sammyUSA @ Joseph's Well
By Holden DeForge
What once was Parva is now The Kaiser Chiefs. With a brand new set and a brand new sound the band introduce their new selves to us with "Less Is More". What we have less of is aggression and immediateness of the older songs and more keyboards and swirly sounds. The band are tight and the dynamics rise and fall superbly, singer Ricky leads from the front shimmying around the stage and adding an extra dash of percussion to certain songs, which does make a huge difference and it puzzles me why more bands don't use their singer's free hands more! Drummer Nick adds in the vocal harmonies but they sometimes get lost in the mix, which is unfortunate for the band and for those in attendance. The music isn't really to my taste, it's just not catchy enough to hook me in at a first listen, some of the guitar lines stir thoughts of Edwyn Collins with a Bluesy pop tinged feel. Closing number "Saturday Night" with it's pop harmonies hints that the boys still have that knack for the catchy tune but the rest of the set passes me by, although the assembled throng take to it warmly. A question of taste I'd say so go make up your own mind.
Returning to the stage after a trip to the bar we're now greeted by lots of expensive looking desks and computer equipment. Starting off slowly and gradually working the crowd into an ass-shaking mood Overseer delivers some thumping tunes that mix rock with funk and dance. Lord only knows exactly what he's doing up there but it sounds damn good. It's a bit weird at first seeing a guy alone on stage with all that gear but as he starts headbanging away (almost literally at points it seems onto his equipment) the whole thing becomes a bit more visual. People start dancing a bit more and I get to thinking that I can't wait to see this guy in a club when it's 1am and everybody's drunk because quite simply his tunes rock and it's nigh on impossible to keep still. Going to be huge.
With a single out on Fierce Panda and a shiny new record deal with Universal/Island Sammy USA are out to show just what they're all about. We soon find out that it's songs. Every single one we hear tonight is great. There is nothing here to make up the numbers, they all count. With five band members that play their instruments with intelligence at times and others just pure raw passion we get well crafted and well thought out tunes that shift swiftly through dynamic ranges. Shifting effortlessly between grace and beauty and good old-fashioned rocking out Sammy USA encapsulate a range of styles. Single "Doorway of a Dancehall" is Supergrass at their greatest whilst we have "Fine" that leans towards Mercury Rev. For "Pretty Good Year" the band take a backseat whilst singer Jon plays a gorgeous acoustic ditty that brings a warmth flushing through me. This is what songwriting is about and when the band kick in halfway through it's a very fine moment indeed. With a guitarist that reminds me of Soulwax's David Dewale (crazy, inventive and basically shit hot) and a gorgeously sexy keyboard player, Sammy USA look relaxed on stage when playing softly and serenely and then just go balls out rock at times, especially towards the end of final song "Liar".
If Sammy USA were a girl they would be the girl of your dreams. Achingly beautiful with a wild streak and the ability to fill you with a warm fuzzy feeling. Sublime.
