Samiam

Samiam
Samiam performing at the Fillmore Auditorium in 2022 Left to right: Kennerly, Darby, Beebout, Brooks (behind drum kit), and Loobkoff.
Samiam performing at the Fillmore Auditorium in 2022 Left to right: Kennerly, Darby, Beebout, Brooks (behind drum kit), and Loobkoff.
Background information
OriginBerkeley, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988–present
LabelsNew Red Archives, Cleopatra, Atlantic, Hopeless, Your Choice, Burning Heart, No Idea, Dead Broke, Pure Noise, Golf
MembersJason Beebout
Sergie Loobkoff
Colin Brooks
Sean Kennerly
Chad Darby
Past membersSee below
WebsiteSamiam on Facebook

Samiam (pronounced "sam-I-am") is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, active since 1988.

History

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Samiam performing in 1991

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.[1]

Samiam recorded one more album during their time with Atlantic, though the label opted not to release it.[2] The album, You Are Freaking Me Out, was eventually released in 1997 by Burning Heart Records.[2] 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 A Death in the Family.[3] This was followed by an appearance at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida in November 2009[4] and shows in Santiago, Chile; San Miguel, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil in December 2009.[5] October 2010 brought them together again with A Death in the Family for a European and East Coast tour.[6][7]

Samiam released Trips, their first album in five years, on September 6, 2011.[8] 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.[9]

In December 2019, Samiam announced on their Facebook page that they are working on their first studio album in 8+12 years.[10]

Musical style

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The band's musical style has been described as punk rock,[11][12][13] hardcore punk,[14][15] pop-punk,[16][17] melodic hardcore,[18] and emo.[17] Samiam's influences during their initial 1990s run included the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Swervedriver,[19] and Short Dogs Grow.[20]

Members

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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
  • 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

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Studio Albums

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Title Date of release Record label(s)
Samiam 1990 New Red Archives
Soar 1991 New Red Archives
Billy 1992 New Red Archives
Clumsy August 23, 1994 Atlantic Records
You Are Freaking Me Out June 12, 1997 Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records
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 Pure Noise Records

EPs and compilations

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Title Date of release Record label(s)
Underground (EP)
(All songs also on Samiam)
1989 New Red Archives
I am (EP) 1990 Lookout Records
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
release No. 37 (VSR 14)
Split with Jawbreaker
song: "Head Trap"
1992 No Idea Records
7-inch came with No Idea Fanzine No. 10
LIVE (EP)
1992 Your Choice Records
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 Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records
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 Your Choice Records
Short Music for Short People
song: "Long Enough to Forget You"
June 1, 1999 Fat Wreck Chords
Search & Destroy August 23, 1999 Burning Heart Records
Mudhill (single) 2000 Hopeless Records
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 SideOneDummy Records

References

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  1. ^ Bonazelli, Andrew (March 16, 2018). "Sergie Loobkoff on Samiam, Knapsack, Racquet Club, and Meeting Jon Stewart and Cindy Crawford". riotfest.org. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Wade (1998). "An Interview with Samiam's Jason Beebout". notinmybackyard.tripod.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Australian Tour 2009". samiam.de. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  4. ^ "Florida, South America and another Sergie L.A. art show – Samiam's MySpace Blog". myspace.com. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "south america, here we come!". Samiam's MySpace Blog. myspace.com. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  6. ^ "European and East Coast Tour". samiam.de. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  7. ^ "A Death in the Family Europe Tour with Samiam". poisoncityrecords.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  8. ^ "Samiam detail 'Trips'". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  9. ^ longshot; Paul, Aubin (March 3, 2011). "Samiam to recordlater this year". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  10. ^ Frankel, Ricky; Gentile, John (December 31, 2019). "Samiam working on new album". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Roos, John (September 26, 1996). "They Do Not Like, That Samiam". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  12. ^ Shultz, Brian (September 26, 2006). "Samiam - Whatever's Got You Down". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Newsmakers". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 21, 1995. p. 70. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  14. ^ Moser, Daniel (April 20, 1995). "Live in Lincoln". Lincoln Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Staff (December 9, 1994). "Tuesday - Bad Religion". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 18. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  16. ^ Huey, Steve. "Samiam Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  17. ^ a b DePasquale, Ron. "You Are Freaking Me Out - Samiam | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Samiam - Clumsy". The Albuquerque Tribune. September 22, 1994. p. D15. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  19. ^ "Samiam". Sunset Strip. April 4, 1998. Archived from the original on January 21, 2002. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Samiam". music.com.au. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
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