Samiam
{{Short description|American punk rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Samiam
| image = Samiam - Fillmore Auditorium, Denver - April 2022.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| caption = Samiam performing at the Fillmore Auditorium in 2022
Left to right: Kennerly, Darby, Beebout, Brooks (behind drum kit), and Loobkoff.
| origin = Berkeley, California, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 1988–present
| label = New Red Archives, Cleopatra, Atlantic, Hopeless, Your Choice, Burning Heart, No Idea, Dead Broke, Pure Noise, Golf
| website = [http://www.facebook.com/samiamband Samiam] on Facebook
| current_members = Jason Beebout
Sergie Loobkoff
Colin Brooks
Sean Kennerly
Chad Darby
| past_members = See below
}}
Samiam (pronounced "sam-I-am") is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, active since 1988.
History
Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe.
In the mid-'90s, the band was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing their major label debut Clumsy in 1994. Their video for single "Capsized" gained considerable airplay on MTV. Samiam performed on The Jon Stewart Show in 1994.{{Cite web |last=Bonazelli |first=Andrew |date=March 16, 2018 |title=Sergie Loobkoff on Samiam, Knapsack, Racquet Club, and Meeting Jon Stewart and Cindy Crawford |url=https://riotfest.org/2018/03/16/autodiscography-loobkoff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224105801/https://riotfest.org/2018/03/16/autodiscography-loobkoff/ |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=riotfest.org}}
Samiam recorded one more album during their time with Atlantic, though the label opted not to release it.{{Cite web |last=Wade |date=1998 |title=An Interview with Samiam's Jason Beebout |url=https://notinmybackyard.tripod.com/interviews/samiam/samiam.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130074210/https://notinmybackyard.tripod.com/interviews/samiam/samiam.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=notinmybackyard.tripod.com}} The album, You Are Freaking Me Out, was eventually released in 1997 by Burning Heart Records. Its single "She Found You" garnered considerable radio play in 1998.
Over the years, Samiam has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America and Japan, and performed with bands like Bad Religion, Green Day, The Offspring, NOFX, No Doubt, Toadies, Sense Field, Blink-182, Deftones, 311, Millencolin, and Fishbone.
In early 2001, the band went on hiatus after supporting the Astray album. Despite what was initially to be a breakup, they continued to tour abroad yearly (Europe and South America) with occasional shows in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This led to the recording of the band's seventh album Whatever's Got You Down, which was released in 2006. Samiam toured Europe three more times in 2006 and 2007 and played various US dates in 2008.
Samiam toured Australia in September 2009, together with the band [http://restassuredzine.com/news/493-a-death-in-the-family-announce-break-up A Death in the Family].{{cite web |url = http://www.samiam.de/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1249372169&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& |title = Australian Tour 2009 |website = samiam.de |access-date = August 10, 2010|url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175532/http://www.samiam.de/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1249372169&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& |archive-date = March 3, 2016}} This was followed by an appearance at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida in November 2009{{cite web |url= http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=56520991&blogId=512654808 |title=Florida, South America and another Sergie L.A. art show – Samiam's MySpace Blog |website=myspace.com |access-date=August 10, 2010}} and shows in Santiago, Chile; San Miguel, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil in December 2009.{{cite web |url= http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=56520991&blogId=513472932 |title=south america, here we come! |website=Samiam's MySpace Blog|publisher=myspace.com |access-date=August 10, 2010}} October 2010 brought them together again with A Death in the Family for a European and East Coast tour.{{cite web |url= http://www.samiam.de/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1281419989&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& |title= European and East Coast Tour |website= samiam.de |access-date= August 10, 2010 |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195912/http://www.samiam.de/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1281419989&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& |url-status= dead }}{{cite web |url = http://poisoncityrecords.com/2010/08/a-death-in-the-family-europe-tour-with-samiam/ |title = A Death in the Family Europe Tour with Samiam |website = poisoncityrecords.com |access-date = August 10, 2010|url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715101524/http://poisoncityrecords.com/2010/08/a-death-in-the-family-europe-tour-with-samiam/ |archive-date = July 15, 2011}}
Samiam released Trips, their first album in five years, on September 6, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/43438 |title=Samiam detail 'Trips'. |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=July 12, 2011}} Semi annual tours have followed ever since in Europe, Australia and South America. In 2015, while in Chicago for an appearance at Riot Fest, a four-song demo was recorded but never finished.{{cite web|last1=longshot|last2=Paul|first2=Aubin|date=March 3, 2011|title=Samiam to recordlater this year.|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/41814/samiam-to-record-later-this-year|access-date=March 3, 2011|publisher=Punknews.org}}
In December 2019, Samiam announced on their Facebook page that they are working on their first studio album in {{frac|8|1|2}} years.{{cite web|last1=Frankel|first1=Ricky|last2=Gentile|first2=John|date=December 31, 2019|title=Samiam working on new album|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/71547/samiam-working-on-new-album|access-date=January 1, 2020|publisher=Punknews.org}}
Musical style
The band's musical style has been described as punk rock,{{cite news |last1=Roos |first1=John |title=They Do Not Like, That Samiam |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-26-ca-47676-story.html |access-date=May 24, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 26, 1996}}{{cite web |last1=Shultz |first1=Brian |title=Samiam - Whatever's Got You Down |url=https://www.punknews.org/review/5670/samiam-whatevers-got-you-down |website=Punknews.org |date=September 26, 2006 |access-date=May 24, 2022}}{{cite magazine|date=January 21, 1995|title=Newsmakers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=107|issue=3|page=70|access-date=May 5, 2022}} hardcore punk,{{cite news |last1=Moser |first1=Daniel |title=Live in Lincoln |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/313152435/?terms=samiam%20hardcore%20punk&match=1 |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=Lincoln Journal |date=April 20, 1995}}{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Tuesday - Bad Religion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/72451637/?terms=samiam%20hardcore%20punk&match=2&clipping_id=4981911 |access-date=June 4, 2023 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=December 9, 1994 |page=18}} pop-punk,{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Samiam Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/samiam-mn0000244073/biography|access-date=May 5, 2022|publisher=AllMusic}}{{cite web|last=DePasquale|first=Ron|title=You Are Freaking Me Out - Samiam {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-are-freaking-me-out-mw0000036345|access-date=May 5, 2022|publisher=AllMusic}} melodic hardcore,{{cite news |title=Samiam - Clumsy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/786376366/?terms=Samiam%20melodic&match=2 |access-date=June 4, 2023 |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |date=September 22, 1994 |page=D15}} and emo. Samiam's influences during their initial 1990s run included the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Swervedriver,{{Cite web |date=April 4, 1998 |title=Samiam |url=https://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/towers/7050/samiam.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020121013705/www.https://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/towers/7050/samiam.html |archive-date=January 21, 2002 |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=Sunset Strip}} and Short Dogs Grow.{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2011 |title=Samiam |url=https://themusic.com.au/features/samiam-2/bcl1YWBjYmU/23-08-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318201953/https://themusic.com.au/features/samiam-2/bcl1YWBjYmU/23-08-11 |archive-date=March 18, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=music.com.au}}
Members
Current members
- Jason Beebout – vocals
- Sergie Loobkoff – guitar
- Colin Brooks – drums
- Sean Kennerly – guitar, bass
- Chad Darby – bass
Past members
- Ryan Sullivan – guitar (1988–1989)
- Johnny Cruz – drums (1998)
- James Brogan – guitar (1988–2000)
- Martin Brohm – bass (1988–1993)
- Aaron Rubin – bass (1993–1997)
- Jeremy Bergo – bass (2006)
- Mark Mortinsen – drums (1988–1990, 1993)
- Dave Ayer – drums (1990–1993)
- Tré Cool – drums (1999)
- Scott McPherson – drums (1999)
- Victor Indrizzo – drums (1993–1995)
- Davey Latter – drums (1999)
- Michael Petrak – drums (1995–1999)
- Charlie Walker – drums
- Billy Bouchard – bass
Discography
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
=Studio Albums=
| class="wikitable"
! Title ! Date of release ! Record label(s) |
| Samiam
|1990 |
| Soar
|1991 |New Red Archives |
| Billy
|1992 |New Red Archives |
| Clumsy
|August 23, 1994 |
| You Are Freaking Me Out
|June 12, 1997 |
| Astray
|August 29, 2000 |Hopeless Records / Burning Heart Records |
| Whatever's Got You Down
|September 26, 2006 | Hopeless Records / Burning Heart Records |
| Trips
|September 6, 2011 | Hopeless Records |
| Stowaway
|March 31, 2023 |
=EPs and compilations=
| class="wikitable"
! Title ! Date of release ! Record label(s) | |
| Underground (EP) (All songs also on Samiam) |1989 | |
| I am (EP)
|1990 | |
| Hardcore Breakout USA (v/a compilation) song: "Underground" |1990 | New Red Archives |
| Beauf demo songs from Billy, Odds n' Ends |1991 |Beri Beri Records - Europe | |
| Very Small World (v/a comp) song: "At the Bottom" |September 1991 |Very Small Records | |
| Split with Jawbreaker song: "Head Trap" |1992 |No Idea Records | |
| LIVE (EP) |1992 | |
| Faces the Facts w/ Eight Ball, Rise & ABS (split 7-inch)
|1992 |OX Records | |
| Don't Break Me (EP)
|1992 | New Red Archives | |
| Stump (EP) acoustic |1992 |Blackbox | |
| Ping Pong Gods split with Garlic Frog Diet |March 22, 1996 |Cargo Germany | |
| Hardcore Breakout USA Volume 2 (v/a comp) song: "Go Away" |1995 | New Red Archives |
| Glow split with Six Pack (part 4 of the Erase Yer Head split series) |1997 |Pandemonium Records (France) | |
| She Found You (EP)
|July 16, 1997 | |
| Factory (single)
|1997 | Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records | |
| At War With Society (v/a comp) song: "Underground" |1998 | New Red Archives |
| Your Choice Live Series 037 split with Texas Is the Reason |June 4, 1999 | |
| Short Music for Short People song: "Long Enough to Forget You" |June 1, 1999 | |
| Search & Destroy
|August 23, 1999 | Burning Heart Records | |
| Mudhill (single)
|2000 | |
| The New Red Years (comp) compilation of New Red Archives material |April 11, 2000 |Golf Records | |
| Orphan Works (comp) compilation of B-sides, lives and rarities |2010 | No Idea Records / Unless You Try Records | |
| Complete Control Session (comp) compilation of B-sides, lives and rarities |2012 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/samiamband Official Facebook page]
- [https://www.youtube.com/deadcosmo Videos] on YouTube.com
- [http://www.scannerzine.com/samiaminterview.htm Interview with Sergie Loobkoff on Scanner zine, 2010]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Punk rock groups from California
Category:Pop punk groups from California
Category:Emo musical groups from California
Category:Burning Heart Records artists
Category:Musical groups from Berkeley, California
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Hopeless Records artists
Category:Pure Noise Records artists
Category:Hardcore punk groups from California