photo provided by BC Promotions
Last week, we all played along with Sam Bradley and his “secret show” game. Via Twitter, Bradley sent his followers on a wild goose chase in order to find out where he was to play his “secret show,” which led us all to The Basement in Nashville, TN.
Sam did say to get there early because space was limited, and from past experiences with Sam Bradley shows, we know that a line will form well before the doors open. So we arrive at the venue with a couple hours to spare, and we are not the first ones to show up. There is already a small line that is forming, and we quickly all began talking. After a while the line had grown enough to actually extend into the parking lot. The manager of the venue came out at one point with his camera to take a picture. He said he had never seen a line like this one at this venue before, and he was going to title the picture “The Wait.” Everyone seems to already be having a great time and the doors haven’t even opened yet.
Once the doors opened, we all present our ID’s and the cover charge, and file into the venue to find our prime locations. We talk and laugh as we are waiting for the show to start. As you scan the room to watch the other people coming in, you can already sense that the evening is going to be an enjoyable one. After seeing Sam Bradley live several times in the past, both with and without his band “The Men,” I knew that I would be entertained and enjoy the show. However, I did not anticipate that Sam Bradley would deliver, in my opinion, his best performance yet.
Sam started the show out with the song “Come On In” and you could see that he was happy and “at home” on the stage. In between every song, Sam pulls in his audience with some heartfelt words and stories, but the true testament was in his vocal and stage performance.
Sam most definitely feeds off of his audience throughout his entire show, and his audience feeds off of him. It is a relationship that many singers will never get to experience, but somehow Sam seems to have mastered it, and tonight he seems to have brought this skill to a new level. With Sam, you have always been able to feel the emotions of a song, both lyrically and physically, you can tell exactly what emotions he was feeling when he wrote the song, but, there was more to it tonight. Whether it was because he has found that magic that allows him to connect so much with his audience or something else, the power of his performance was simply amazing.
The “love” songs he sings emit feelings of love that only exist in dreams. It is obvious that he has put his heart and soul into these songs, and the effect that he creates when singing them, causes ripples of possibilities and hope to run through the air.
His “fun” songs came across so light and enjoyable that you could not help but dance, smile, and sing along. He sings Derek, which is a favorite of the fan community, The Land of Dreamers, and he seems to enjoy the fact that some of the LoD girls are in the crowd supporting him. A couple of the girls drove in from Montreal, Canada (Steph and Jess) and requested a song, which he does play for them, saying “this is what happens when you come in from Montreal.” He explains that he has only played this song once, because it was only half written, and that the song does not have a title, but is not “Untitled” and proceeds to give us the “toe tapping” tune that was requested.
He follows it up with “Passport” and he and the audience are having so much fun by this point that half way through the song, he invites people to come on stage to dance. Two people (Christyn Griffin & Allie Farmer) joined him on the small stage and he laughed and said that “This has never happened before, but we are going to try it.” When finished he describes it as “impossible and amazing.".jpg)
photo provided by BC Promotions
Sam then moves on to the “sad” songs, and once again, you are submerged into your emotions. At only 22-years-old, Sam Bradley has figured out how to take such raw and painful emotions and turn them into a beautiful song that makes you walk the journey with him. Feelings immediately cascade over you until you seem to be in a never-ending waterfall of heartache and loneliness. But, this doesn’t last long because he quickly switches back to more “fun songs” and of course, always ending with the crowd favorite “Soho Whores”
Sam is a true showman and had a wonderful show. He showed everyone today that not only is he an amazing singer/songwriter, but he is also rising to new levels with every show. In all, Sam played 16 songs and other than a few people at the bar that were constantly talking and ignoring the show, everyone in attendance was respectful and happy to be there.
One of the hardest things to do is to try and categorize the music Sam plays. He incorporates so many genres into his songs you cannot pick one. From country to rock and everything in between, Sam covers them all with skill and ease. Sam has a new EP that is due to release on August 29, 2009, which is also his 23rd birthday, and can be purchased here. In anticipation to this release, a music video for Sea Blue has been released and you can see that below. Please be sure to check out Sam Bradley’s YouTube and MySpace.
Comments
I so wish I could have been there! Thanks for the play-by-play so I felt like I was there! Article is awesome as always! Sea Blue video is amazing too!!
I see the post-it notes paid off. Great article, thanks for sharing. I wish I could be there, but this was the next best thing.
Katie that was a great article reading it makes me sad that I didn't try harder to get there. I haven't seen Sam live yet and I am dying to. Thanks for the article keep them coming!
Katie you are amazing thank you for this!!! I am so happy to hear it was a great show and you had fun. I wish I was there with you:) keep up the great work. Hope to see ya soon
I am so proud of my Katie and her ability to share this great show. I hope she makes Sam proud! Keep up the great work! If you can write and make a person feel like they were there - you rock!
Katie, You rock!! Sam's show was great :)Thanks so much for the re-cap/review!!
Wish I could have been there, but your article was the next best thing!
great job. like the article about Sam. thanks for the info!
Bravo...another great read! Hate I missed this gig, but I'm sure you'll keep us all posted on where (or how) to find Sam Bradley next. This was a fun series of articles and I hope Sam gives you the chance to do it again. I really appreciate you keeping us up to date!
Thanks for the review, Katie! I had a lot of fun that day. The ride there was amazing too (Steph you're a trooper and the best car buddy ever!) This was one of the best shows. So intimate and real. Sam, you're one of an kind and deserve all the best. A true talent. I hope to see you soon. :) xx
Katie, great article! Sam, Great Show! It brought back so many memories from that night. Wishing I was back there right now, with all my LOD girls listening to Sam play Steph and Jess's song...
Great job on this article Katie! You write so well! Sam's show was amazing and you really put it out there how amazing it was.
I soooo wish I had been there! Thanks for this Katie!
Great article Katie! Thanks for putting into words the feelings and emotion that go along with Sam's shows! Sam is an amazing performer and I can't wait for the rest of the world to find out just that!
I don't think I've read a better review of Sam's sound than this... very well written & I think it describes everything perfectly. I'm so happy you got to go see the show!
Great article Katie! I feel like I was actually there instead of just wishing I was. :)
That's a fabulous review! I was unable to be there that night so I'm very thankful for a well-written account of the show. Also, after trying to say hello to Sam after Bobby's show on the 19th and having to leave because of the extremely crude and disrespectful girls out front, I'm glad to hear that the crowd was so respectful and appreciative of what they should be there for...the music.
Ok Katie! You now have to attend every show of Sam Bobby and Marcus' and write the reviews...because this was utterly amazing! You hit the nail on the head several times and Im now going to plaster this article everywhere because finally, someone put words to Sam and his music that actually make sense and bring a bit of emotion to the reader! Amazing love!
Miss you...alot! =)
Ohh what a great article, and it was a great show! I think you were next to me, I was wondering what all of those post-it notes were for! haha! It was awesome except for the people by the bar who would not stop talking.
Tabitha...shhhh dont give away the fact that I left my little notebook in the car and only had post it notes to write down things...lol...
Nice review sis...keep um coming!
Awesome review, Katie!! I feel like I was there & I wish I had been!!! Sam's an amazing performer, singer, songwriter, etc., and I can't wait to see where he goes!!! We love you, Sam!!!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!