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Setlist
Tour Dates
07/13 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre ^
07/19 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater ^ 07/21 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club ^ 07/23 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts ^ 07/25 New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ^ 07/28 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ^ 07/29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^ 08/23 Brooklyn, NY @ AFROPUNK Festival ^ w/ Ryn Weaver Read More
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Sam Dew kicked off a night of eclectic artists at the Echo this Wednesday, July 8th in Los Angeles. The turnout was impressive as people tend to show up later (typical Angelenos), so naturally my guess was there was a special buzz around the opener. I wasn’t especially privy to Sam beforehand, other than digging his former band Cloudeater, in which he was the lead singer and co-songwriter. The Echo is a dark and dreary venue and I go there to have my mind blown. Needless to say Sam and his musicians didn’t disappoint.
In congruence with possessing the lofty title of songwriter for such artists as Rihanna and Mary J. Blige and featuring on the wildly popular hit alongside Wale LoveHate Thing, Chicago native Sam Dew is hitting the scene hard with his new EP Damn Sue. He teamed up with producer and T.V. On The Radio member Dave Sitek to create this 6 track success, which Sam claims is just a snippet of all the time they spent writing music in and out of the studio. His sound is on a similar wavelength to TVOTR with soulful, heartfelt lyrics accompanied by inventive electric sounds, and along with that there’s something else about him that taps you on the shoulder to whisper in your ear, “This guy’s a rockstar.”
Before Sam hits the stage he does a little jig with his homie that implies he can cut a rug on the dance floor. Joining him are bandmates Aaron Steele on drums and Kyle McCammon on bass, both Brooklyn natives. “You’re cruel, you’re unkind” are the lamented opening lyrics to the song ‘Desperately’. The crowd stands in awe as Sam melts us all with his buttery vocals and smooth style. The seamless blend of his delicate yet powerful singing are sure to send chills down the spine of even the most callous of music enthusiasts. Then, out of nowhere, the room was filled with eagle-like sounds behind the vocals that gave it a sort of psychedelic undertone which I thought fit really well with his whole vibe. Sam’s got that downplayed kinda swag, simple in plain black T-shirt and jeans along with a proper gentleman’s beard. Right off the audience is carried away with the layers of bobbing-your-head beats and sultry sounds. Let’s just call it Funky Alternative New Wave Soul Blues. Is this a genre? It is now.
Next up was the second track on the EP Air, a totally catchy hip-hip tune that had the crowd pumped up and moving around. The third track and my personal favorite on the album, ‘Rewind’, was up next and is sure to be a rising success “Hoping I can have it once again, hoping I can have it once again” Sam’s seductive voice encapsulates that unrequited love, the one that got away, the one you’ve been waiting for. He says, “It’s ok. I’ve been there. We’re all in the same boat and I feel longing as deeply as you do (and maybe even a bit more).” So to keep up the theme of breaking our hearts a little more, naturally Sam would have to get a little Bill Withers cover in the mix. ‘Lovely Day’, you ask? Nope. ‘Use Me’. This guy has soul dripping from his fingertips; that gritty, old-school soul that makes you feel like you’re travelin’ back to the times of moonshine and banjos on porches. Anyone that can cover Withers like that has a major nod from me. The band has only been playing together for three months, right before SXSW, but it’s clear they have stellar camaraderie between them.
Sam finished up his set with a couple very spiritual tracks, ‘Reincarnation’ and ‘Victor’. He’s doing something different on a whole other level- and has all the combination of artists that I hold in high regard: Ethereal moods, jazzy beats and through-the-roof vocals, all with a silver lining of hope amidst the madness. And we’re all a little mad. Music just helps curb the feeling of loneliness that is human condition...and makes us feel like we’re home.
In congruence with possessing the lofty title of songwriter for such artists as Rihanna and Mary J. Blige and featuring on the wildly popular hit alongside Wale LoveHate Thing, Chicago native Sam Dew is hitting the scene hard with his new EP Damn Sue. He teamed up with producer and T.V. On The Radio member Dave Sitek to create this 6 track success, which Sam claims is just a snippet of all the time they spent writing music in and out of the studio. His sound is on a similar wavelength to TVOTR with soulful, heartfelt lyrics accompanied by inventive electric sounds, and along with that there’s something else about him that taps you on the shoulder to whisper in your ear, “This guy’s a rockstar.”
Before Sam hits the stage he does a little jig with his homie that implies he can cut a rug on the dance floor. Joining him are bandmates Aaron Steele on drums and Kyle McCammon on bass, both Brooklyn natives. “You’re cruel, you’re unkind” are the lamented opening lyrics to the song ‘Desperately’. The crowd stands in awe as Sam melts us all with his buttery vocals and smooth style. The seamless blend of his delicate yet powerful singing are sure to send chills down the spine of even the most callous of music enthusiasts. Then, out of nowhere, the room was filled with eagle-like sounds behind the vocals that gave it a sort of psychedelic undertone which I thought fit really well with his whole vibe. Sam’s got that downplayed kinda swag, simple in plain black T-shirt and jeans along with a proper gentleman’s beard. Right off the audience is carried away with the layers of bobbing-your-head beats and sultry sounds. Let’s just call it Funky Alternative New Wave Soul Blues. Is this a genre? It is now.
Next up was the second track on the EP Air, a totally catchy hip-hip tune that had the crowd pumped up and moving around. The third track and my personal favorite on the album, ‘Rewind’, was up next and is sure to be a rising success “Hoping I can have it once again, hoping I can have it once again” Sam’s seductive voice encapsulates that unrequited love, the one that got away, the one you’ve been waiting for. He says, “It’s ok. I’ve been there. We’re all in the same boat and I feel longing as deeply as you do (and maybe even a bit more).” So to keep up the theme of breaking our hearts a little more, naturally Sam would have to get a little Bill Withers cover in the mix. ‘Lovely Day’, you ask? Nope. ‘Use Me’. This guy has soul dripping from his fingertips; that gritty, old-school soul that makes you feel like you’re travelin’ back to the times of moonshine and banjos on porches. Anyone that can cover Withers like that has a major nod from me. The band has only been playing together for three months, right before SXSW, but it’s clear they have stellar camaraderie between them.
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jazzy beats and through-the-roof vocals
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Sam Dew at The Echo, Los Angles (08 July 2015) |
