The Atomic Dogs
B&E
Meet The Band
Brian, Taylor and Eric Hjalmeer have been making music for over 30 years together in one band or another. They became inseparable in the critically acclaimed Magnesium Jake, a band, which toured the East Coast almost non-stop in the '80s and '90s and the two have stayed friends and played together ever since..
They have become a staple in clubs and restaurants all over Connecticut as the acoustic duo creatively named B&E.
As they power into their fourth decade of making music together, the duo has added another duo to make a four-part band called The Atomic Dogs. So now the group can offer whatever musical tastes are needed whether it be an acoustic duo at a small wedding or a rocking full electric band at an outdoor bar or restaurant.
" We've been playing for a long time together and the fact is we really do love each other.," Eric said of Brian. "We've done a lot and we've played a lot of places, but I really think we are as good as we've ever been now and there is a lot left on the bone.."
Eric's vocals can be searing on a song like Rooster from Alice in Chains or charming when he sings the duos reggae version of Love Song by The Cure. He weaves in and out of an alternative rock God and the boy next door during a set. And if you've never Heard him sing creep by Radiohead. You need to get to a show ASAP.
Brian, on the other hand, is the Eddie Van Halen loving, comic relief providing, hard driving guitar playing, pulse of the duo. There is not a song that he cannot master or match and the yin and yang of the duo is a constant back and forth on every riff. Taylor can take apart a solo and make it his own like he does on Breaking the Girl by the Red, Hot Chili Peppers or he can willingly play second fiddle to Eric and let him wail.
"We have fun, play great tunes, and don't care if we are 150 years old while we are doing it. We keep everything right in front of you, no tricks, if we can halfway sing it and play it, we'll do it as best we can and most of it works." Brian said.
The friendship between the two comes through in their constant banter during the shows and it also comes through in their complete joy in entertaining adoring crowds.
When the group becomes a foursome? Marc Balling jumps behind the drums and shows off syncopation, rhythm and hard rock alternative beats that give the Atomic Dogs a completely new sound. "Playing with the Atomic Dogs has been a blast! While it is obviously a great way to vent and express angst playing hard rock drums, I appreciate my bandmates for being able to put dynamics and musicality into our sonic stew also." He said.
Providing much needed bass when the Dogs go electric is Brian Taylor's, former boss, Clark Hummel, who started playing bass when he was just 10 years old. Clark also provides backup vocals and is a killer backup vocalist on Pink Floyd songs. "These guys are doing it for the love of the music and the joy of performing. There’s no ego, no drama, just a group of guys having fun doing what they enjoy."
Our Band
Brian, originally from Temple Hills, MD and Lafayette, IN, now lives in Glastonbury. He plays guitar for The Atomic Dogs and acoustic guitar for B&E. He’s been playing guitar most of his life and sings backup to Eric Little—depending on how the voice feels—but mostly focuses on the guitar. Multi-talented, Brian has also played bass, but guitar is his passion. He absolutely consumes music the way most people read books—constantly, and with deep curiosity—listening to everything from the 1950s onward. Fans of Magnesium Jake, B&E, and The Atomic Dogs can thank Brian Taylor’s family for his lifelong connection to music. “My brother and sister took me to see Van Halen in 1986 for my 10th birthday at the Cap Centre in Washington D.C. That was it. From the first chord Ed struck, my mind was blown. I painted my parents’ garage to earn enough money to buy my first guitar—a cheap Gibson Les Paul copy that cost $200 (I probably should’ve paid $50). I took lessons from the town drunk in Lafayette, IN for about two years. He’d pass out mid-lesson, but he taught me how to play by ear and let me pick what songs to learn. We played everything from Skynyrd to Van Halen—every flavor of rock—and it was the best." "I play guitar every single day, even if it’s just 15–20 minutes. I keep guitars upstairs and downstairs in my house so they’re always close by. I’m 49 now and have been playing for roughly 38 years.” Brian’s first band was Mighty Big Brother, formed with two of his closest college friends and another great friend named Jay. They played shows all over Purdue’s campus and nearby towns—especially biker bars. Brian and Eric’s passion project was Magnesium Jake. It was where the duo first connected and decided to conquer the world playing music they truly loved—forcing others to love it too. Together, they wrote two albums’ worth of original material, built websites, released music on iTunes, and sold physical copies at shows. They toured Boston, every dive in Connecticut, and played NYC showcases through Gotham Rocks. They had a manager. They fought. But Brian and Eric never stopped—even after it all fell apart. In late 2023, while playing a B&E show, an old high school friend of Eric’s came to watch. She mentioned that her husband—Marc Balling—was a jazz drummer and music teacher who might enjoy joining them. He became their drummer and their "main man." They had a bassist for a while (a colleague of Eric’s), but he didn’t quite fit. Then Brian invited his old boss, Clark, to come jam—and he became the fourth and final Dog. “This new band is pure fun, man. These guys are all better at what they do than me, so they make it easy for me. We get lost in tunes, play ’em long, add sections—and sometimes subtract them by accident—and we don’t care because we’re having fun and feeling it.”
Eric Hjalmeer is the voice that defines The Atomic Dogs and one half of the acoustic duo B&E. A Manchester native and self-taught vocalist, Eric seamlessly channels the sounds of Tom Petty, Layne Staley, Anthony Kiedis, and Jon Bon Jovi—without ever having formal vocal training. He’s been making music with guitarist Brian Taylor for nearly 30 years, starting with their cult band Magnesium Jake, which toured New England and the East Coast, opening for national acts at legendary venues like Toad’s Place and The Sting. Eric began his musical journey playing trumpet in grade school and later moved into theater and local bands, including Nature’s Green and After 12, both focused on original music. B&E was born out of his long-running partnership with Taylor, and the duo quickly built a loyal following. His musical influences range from Led Zeppelin, STP, Live, and The Doors to The Police, jazz, blues, and a healthy dose of ’80s guilty pleasures. He credits his father, a crooner, as his earliest inspiration. Eric is a proud father of two—Cameron (24) and Aya (9)—and says, “I’ve never felt more confident in a band than I do now. I’m just here to play great music and have fun, and these guys make that easy every night.”
Marc Balling, a native of Ithaca, NY, has been behind a drum kit since the age of 10. A versatile musician, he also plays cello, guitar, bass, and has been singing along to car radios and church choirs since the ’70s. His dynamic style blends rock, jazz, funk, and reggae—reflecting a lifetime of musical exploration. In his early years, Marc played with the reggae group The Tribulations, sharing stages with icons like Toots and the Maytals, Living Colour, Grandmaster Flash, and The Ramones. He studied percussion at The Hartt School of Music under Alexander Lepak and immersed himself in jazz through Jackie McLean’s renowned program. His post-college career includes an impressive roster of bands: the jazz fusion Electric Fish Band, funk trio Dr. Zeus, the genre-bending On the Corner, and tours with Deep Banana Blackout. He also performed with The Thang, Bipolar Jukebox, and Rolla, contributing to everything from funk to pop-rock. Marc cites influences ranging from ’70s radio rock and ’80s hair bands to jazz greats like Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis. He also draws inspiration from artists like Sting, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel. Now based in Connecticut with his wife Rachel and their two children, Marc brings both intensity and musical nuance to The Atomic Dogs. “Playing with this band is a blast. It’s a great way to unleash energy through hard rock drumming while keeping the music dynamic and expressive. These guys make it fun.”
Wallingford native Clark Hummel has been playing bass guitar since the age of 10 and hasn’t looked back. A lifelong rock musician with detours into blues and jazz, Clark formed his first band with neighborhood friends as a kid. Though he took a break from bands to raise his family, he never stopped playing—and eventually found his way back to the stage with The Atomic Dogs. Clark’s musical roots run deep in classic rock from the ’60s through the ’80s, and he’s a proud member of the Detroit Demolition J. Geils Band tribute project. His bass influences include legends like Chris Squire (Yes), John Entwistle (The Who), Henrik Linder (Dirty Loops), and Geddy Lee (Rush). Now married with three adult children, Clark says, “From the first practice with The Atomic Dogs, it just felt comfortable and fun. These guys play for the love of music—no ego, no drama—just pure joy in performing.” Fun fact: Clark used to be guitarist Brian Taylor’s boss—so if Brian thinks he’s running the band, he might be in for a surprise.