Samuel James CD Release

Photo Ctsy: Dennis Stein

Sam James CD Release
Saturday, August 22, 2009

Samuel James' third CD - For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen - was released to the expectant crowd at Space Gallery. He didn't disappoint.

A staggering guest list representing Sam's opinion of Portland's (and more) best and brightest, artists who - in his esteem - are making music unlike anyone else anywhere else. Folks involved: Atomic Trash, Joe Fletcher, Brown Bird, Sontiago, Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Meantone, Micah Blue Smalldone, Miah Connell, Myron Samuels, D. Gross, Ian Paige, Billy Carroll, Computer at Sea and, of course, Papa James.

Apologies to anyone I left out. It's only because I was too floored by the show.

Atomic Trash didn't play any of Sam's music, they didn't play any of their own music. A performance group, Atomic Trash performed a sultry, teasing dance to Paul Simon's '50 Ways To Leave You Lover.' They started in frilly, black skirts and tops and ended in panties and pasties. It set the mood for the night.

At the start of the show, about half the crowd had sat themselves on the floor to watch up at the stage, put the good people at Space were quick to inform that the place was packing in too quickly and too fully and we'd all have to stand.

Sam came out and played a couple new tunes off his album, inviting Myron Samuel's to wail on the Mississippi Sax for a number.

Then came The Announcement. Sam James had this big list of stars and so far that had yet to make an appearance. James grinned, announcing that these people, bands, acts, were going to be covering new songs off Sam's album and Mr. James planned to introduce the acts by way of performing one of their numbers.

The talent was impeccable, the songs were incredible, the music thrilling. Sam played a Joe Fletcher song, then Joe Fletcher got up and played a Sam James song. In this case, a song called "Joe Fletcher Blues." Yeah, it's named after him. Joe played it electric and sang with his deep voice.

Look, I'm not going review them all. There was too much quality that night. But I'll relay some highlights:

D. Gross. In the intro, Sam busted out something you never see... a piano. He said it'd be a Mose Allison version of a Dana Gross song, Steady on the Stairs. I'm afraid Sam's is lost to the evening. Dana then took the stage to take on "London Blues" as he called it. That was the original name, but lately Sam has been calling it "Cryin' Blind."

It was superlative. Dana drew out the hypnotic bass and threw on a sweet falsetto during the chorus, setting the audience to cheering. Sam stood off of the stage and grinned happily along.

A little reminder, you can catch Sam and Dana trading songs and stories at Blue (almost) every Thursday. I'm almost always there, so this little exchange was a special slice of awesome pie for me.

Meantone and Sam continued their friendly rivalry. Stomping around to Meantone's 'Knock, Knock.' They played each other's guitars, Sam swiped Meantone's hat. Samuel broke a string, luckily he's got a back up. "You've got no finesse," grinned Meantone.

Computer At Sea twisted 'Miss Noreen' to all kinds of crazy. If you're unfamiliar with CAS, his modus operandi is circuit bending noise-making electronics so they make different, new and fun noises. Centered around a circuit bent Casio SK-1, he's got a wide array of peripherals.

Also, a motorcycle helmet with built-in microphone and voice activated lights on the grill.

He warped Miss Noreen to a bumping, writhing electronic beauty.

And then The Ladies Stole The Show.

Well, and then isn't accurate. They weren't at the end and they didn't play at the same time. Ladylamb The Beekeeper plays great music and her live shows are something to see. Her voice, her wail, are absolutely incredible. She plays good music but every now and then she absolutely kills it, knocks it out of the park. The last time I saw her do it was Dead of Winter '09. And it happened again on Saturday.

Aly and Sam had gone through a couple of songs together and they weren't working out perfectly, but when Sam gave her a chance to play The Secret, Aly found her spot. You won't find The Secret on the album, unfortunately. Aly's treatment was thunderous and dynamic, making full use of her powerful voice and a simple guitar riff. It was lovely.

Then Sontiago took stage. She introduced the song saying she'd been confused when Sam asked her to sing. She explained that a lady rapper is unaccustomed to singing acapella. But she nailed "Wooden Tombstone." It was lovely, it was moving. She stomped and sang and clapped and it was beautiful.

That's not to mention Smalldone's twelve-strings, Connell's sweet singing, Paige's acoustic Dylan, Brown Bird's take on a song they'd never heard, and Billy Carrol - the only one who can make a puppy getting hit by a truck funny. He's also the only one to change Sam's lyrics; Sam tosses the puppy down a well.

And at the end everyone - led by Sam with the axe and Papa James with the ivory - took to the stage and together they played Sade's 'No Ordinary Love.' It was a simple fun and beautiful way to end the night. Apropos, too, when you consider the majority of the songs on the album are to, for or inspired by Sam's own lady.

The night was really a testament to Sam's considerable abilities as a songwriter. The beauty, simplicity, heartfelt emotion. That his songs could translate so wonderfully, so beautifully to a dozen different genres by a dozen different artists speaks to an enduring humanity and weight in the music of Sam James.

It was quite a night.

Posted by Krister