowd gathered at Palmettos for some live music. Hours After Music, a band made up of Louisiana Christian University students, took the “stage” and blew everyone away.
Hours After Music, or HAM for short, began initially as a worship band. Jace Buller asked his friends Malachi Jackson, Carson Oliver and Joseph Woods if they would be willing to help him lead a revival, and the rest is history.
Their initial name was “After Hours Music,” which was in honor of the Bible study they’re all a part of along with some other LCU students. When they decided to take the leap into performing live, they wanted to choose a new name, to separate their secular music from their worship. This led to them switching the name to be “Hours After Music.”
“It was nice to change it up,” Woods said. “But worship music is still our passion.”
The passion they have for worship is evident, as they are all a part of one or more of the worship groups on LCU’s campus. HAM also decided to include a few worship songs in their set at Palmettos as well.
With Buller and Jackson on electric and vocals, Oliver on keys and vocals and Woods on cajon (percussion), the band was complete. Jeff Young, a media professor at LCU, helped the band acquire the correct gear and set up the equipment.
Their set kicked off with a song several of the students at LCU knew far too well. If there are instruments near any of the members of the band, it is inevitable that they will start playing “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was only fitting that they jumped straight into the set with that song. The intro of “Can’t Stop” served as the transition into Coldplay’s hit “Viva la Vida,” led by Oliver.
It was from “Viva la Vida” that they then transitioned to “Pool House” by the Backseat Lovers, which is a fan favorite among students from LCU. After two songs, the band introduced themselves to the crowd, joking around and keeping the atmosphere fun.
After a few more songs, led by Buller, Jackson, and Oliver, the set took a more serious turn. Jackson approached the microphone, explaining to the audience what the next song was about and what it meant to him.
“Call Your Mom” by Noah Kahan is a song many of Kahan’s fans take solace in due to its honesty about the reality behind suicide. The song is from the perspective of Kahan as he tries to help his friend overcome depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Before performing the song, Jackson opened up about how he lost several of his friends in middle school to suicide.
“I heard this song for the first time, and it really helped me,” Jackson said. “If you’re struggling with anything, please go and talk to someone. You can talk to me or any of these guys because you are loved so much. By me, by God and by everybody around you.”
The song was one the majority of the crowd knew, but the lyrics and emotion behind it resonated throughout the audience. Several were moved to tears, and several sang quietly along. It was a beautiful, touching moment of immense vulnerability from Jackson, the rest of the band and the crowd.
As the song ended, storm clouds slowly began to roll in. HAM managed to get through two more songs before the rain began. Still, they were then helped out by the crowd when several audience members grabbed their umbrellas and held them over the band.
Cutting their set short, the band sang one more song. They dedicated it to a good friend of theirs, Dylan Wells, and launched into playing “Tear in my Heart” by Twenty One Pilots.
Although their performance came to an abrupt end, the crowd raved about how much they enjoyed the band. Even for days after, people continued to post pictures and videos.
“I’ve heard them all sing before, but never together,” Lizzy Dupree, a freshman at LCU, said. “It was so cool hearing their different styles blend into one, and I just loved it. I got to hear so many new songs I’ve never heard before.”
HAM hopes to continue on performing, hopefully without having to cut it short. Still, one thing is for certain, the love this band has for music and people is evident. Students at LCU and members of the community can’t wait to hear more from HAM, and Palmettos is more than happy to hand them the stage again in the future.
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