Irish pub tunes and whiskey may have been part of the humble origins of Nashville-based band Humming House, but it was the co-producer of their debut album, Mitch Dane, who heard these musicians playing together before they were even a band. According to lead vocalist and songwriter Justin Wade Tam, prior to the album and living in Nashville, the current band members would sing Celtic tunes for fun and drink Irish whiskey in a town where musicians often don’t get a break.

Everything changed when Dane recorded the track “Gypsy Django” in his studio, which immediately led to the rest of the self-titled debut album. After that session in the studio, the chemistry between Tam and his new bandmates couldn’t be denied.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBv86oeFqL0[/youtube]

Humming House’s members came to Nashville from different corners of the country, bringing their styles to the band. Mike Butera plays the rockabilly-influenced electric guitar and is also a Professor of Sociology with a PhD in Sound Studies. Kristen Rogers and Ben Jones add polish the sound, with her R&B and soul background and his knowledge of bass and classical composition.

To critics, Humming House is a rockabilly group, but Tam says they’re wrong. “It’s more like a nod to that genre,” he says. “We have a lot of nods to different genres.” Their song “Young Enough to Try” highlights the group’s Irish music roots, while others give way to old-school country and swing. So far, the response to the band has encouraged Tam.

“Maybe America just wants to hear real music and real instruments again.”

Humming House headline WTUL’s 7th annual Hootenanny, which starts at 7 p.m. and also features By and By String Band, Picnic and the Tintypes. The show is part of WTUL’s Rock On Survival Marathon, which continues Sunday with a block party at Breezy’s Riverfront (8719 Plum St.) with music by Honorable South, Glish, the Flying Eyes, the Vandelles and Sol Cat.