The Samples preview

The Samples
Martyrs’, Chicago
Saturday, March 10, 2007

Married couples are supposed to give each other china for their 20th wedding anniversary, but what does a band celebrating a similar milestone do? Needless to say, the guys in The Samples didn’t splurge on a gravy boat or a butter tray for the occasion. Of course, out of the current lineup only one member has been there from the beginning in 1987, when the band made a splash around their base of Boulder, Colorado. A self-titled major label release in 1989 brought about national attention.

Founding member, lead vocalist, and main songwriter Sean Kelly has weathered two major label deals gone sour, a reprieve and warm welcome from the indie world, and a revolving door of band members. Through it all Kelly and The Samples persevered, releasing 18 albums, some studio and some live, and relishing a hardy touring schedule. The Samples performed regularly on the now defunct H.O.R.D.E. festival circuit in the early ’90s and some of that decade’s biggest acts, like Dave Matthews Band and Hootie And The Blowfish, opened for the band before they became household names themselves.

Kelly’s most recent album, entitled Rehearsing For Life, hit the shelves in 2005 with Bill Mutchler on drums, Jared Johnson on bass, Karl Dietel on keyboards and Dan Blondin on guitar. The album follows in The Samples’ rootsy vein with lyrics about love and looking back. On “Nevers” Kelly sings “I have too many nevers,” which must sum up his personal life, because it’s hard to imagine that line applying to his 20-year career.

Weber Band and David McMillan open. This is a separate event from the Frank Orrall/Dave Max Crawford/Susan Voelz show earlier in the evening.

— Janine Schaults

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly