Before the term 'emo' hit us from directions as well-thumbed as Spin and Blender, and way prior to the invasion of Fisher Price punk rock bands that now have even Disney Channel backups bands sporting mohawks, Samiam was creating life's soundtrack for the elite LA Taco reader now reaching into their early to mid 30’s. If there existed a Venn Diagram with circles representing malaise, anger, heartache, and big heaping doses of nostalgia, at the intersection you would find Samiam. No one captures that time when you are young and can throw all your shit in the back of a car and just leave, times when another dumb relationship sends you spiraling out of control, times when you just fucking LOVE your friends-- like Samiam.
Perhaps it was due to their lack of a US tour for over six years, but the band sounded refreshed and fully engaged for the crowd of mostly men. The band members have been playing in other bands in the meantime including Knapsack and Solea (with members of Texas is the Reason.)
They started out with “Sunshine” from Astray before gracing us with a few tracks from their recently released Whatever’s Got You Down. Even as good as these tracks sounded live, like any Samiam song they only really get their hooks into you after being played on repeat with close friends, everyone shaking their heads and exchanging mutual "Damns!" via ESP. Also including songs from Soar, the band's great rendition of “Bad Day” from Clumsy got the crowed pretty fired up. They speeded up the normally slow “Mud Hill” from Astray, which held guitarist Sergie Loobkoff especially enthused with the music, playing with such intensity that the crowd felt dialed into the past, finally at the Samiam we remember, just how how things used to be…
Samiam recorded the latest album in LA and the show last week was their last US date for a tour heading to the UK and then throughout the rest of Europe.
LINKS: http://www.myspace.com/samiam
www.gosamgo.com
Solea link: http://www.myspace.com/solea
