Samiam
Encyclopedia
Biography
Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
mainstay Isocracy
Isocracy (band)
Isocracy was an American punk rock band from the Berkeley, California-area, formed in 1986. The band was one of the key bands in the MRR/Gilman Street project. John Kiffmeyer , who later went on to form Green Day, was the drummer for the band...
. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives
New Red Archives
New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl...
and Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records
Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some...
in the US and Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America...
in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band had two releases on major labels, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1994 and Ignition/Tommy Boy in 1997. This path achieved modest mainstream success; a video for Capsized gained a lot of airplay on MTV, they performed on the Jon Stewart Show in 1994 and the single, "She Found You" garnered considerable radio play in 1998. The band toured extensively throughout Europe, North America and Japan with Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, The Toadies, Sense Field
Sense Field
Sense Field was an American indie rock band from California, formed in 1991 out of the ashes of hardcore punk band, Reason to Believe.Sense Field has been largely credited with bringing their sound from emo circles to a more mainstream audience alongside contemporaries like Sunny Day Real Estate,...
, Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
and Millencolin
Millencolin
Millencolin is a punk rock band that was formed in October 1992 by Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, and Erik Ohlsson in Örebro, Sweden. In early 1993, drummer Fredrik Larzon joined the band...
.
In late 2000 the band quietly ceased after supporting the "Astray" album. Despite what was initially to be a break up, they continued to tour abroad yearly (Europe three times, and South America) with occasional shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles. This led to the recording of the band's 7th album, "Whatever's Got You Down" in 2006. Samiam toured Europe 3 more times in 2006 and 2007 and played various U.S. dates in 2008.
Samiam toured Australia in September 2009, together with the band A Death in the Family This was followed by eight shows in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
in November 2009 and single shows in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, San Miguel
San Miguel
San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, describes numerous locations.-Argentina:*San Miguel Partido*San Miguel, Buenos Aires*San Miguel Arcángel , a Volga German colony in Adolfo Alsina Partido, Buenos Aires Province...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Buenos Aires, Argentina and São Paulo, Brazil in December 2009. 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 5 years, on September 6, 2011.
Cultural Influence and Musical Style
Samiam is quoted in NYC-author Tao LinTao Lin
Tao Lin is an American writer. He was born of Taiwanese parents and grew up on the East Coast of the USA.He is the author of two novels, Eeeee Eee Eeee and Richard Yates ; a novella, Shoplifting from American Apparel ; a short story collection, Bed ; and two poetry collections, you are a little...
's 2007 novel, Eeeee Eee Eeee. The main characters in the novel drive around Central Florida, lamenting their lives, and listening to Samiam and other bands of the era/style, including Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (band)
Jawbreaker was an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996 and considered one of the most influential acts of the early-1990s emo movement...
and I Hate Myself
I Hate Myself
I Hate Myself was an emotive hardcore band formed by Jon and Jim Marburger in Gainesville, Florida during 1996.-History and Influence:...
.
Albums
| Title | Date of Release | Record Label(s) |
| Samiam Samiam (album) -Personnel:*Martin Brohm *James Brogan *Mark Mortinsen *Jason Beebout *Sergie Loobkoff... |
1990 | New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... |
| Soar Soar (album) Soar is the second album from the American band, Samiam, released in 1991 on New Red Archives.-Track listing:-Personnel:*David Ayer *Jason Beebout *James Brogan *Martin Brohm *Sergie Loobkoff... |
1991 | New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... |
| Billy Billy (album) Billy is the third album from the American band, Samiam, released in 1992 on New Red Archives.-Track listing:-Personnel:*David Ayer *Jason Beebout *James Brogan *Martin Brohm *Sergie Loobkoff... |
1992 | New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... |
| Clumsy Clumsy (Samiam album) Clumsy is the major label debut album from the American band, Samiam. Released in 1994 on Atlantic Records, Clumsy is Samiam's fourth studio album... |
August 23, 1994 | Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| You Are Freaking Me Out You Are Freaking Me Out You are freaking me out is the fifth album from the American band, Samiam. Released in 1997 on Burning Heart Records and Ignition Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Aaron Rubin *James Brogan... |
June 12, 1997 | Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Astray Astray -Personnel:*Sean Kennerly *James Brogan *Johnny Cruz *Jason Beebout *Sergie Loobkoff -Reviews: -Music video:*The music video for was shot in the Van Nuys district.... |
August 29, 2000 | Hopeless Records Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some... / Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Whatever's Got You Down Whatever's Got You Down Whatever's Got You Down is the seventh album from the American band, Samiam. Released in 2006, after a six-year hiatus, on Hopeless Records and Burning Heart Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Sean Kennerly *Jeremy Bergo... |
September 26, 2006 | Hopeless Records Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some... / Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Trips | September 6, 2011 | Hopeless Records Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some... |
EPs / split CDs / Compilations
| Title | Date of Release | Record Label(s) |
| Underground (EP) (*All songs also on Samiam Samiam (album) -Personnel:*Martin Brohm *James Brogan *Mark Mortinsen *Jason Beebout *Sergie Loobkoff... ) |
1989 | New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... |
| I am (EP) | 1990 | Lookout Records |
| Beauf demo songs from Billy Billy (album) Billy is the third album from the American band, Samiam, released in 1992 on New Red Archives.-Track listing:-Personnel:*David Ayer *Jason Beebout *James Brogan *Martin Brohm *Sergie Loobkoff... , odds n' ends |
1991 | Beri Beri Records - Europe |
| Very Small World (v/a Comp) song: "At the Bottom" |
September 1991 | Very Small Records Very Small Records Very Small Records is an independent record label, formed in 1989 by David Hayes, co-founder and former co-owner of Lookout! Records. The label releases primarily pop punk and punk rock records.... release #37 (VSR 14) |
| Split w/ Jawbreaker Jawbreaker (band) Jawbreaker was an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996 and considered one of the most influential acts of the early-1990s emo movement... song: "Head Trap" |
1992 | No Idea Records No Idea Records For other uses, see No Idea .No Idea Records is an independent record label based in Gainesville, Florida which produces both vinyl records and compact discs... 7" came w/ No Idea Fanzine #10 |
| LIVE (EP) |
1992 | Your Choice Records Your Choice Records Your Choice Records was a German independent record label founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts... |
| Faces The Facts w/ Eight Ball, Rise & ABS (split 7") | 1992 | OX Records |
| Don't Break Me (EP) | 1992 | New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... |
| Stump (EP) acoustic |
1992 | Blackbox |
| Ping Pong Gods split w/ Garlic Frog Diet |
March 22, 1996 | Cargo Germany |
| split w/ Tilt originally part of West x North-South 5pc box set w/ 9 other artists inc. Seaweed, Face to Face, Down By Law & J Church (split 7" or CD) | 1996 | Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| Glow split w/ Six Pack |
1997 | Pandemonium Records (France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
| She Found You (EP) | July 16, 1997 | Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Factory (single) | 1997 | Ignition Records / Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Your Choice Live Series 037 Your Choice Live Series 037 Your Choice Live Series 037 is a live split album by indie/emo bands Texas Is the Reason and Samiam.It was recorded at Raucherkammer, Wiesbaden, Germany on May 28, 1996... split w/ Texas Is the Reason Texas Is the Reason Texas Is the Reason was an American post-hardcore band founded by former Shelter guitarist Norm Arenas and 108 drummer Chris Daly in 1994. They disbanded in 1997... |
1999 | Your Choice Records Your Choice Records Your Choice Records was a German independent record label founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts... |
| Search & Destroy | August 23, 1999 | Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America... |
| Mudhill (single) | 2000 | Hopeless Records Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an independent record label located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, or alternative rock, but some... |
| The New Red Years (Comp) compilation of New Red Archives New Red Archives New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl... material |
April 11, 2000 | Golf Records Golf Records Golf Records is an independent record label based in the UK.-Artists:*4ft Fingers*Amulet*A New Way Trust*Black Flame Dispute*The Blueprint*Boy Hits Car*Carpathian*The Chariot*Dead Poetic*The Devil Wears Prada*District*Dopamine... |
Related bands
Past (and present) members of Samiam have been (or are) associated with the following bands:- BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
- Scott McPherson - Elliott Smith (Touring) - Scott McPherson
- SoleaSoleá"Soleares" is one of the most basic forms or "palos" of Flamenco music, probably originated around Cádiz or Seville in Andalusia, the most southern region of Spain...
- Scott McPherson - Bright EyesBright EyesBright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music...
- Scott McPherson - She and Him - Scott McPherson
- BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
- Victor Indrizzo - Macy GrayMacy GrayMacy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
- Victor Indrizzo - The Fakers- Sean Kennerly
- IsocracyIsocracyAn isocracy is a form of government where all citizens have equal political power. The term derives from Greek "ἴσος" meaning "equal" and "κρατεῖν" meaning "to have power", or "to rule"....
- Jason Beebout, Martin Brohm - KnapsackKnapsack (band)Knapsack was formed in 1993 by Blair Shehan and Colby Mancasola . Shehan and Mancasola were two high school friends studying at the University of California, Davis. Guitarist Jason Bokros and bassist Rod Meyer completed the lineup....
- Sergie Loobkoff - LimpLimp (band)Limp were an American pop punk band formed in 1994, with strong influences in both rock and ska, hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Limp released three studio albums on Honest Don's, a subsidiary label of Fat Wreck Chords, as well as an EP released on Fueled by Ramen, before their 2002...
- Johnny Cruz - The Mr. T ExperienceThe Mr. T ExperienceThe Mr. T Experience is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California and currently recording for Lookout! Records. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally...
- Aaron Rubin - Screw 32Screw 32Screw 32 was a Berkeley/East Bay area US punk rock band.Their name has many supposed origins, the most popular states that it is derived from an anti-skateboarding measure on the ballots in Concord, California. They were noted for self-publicity. For example, they ordered stickers by the thousands...
- Mark Mortinsen - Social Unrest - James Brogan
- Solea - Sergie Loobkoff, Johnny Cruz
- Surrogate Brains - Johnny Cruz
- Sweet BabySweet BabySweet Baby was a pop punk band that originated from Berkeley, California, and was part of the 924 Gilman Street scene. They were signed to Ruby Records....
- Sergie Loobkoff - Sweet Baby JesusSweet BabySweet Baby was a pop punk band that originated from Berkeley, California, and was part of the 924 Gilman Street scene. They were signed to Ruby Records....
- Sergie Loobkoff - Split LipSplit LipSplit Lip is responsible for the Midwestern emo-core sound, together with bands like Endpoint, and a group they inspired, The Get Up Kids. After gaining acclaim in the small international hardcore community for their debut album, the band switched gears to more country-leaning pop rock and changed...
- Charlie Walker - ChamberlainChamberlain (band)Chamberlain is an indie rock band from Indianapolis & Bloomington, Indiana, previously having been known as Split Lip, they changed their name and their general sound away from post-hardcore punk in 1996.-History:...
- Charlie Walker - InstituteInstitute (band)Institute was an alternative rock band featuring Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The band's only album, Distort Yourself, was released September 13, 2005.-History:...
- Charlie Walker - OsloOslo (band)Oslo is a rock band based in California. They have existed together since 2001 as a trio, with a core of Mattia Borrani, Kerry Wayne James, and Gabrial McNair. They have since added keyboardist Damon Ramirez and went through twelve drummers, settling on original drummer Charlie Walker, who...
- Charlie Walker - New End Original - Charlie Walker
- Dear Lions - Charlie Walker