Samiam (pronounced "sam-I-am") is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, active since 1988.
History
Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the band Isocracy, a Gilman club mainstay. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe.
Samiam signed to Atlantic Records in the 1990s when they faced the choice between breaking up and getting a record deal. Their major label debut Clumsy was released in 1994. Their video for single "Capsized" gained considerable airplay on MTV. Samiam performed on The Jon Stewart Show in 1994.
Samiam then recorded their followup to Clumsy, which Atlantic rejected. The album, You Are Freaking Me Out, was eventually released in 1997 by Burning Heart Records. Its single "She Found You" garnered considerable radio play in 1998.
Over the years, Samiam has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America and Japan, and performed with bands like Bad Religion, Green Day, The Offspring, NOFX, No Doubt, Toadies, Sense Field, Blink-182, Deftones, 311, Millencolin, and Fishbone.
In early 2001, the band went on hiatus after supporting the Astray album. Despite what was initially to be a breakup, they continued to tour abroad yearly (Europe and South America) with occasional shows in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This led to the recording of the band's seventh album Whatever's Got You Down, which was released in 2006. Samiam toured Europe three more times in 2006 and 2007 and played various US dates in 2008.
Samiam toured Australia in September 2009, together with the band A Death in the Family. This was followed by an appearance at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida in November 2009 and shows in Santiago, Chile; San Miguel, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil in December 2009. In 2010, the band released Orphan Works, a compilation of outtakes and live tracks from their time on Atlantic Records. October 2010 brought them together again with A Death in the Family for a European and East Coast tour.
Samiam released Trips, their first album in five years, on September 6, 2011. Semi annual tours have followed ever since in Europe, Australia and South America. In 2015, while in Chicago for an appearance at Riot Fest, a four-song demo was recorded but never finished.
In December 2019, Samiam announced on their Facebook page that they are working on their first studio album in eight years. The album, Stowaway, would be released in 2023, and featured guest vocals by Hot Water Music and the Draft singer Chris Wollard on multiple tracks.
Musical style The band's musical style has been described as punk rock, hardcore punk, pop-punk, melodic hardcore, emo and emo pop. Samiam's influences during their initial 1990s run included Leatherface, Snuff, Sonic Youth, Descendents, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Doughboys, the Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr., the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Swervedriver, and Short Dogs Grow.
Members Current members
Jason Beebout – vocals Sergie Loobkoff – guitar Colin Brooks – drums Sean Kennerly – guitar, bass Chad Darby – bass
Past members
Ryan Sullivan – guitar (1988–1989) Johnny Cruz – drums (1998) James Brogan – guitar (1988–2000) Martin Brohm – bass (1988–1993) Aaron Rubin – bass (1993–1997) Jeremy Bergo – bass (2006) Mark Mortinsen – drums (1988–1990, 1993) Dave Ayer – drums (1990–1993) Tré Cool – drums (1999) Scott McPherson – drums (1999) Victor Indrizzo – drums (1993–1995) Davey Latter – drums (1999) Michael Petrak – drums (1995–1999) Charlie Walker – drums Billy Bouchard – bass
Discography
Studio albums Title Date of release Record label(s)Samiam1990New Red ArchivesSoar1991New Red ArchivesBilly1992New Red ArchivesClumsyAugust 23, 1994Atlantic RecordsYou Are Freaking Me OutJune 12, 1997Ignition Records / Burning Heart RecordsAstrayAugust 29, 2000Hopeless Records / Burning Heart RecordsWhatever's Got You DownSeptember 26, 2006 Hopeless Records / Burning Heart RecordsTripsSeptember 6, 2011 Hopeless RecordsStowawayMarch 31, 2023 Pure Noise Records
EPs and compilations Title Date of release Record label(s)Underground (EP) (All songs also on Samiam)1989New Red ArchivesI am (EP)1990Lookout RecordsHardcore Breakout USA (v/a compilation)song: "Underground"1990 New Red ArchivesBeauf demo songs from Billy, Odds n' Ends1991Beri Beri Records - EuropeVery Small World (v/a comp) song: "At the Bottom"September 1991Very Small Records release No. 37 (VSR 14)Split with Jawbreaker song: "Head Trap"1992No Idea Records 7-inch came with No Idea Fanzine No. 10LIVE (EP) 1992Your Choice Records Faces the Facts w/ Eight Ball, Rise & ABS (split 7-inch)1992OX RecordsDon't Break Me (EP)1992 New Red ArchivesStump (EP)acoustic1992BlackboxPing Pong Gods split with Garlic Frog DietMarch 22, 1996Cargo GermanyHardcore Breakout USA Volume 2 (v/a comp) song: "Go Away"1995 New Red ArchivesGlow split with Six Pack (part 4 of the Erase Yer Head split series)1997Pandemonium Records (France)She Found You (EP)July 16, 1997Ignition Records / Burning Heart RecordsFactory (single)1997 Ignition Records / Burning Heart RecordsAt War With Society (v/a comp) song: "Underground"1998 New Red ArchivesYour Choice Live Series 037 split with Texas Is the ReasonJune 4, 1999Your Choice RecordsShort Music for Short People song: "Long Enough to Forget You"June 1, 1999Fat Wreck ChordsSearch & DestroyAugust 23, 1999 Burning Heart RecordsMudhill (single)2000Hopeless RecordsThe New Red Years (comp) compilation of New Red Archives materialApril 11, 2000Golf RecordsOrphan Works (comp) compilation of B-sides, lives and rarities2010 No Idea Records / Unless You Try RecordsComplete Control Session (comp) compilation of B-sides, lives and rarities2012SideOneDummy Records
References
External links Official Facebook page Videos on YouTube.com