Since this is a music blog I figured I'd talk about some other music for a hot minute. I used to stay abreast of new music much better than I do now, but I'm still no codger, my ear is to the ground.
With that being said I really have been getting down on Apes and Androids! They only have one album to my knowledge so go get it. Or fuck, even better, go get their songs "Golden Prize" and "Nights of the Week," our boys The Whigs "Right Hand on My Heart," Ghostland Observatory's "Heavy Heart," for FREE, and you've got one hell of a mix started (click link below, and thanks Stereogum)!
FREE MUSIC
Don't get:
Ween - La Cucaracha - I really like Ween, and have for some time now, since the 90's, yes that long, but this album is god awful. Magnet named it the best CD of 2007; and they also reviewed our last CD, so, go figure, ha-ha!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Relax now...
Enjoying Life!
The Sammies have had it good recently. We just got back from playing Robert Redford’s prestigious Sundance Film Festival! That was some experience. We played the Friday night before we left in ATL with The Whigs. It was great to play with them and Wax Fang again. Ben Holst sat in and played some slide and a couple other things, and we had a damn blast. Moustaches to boot! We all love the Earl in ATL too; great food and a great sounding venue, especially when it’s sold out!
Anyway, so we had to roll out before the Whigs played, but we would see them in Chapel Hill soon. Got into Charlotte again at 4:00am, we slept about an hour, then, booked it to the airport to catch our early morning flight. It took us 5+ hours to get to freaking Phoenix, so when we arrived we ran from terminal to terminal; they actually opened the door back up for us! We touch down in Salt Lake City, had about an hour ride up to Park City, checked into our sweet room, met Elizabeth, and before we knew it we were off to our first show!
We played at JB Mulligans with a band from Seattle called The Real You, nice fellows! Everyone was very nice, we did a little ditty for some Marines who had just come home from fighting for our freedom (not just Bobby, all of us!), and then we got offered to walk up the street and play a Columbia Records party at Star Bar, so we fucking did it. Just a couple songs acoustic turned into a small set of electric awesomeness and we warmed up the crowd nicely for our new friends in Royal Bliss. We had a piece of the night, and a piece of the morning and then we were back to Charlotte. We all want to go back next year, earlier in the week, and for longer. I only heard great things about the movies, and from what I saw, you will be seeing a lot of them in a theater near you real soon.
We played a weekday show in Chapel Hill with the Whigs and Bull City once we got back @ Local 506. Thanks so much to all for coming out in force on a school night! All of the bands were great and we were so privileged to play with such good bands. The Whigs are blazing one hell of a trail now, so catch them opening for the Truckers tail end of March.
Otherwise, we have been putting the final mixing touches on our next album, and head up to NYC to master at Sterling Sound with Greg Calbi March 4th. He did our last album so much justice we had to get him again! We have a benefit in Chapel Hill next Tuesday called Cancer Sucks. It’s at The Cat’s Cradle and is for a good cause so please find your way to Carrboro next Tuesday for that. The next Tuesday is in Asheville with the Whigs and Spinto Band, one more Whigs show for the hotch!
March 15th St. Patty’s in Columbia (Five Points)
Fredericksburg March 22nd (3rd Floor)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sundance and such.
Sundance – Mission Control – Acid
I am trying to get a blog up real quick before we head out for the next several days so bear with my brevity. I’m so killer excited about the next several whirlwind days! Tomorrow we roll out to ATL to play with The Whigs. It’s their CD release show for their 2nd album called Mission Control, and let me tell you, it’s a damn BEAST! Even though we are friends I would still buy this album, hands down, no question. If you like music, you will like it. Mission Control is all meat and potatoes, no bullshit, but you don’t have to take my word for it, look online and you will not have to go far to find a track or two streaming. I’d link one now, but as I said, kind of in a rush.
So, we play in ATL, Ben Holst, who has been helping us finish our 2nd album, will be sitting in with us playing some slide and others things our hands just won’t allow. After we play we pack up, head back to Charlotte in order to catch a plane to Utah. We have been invited to play the Sundance Film Festival! Wish we could enjoy more of the festival but we’ll take what we can get; maybe next year. We fly back to CLT Sunday, throw a couple more dabs of awesomeness on the mixing process, play another show with The Whigs and Spinto Band next Wednesday in Chapel Hill, another show in Asheville in Feb., and master at Sterling Sound in NYC first of March.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the snow show in Charlotte! The weather was bad, but hell, it wasn’t that damn bad, we only wrecked twice on the way home.
the Sammies
I am trying to get a blog up real quick before we head out for the next several days so bear with my brevity. I’m so killer excited about the next several whirlwind days! Tomorrow we roll out to ATL to play with The Whigs. It’s their CD release show for their 2nd album called Mission Control, and let me tell you, it’s a damn BEAST! Even though we are friends I would still buy this album, hands down, no question. If you like music, you will like it. Mission Control is all meat and potatoes, no bullshit, but you don’t have to take my word for it, look online and you will not have to go far to find a track or two streaming. I’d link one now, but as I said, kind of in a rush.
So, we play in ATL, Ben Holst, who has been helping us finish our 2nd album, will be sitting in with us playing some slide and others things our hands just won’t allow. After we play we pack up, head back to Charlotte in order to catch a plane to Utah. We have been invited to play the Sundance Film Festival! Wish we could enjoy more of the festival but we’ll take what we can get; maybe next year. We fly back to CLT Sunday, throw a couple more dabs of awesomeness on the mixing process, play another show with The Whigs and Spinto Band next Wednesday in Chapel Hill, another show in Asheville in Feb., and master at Sterling Sound in NYC first of March.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the snow show in Charlotte! The weather was bad, but hell, it wasn’t that damn bad, we only wrecked twice on the way home.
the Sammies
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Holiday Pomp and Circumstance
Happy Holidays!!!
Greetings and Happy Holidays from the Sammies! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got everything you wanted/deserved. I got a bike, Don got an interface so we can record a little better, Conrad got a hunting rifle, and Freedom got a dog. We plan on putting the dog on the bike, shooting at it, and recording what it sounds like; should be pretty wicked.
Since we last spoke we played a show in Charlotte with the Black Lips. It was a good time, and awesome to play with such a good band. I recommend their live album if you want to get down on some Black Lips; it was recorded in Tijuana and really captures their signature sound. They were all real nice dudes and we wish them the best in the coming year. They did an interview with Paste Magazine before the show, so look for that in an upcoming issue. Despite all of the wild stories I heard about the Black Lips, I must say, they were nothing but pros, and are a little wiser than they let on.
In other news; Don Yale finally graduated college! Next time you see him buy him a stiff drink, slap him on the back, and burp congratulations in his face so he can smell your sincerity. He graduated from UNCC with a major in Psychology and a minor in Health Fitness, and probably a better GPA than I got out of there with.
I went to Aruba and had a damn blast. I actually won money in the casinos, playing craps. Don’t play slots unless you just want to lose money and are OK with that. If you’re just trying to get drinks, play the penny or nickel slots, bet one line at a time, lose, and keep the waiter/waitress busy. Tip well in the beginning so they come back, then you can relax the tips as the night wears on. Craps advice; make simple bets to begin with, but make sure you stand beside someone who knows what they are doing, then take a page or two out of their book. Bet until you get a good roller, then once you have had a good run, fucking leave! If you are looking for a good vacation Aruba was very nice, better than Jamaica and the Bahamas I think. We stayed at the Renaissance Marina Hotel and would highly recommend that to anyone looking to stay on the island. The hotel owns its own private island and a boat drives into the hotel to pick up passengers every 15 minutes to take them there. Plus, staying in the city you have easy access to all things, unlike staying down the beach where it’s just you and a hotel.
Conrad went home to West Virginia for Christmas, and yes we have already heard all of the jokes, but feel free to comment with a joke if you have some new ones. Otherwise, he has just been shopping, which is what happens if you put off getting Christmas presents till the last minute.
Freedom of course went home to his house in Raleigh for the holidays, a nice break for him since he has been immersed in work for the past little while. If he wasn’t working on the Sammies light display he has been embedding systems for a company here in Charlotte. Got to make that money while you can, especially since we are taking it easy till we get the CD mixed/mastered/etc, he always was the smart Sammie.
Besides that, we have been pretty boring, just doing the holiday’s thing. We mix the CD in Athens first part of January so that’s where we are on that. Also, just added some January shows, the 19th in Charlotte @ The Visulite with Tereu Tereu, the 25th in Atlanta @ The Earl with The Whigs (CD release) and Wax Fang, and the 30th in Chapel Hill with The Whigs and Bull City, hope to see everyone out at one of those shows as they will be a little less frequent for a while.
As always, we love to hear from you, holler anytime!
Greetings and Happy Holidays from the Sammies! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got everything you wanted/deserved. I got a bike, Don got an interface so we can record a little better, Conrad got a hunting rifle, and Freedom got a dog. We plan on putting the dog on the bike, shooting at it, and recording what it sounds like; should be pretty wicked.
Since we last spoke we played a show in Charlotte with the Black Lips. It was a good time, and awesome to play with such a good band. I recommend their live album if you want to get down on some Black Lips; it was recorded in Tijuana and really captures their signature sound. They were all real nice dudes and we wish them the best in the coming year. They did an interview with Paste Magazine before the show, so look for that in an upcoming issue. Despite all of the wild stories I heard about the Black Lips, I must say, they were nothing but pros, and are a little wiser than they let on.
In other news; Don Yale finally graduated college! Next time you see him buy him a stiff drink, slap him on the back, and burp congratulations in his face so he can smell your sincerity. He graduated from UNCC with a major in Psychology and a minor in Health Fitness, and probably a better GPA than I got out of there with.
I went to Aruba and had a damn blast. I actually won money in the casinos, playing craps. Don’t play slots unless you just want to lose money and are OK with that. If you’re just trying to get drinks, play the penny or nickel slots, bet one line at a time, lose, and keep the waiter/waitress busy. Tip well in the beginning so they come back, then you can relax the tips as the night wears on. Craps advice; make simple bets to begin with, but make sure you stand beside someone who knows what they are doing, then take a page or two out of their book. Bet until you get a good roller, then once you have had a good run, fucking leave! If you are looking for a good vacation Aruba was very nice, better than Jamaica and the Bahamas I think. We stayed at the Renaissance Marina Hotel and would highly recommend that to anyone looking to stay on the island. The hotel owns its own private island and a boat drives into the hotel to pick up passengers every 15 minutes to take them there. Plus, staying in the city you have easy access to all things, unlike staying down the beach where it’s just you and a hotel.
Conrad went home to West Virginia for Christmas, and yes we have already heard all of the jokes, but feel free to comment with a joke if you have some new ones. Otherwise, he has just been shopping, which is what happens if you put off getting Christmas presents till the last minute.
Freedom of course went home to his house in Raleigh for the holidays, a nice break for him since he has been immersed in work for the past little while. If he wasn’t working on the Sammies light display he has been embedding systems for a company here in Charlotte. Got to make that money while you can, especially since we are taking it easy till we get the CD mixed/mastered/etc, he always was the smart Sammie.
Besides that, we have been pretty boring, just doing the holiday’s thing. We mix the CD in Athens first part of January so that’s where we are on that. Also, just added some January shows, the 19th in Charlotte @ The Visulite with Tereu Tereu, the 25th in Atlanta @ The Earl with The Whigs (CD release) and Wax Fang, and the 30th in Chapel Hill with The Whigs and Bull City, hope to see everyone out at one of those shows as they will be a little less frequent for a while.
As always, we love to hear from you, holler anytime!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Second album!!!
So far, untitled:
Hot damn, I think we are about done with the actual recording part of the second album, finally! I sang my ass off this past weekend and the others added some nice weird noises to put the cherry on top. This is another warning: THIS ALBUM WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST. Although it still has the same, unique Sammies element there are some differences for sure. First of all, along with our friends Ben Holst (see credits on first album) and Billy Bennett (also, see credits from first album), we were solely responsible for the production and sounds on this album. Hence the reason it took more than a week to record this time. We know what we like, but our lack of proper technical training can cause some delays in trying to obtain these sounds. It’s more of a trial by fire, which is great because we did some unconventional things that will differentiate us from the masses, but it does take more time. Imagine spending 4-6 hours building a house (it’s an analogy bear with me), the outside looks great, but the floor is caving in inside, so you tear it all down and start again; a bummer yes, but for the better in the end, because the house is a lot more sturdy. That’s what we have been doing in a nut shell. Hard to explain, that’s why we have pictures and videos I hope to post soon.
More to come shortly! Thanks to all our fans that have patiently waited. It has been two years since our first release, and we do have a video that might better explain what took so long. Posting it soon!
In other news, we have just been added to our best friends, The Whigs, CD release show in Atlanta on Jan. 25th! We are playing at the Earl along with Wax Fang, another great band that will rock your face off. It is a reunion of sort’s b/c we all played at Local 506 in Chapel Hill about half a year ago. Maybe we can finally see that awesome aquarium in Atlanta too!
Hot damn, I think we are about done with the actual recording part of the second album, finally! I sang my ass off this past weekend and the others added some nice weird noises to put the cherry on top. This is another warning: THIS ALBUM WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST. Although it still has the same, unique Sammies element there are some differences for sure. First of all, along with our friends Ben Holst (see credits on first album) and Billy Bennett (also, see credits from first album), we were solely responsible for the production and sounds on this album. Hence the reason it took more than a week to record this time. We know what we like, but our lack of proper technical training can cause some delays in trying to obtain these sounds. It’s more of a trial by fire, which is great because we did some unconventional things that will differentiate us from the masses, but it does take more time. Imagine spending 4-6 hours building a house (it’s an analogy bear with me), the outside looks great, but the floor is caving in inside, so you tear it all down and start again; a bummer yes, but for the better in the end, because the house is a lot more sturdy. That’s what we have been doing in a nut shell. Hard to explain, that’s why we have pictures and videos I hope to post soon.
More to come shortly! Thanks to all our fans that have patiently waited. It has been two years since our first release, and we do have a video that might better explain what took so long. Posting it soon!
In other news, we have just been added to our best friends, The Whigs, CD release show in Atlanta on Jan. 25th! We are playing at the Earl along with Wax Fang, another great band that will rock your face off. It is a reunion of sort’s b/c we all played at Local 506 in Chapel Hill about half a year ago. Maybe we can finally see that awesome aquarium in Atlanta too!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Mo' Shows
Alley Cats n’ Athens
A little more activity since we last talked, we played some of our last gigs we had booked for the year. Before we started this blog the Sammies had been playing all summer, every week, for three to four months straight, and weren’t necessarily taking it easy before then either. Although I love to play, for a band our size, it keeps you from doing other work, writing new songs, taking care of band business, etc. You are always preparing for the next shows, gotta be ready. We refuse to venture out unprepared, and are quite hard on ourselves if we feel we play sub-par. So, we end up practicing all of the time, gearing up for shows. Now, we only have one more show booked
A little more activity since we last talked, we played some of our last gigs we had booked for the year. Before we started this blog the Sammies had been playing all summer, every week, for three to four months straight, and weren’t necessarily taking it easy before then either. Although I love to play, for a band our size, it keeps you from doing other work, writing new songs, taking care of band business, etc. You are always preparing for the next shows, gotta be ready. We refuse to venture out unprepared, and are quite hard on ourselves if we feel we play sub-par. So, we end up practicing all of the time, gearing up for shows. Now, we only have one more show booked
(w/ Black Lips!), and it’s in Charlotte, maybe 15 minutes from the house (Neighborhood Theater), door to door, piece of cake. We will book more shows for next year, but are kinda chilling right now. Everyone deserves some rest, I suggest everyone who reads this take a load off!
We finally have some dates in the studio so we can finish the 2nd album. We really appreciate Mitch Easter and all at Fidelitorium, like Morgan, for working us in. The second album has been a project, and because we were playing so often it made it hard to record. We would record for a day or two, have to take off that night, play a show somewhere, drive back, and get back into recording mode for the final day or so. We did that for a couple of weeks the past 2-3 months and still aren’t done. Personally I could spend another year going over and over the songs, but we just can’t, no point, you could do it forever. Whatever, I have my fingers crossed we will finish this time, and I’m not going to worry about it anyway. I could talk for days about recording, and even just this album, but I will save it for another time.
Alright, so we played a weekday show last Wednesday at Alley Cats; a relatively new club in uptown Charlotte. I must say the place is nice, and our old friend who used to run the Steeple is in charge, so it’s good to see him again, and doing well. We played with our boys
We finally have some dates in the studio so we can finish the 2nd album. We really appreciate Mitch Easter and all at Fidelitorium, like Morgan, for working us in. The second album has been a project, and because we were playing so often it made it hard to record. We would record for a day or two, have to take off that night, play a show somewhere, drive back, and get back into recording mode for the final day or so. We did that for a couple of weeks the past 2-3 months and still aren’t done. Personally I could spend another year going over and over the songs, but we just can’t, no point, you could do it forever. Whatever, I have my fingers crossed we will finish this time, and I’m not going to worry about it anyway. I could talk for days about recording, and even just this album, but I will save it for another time.
Alright, so we played a weekday show last Wednesday at Alley Cats; a relatively new club in uptown Charlotte. I must say the place is nice, and our old friend who used to run the Steeple is in charge, so it’s good to see him again, and doing well. We played with our boys
Chocha Loca, check em out, it is music made for Guitar Hero! Plus, our old friend Jason plays in the band; he also just fixed my guitar. Be-he-he-he-ho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The night was good, Carolina and Davidson were playing basketball right next door at the Bobcats Arena, so uptown was lively for a weekday. Freedom’s amp started acting up near the end, but luckily I play through two amps, so I afforded him one to finish the set. It was a good warm up for our show Friday night in Athens.
The Sammies and Athens have always been lovers. We met a young band from there, called
the Whigs, when we were first starting out ourselves, so we would go down there, play shows with them, and just hang out. We even played at their house several times till early in the morning, along with another then young band, MGMT. The Pizza Hut house saw some good times for sure. The freaking floor caved in at one party! So, for as long as we have been a band, we have played in Athens regularly and always enjoy a trip down there.
We played at Tasty World last Friday night, where we have played often. Murphy and crew are always super nice to us. Also playing with the Sammies that night was
We played at Tasty World last Friday night, where we have played often. Murphy and crew are always super nice to us. Also playing with the Sammies that night was
Minor Kings and Up With the Joneses. UWJ were a pleasant surprise, just like De Novo Dahl was last time we played Tasty World. They had energy and some good songs. Minor Kings also played well, and the definite highlight was Alex climbing the “I” beam by the stage to the top and then swinging across the crowd. It makes me wish I didn’t play guitar sometimes. We had some friends come out, such as the Pendletons, great to see them, and they just got a nice write up in Rolling Stone, congrats! Our friend Butch let us crash at his house, much obliged, much obliged! And as always, there was a small contingent of people with NC ties that came out to support us, thanks to all of you! The night ended at Butch’s house, where we acted like complete pansies and passed out, but not before checking out aquarium city! Butch breeds these rare African fish, and man, it’s some operation, pretty freaking cool actually.
Hold it down, eat lots of turkey, and slap someone in your family because you love them!!!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
No news is good news
Nov. 8th/Black Lips/Reigning Sound
Not much to report this week on the Sammies front; still no song list for the album, need to narrow it down a little more, and still no title. Great strides have been made though, so stay tuned.
Speaking of staying tuned, Old Mister Johnson, my Gibson SG, is getting revamped this week by our good friend Jason Racino and Cotter Guitar. She was a little worn around the edges from a fair amount of playing, and in turn, a fair amount of abuse. Guitars are meant to be played, not babied! How would you like it if someone put you on a shelf just to look at? Wouldn’t feel too good, and may be a bit weird.
Like I said, not much going on this week; we’re getting some practice in, working on some lights that should trip everyone out, and trying to get the album ready to come out, wild I may add. The big news, at least in my book, is the December 7th show in Charlotte. Another awesome band has just been added, Reigning Sound! I tried to see them at SXSW this last time but the show was packed before I could get in, and that was still rather early. So, needless to say I am pumped to see not only Black Lips but now Reigning Sound too. I would pay $12 to see just one of those bands, now you get the trifecta for $12, @ Neighborhood Theater!
Go Bobcats, and take the Panthers with you!
Not much to report this week on the Sammies front; still no song list for the album, need to narrow it down a little more, and still no title. Great strides have been made though, so stay tuned.
Speaking of staying tuned, Old Mister Johnson, my Gibson SG, is getting revamped this week by our good friend Jason Racino and Cotter Guitar. She was a little worn around the edges from a fair amount of playing, and in turn, a fair amount of abuse. Guitars are meant to be played, not babied! How would you like it if someone put you on a shelf just to look at? Wouldn’t feel too good, and may be a bit weird.
Like I said, not much going on this week; we’re getting some practice in, working on some lights that should trip everyone out, and trying to get the album ready to come out, wild I may add. The big news, at least in my book, is the December 7th show in Charlotte. Another awesome band has just been added, Reigning Sound! I tried to see them at SXSW this last time but the show was packed before I could get in, and that was still rather early. So, needless to say I am pumped to see not only Black Lips but now Reigning Sound too. I would pay $12 to see just one of those bands, now you get the trifecta for $12, @ Neighborhood Theater!
Go Bobcats, and take the Panthers with you!
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