Unfound Sound: Sam Gillam (Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar) Sonny Rodo (Guitar, Vocals) Luke Hammill (Bass) Bobby Lawn (Drums, Vocals)
Influences
Pink Floyd, Coldplay, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Folds, Richard Thompson, The Strokes, The Beatles, Cake, Spoon, Luke Doucet, Jack Johnson
Sounds Like
Sam Gillam’s new solo CD, “Measure of Doubt,” is an indie tour-deforce that displays his abilities as a song-writer, arranger and musician. Its 10 polished tracks, mostly pianoand guitar-driven, combine different musical genres with influences from the past and present.
“The World Has Moved On” is a fitting opener to the album, introducing its coming-of-age theme. “Time has come” blends folk, blues, and rock to create an effortless unity of sound, accented by warm strains of harmonica and saxophone. As explained by Sam, “It’s a two-sided look at a situation. It is about a friend with an inflating ego who is caught up in the world and moving too fast. The speaker is reminding the friend to remember who they are and where they have come from.”
“As a good place” also presents a dual-sided take on a conflict. A battle between the generations is represented by angry electric guitars that mimic the opposing points of view. The bass is an understated but resilient narrator that transcends the argument and encourages the dueling sides to “see the world all at once ... escape the boundaries of your mind.”
“Side by side” is the most tender song on the album. It has a beautifully simple melody, and economically communicates a surprising amount of raw feeling. Sam’s vocals, breathy and emotive, need only the sparse accompaniment of an acoustic guitar. “Dreamworld” is a dark, textured song that sounds like something you would hear haunting the grounds of an abandoned carnival. It paints a twisted portrait of someone trapped within his own
mind, unable to distinguish himself from imaginary characters, while distorting reality: “They’re stealing your time/You’re letting it drift until it’s gone.”
“Whatever it takes” is well-articulated punk with a funky edge; a song that makes a strong political statement without sounding overbearing. Spiky bursts of guitar and primitive percussion sound appropriately angry, while remaining catchy. The commentary is biting: “Hey billionaire I got your back, just buy me an election/I don’t need to say nothing real just a 9/11 interjection.”
“When all is lost” provides a rousing conclusion to the album. The song uses powerful bursts of guitar and piano in a testament to the healing power of music: “When all is lost/ Just play it again.”
- The Buffalo News 5/9/07
.. CDBABY LINK for SAM GILLAM: Measure of Doubt -->
To buy a CD, contact me at sbc1228@hotmail.com, Or visit Borders, Barnes and Noble, Record Theater, New World Records or Limelite Music in Buffalo.
Orchard Park musician Sam Berman-Cooper has been a rising star on Western New York’s indie rock front ever since making the cover of The Buffalo News Gusto with his former band Red Herring, which Gusto described as “making waves on the local music scene.” That was two years ago.
Now, Sam is a junior at Orchard Park High School, has adopted the professional name Sam Gillam, and is ready to release a solo album, called “Measure of Doubt.” The CD release party will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. this Saturday at Higher Grounds Coffee House, 3622 Sheridan Drive, Amherst.
Although Sam is releasing “Measure of Doubt” as a solo artist, he has joined with lead guitarist Sonny Rodo, drummer Bobby Lawn and Luke Hammill on bass to form a new band called Unfound Sound. Unfound Sound will be performing tracks from “Measure of Doubt” at the album’s debut.
According to Luke, a senior at Orchard Park High School, “I think that we can make some headway into the local scene, and I hope that we will become known. I think that Sam could most definitely make a living playing music, if not also as a songwriter. The album is awesome, he’s worked really hard on it, and it sounds great.”
Sam has played such venues as Club Infinity, the Tralf, Higher Grounds and Sphere Entertainment Complex. “When you’re performing, I feel that there is a flow of energy between you and the crowd. You push energy into them, and they, collectively, put a million times more back into you. If you do really well, people will end up having a great time and dancing around to your music. There’s nothing better than watching that.”
Surprisingly, Sam feels that “it’s a lot more intimidating to play in front of five good friends and family members than it is to play in front of 500 strangers. Your family is going to be honest with you. If the crowd doesn’t like you, you never see them again and it’s not much of a problem. That is, unless you’re so bad that they throw beer bottles at you.”
Sam’s sense of humor was apparent throughout the interview. His conversation ranged from philosophy (“I wouldn’t call myself an existentialist”), to an impromptu rap involving a hamster, a policeman of upstanding character and Bernie Mac.
Sam has been building up a local fan base for some time, and promotes his latest songs via My- Space and facebook. Emily Smith, an eighthgrader at Orchard Park Middle School, is enthusiastic about the new album: “I put all his songs on my iPod! His music is so cool ... it doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard before, not like the modern artists I listen to.”
Sam put together “Measure of Doubt” independently, using “my home recording studio, with an eight-track Boss recorder.” His aptitude for instrumentation is impressive; he plays bass, guitar, the drum machine, harmonica and keyboard on every song. He is also the writer and vocalist for the entire album. “The music always comes first. I come up with an idea or melody, turn it around in my head for months and then return to it later. I usually have to go back after I record the song and learn the lyrics, but the music is always there. When I start out making a song, I think about my thoughts and feelings, and then I ask myself how I can turn those emotions into words without giving too much away.”
Sam’s musical career began long before his exploits with Red Herring; “I started playing piano when I was 5 or 6 and bass when I was 8.” Sam was encouraged by his parents to pursue music. “Both my parents played music for me ... I probably wouldn’t have picked up guitar if guitars hadn’t been lying all over the house.”
While Sam’s current musical tastes include Cake, Spoon, Coldplay, Luke Doucet and the Strokes, older musicians like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin have had a significant impact on his style.
“Measure of Doubt” has a clear coming-of-age theme. Sam’s album was written over a two-year period, and reflects a developing view of his own place in the world. His songs resonate with rebellion and realization; a bold call to arms for our generation. His music urges us to seek ourselves out, to harbor our own dreams against all odds. “There’s a lot that we can do as individuals, especially with today’s technology. We are an important generation,” Sam said.
John Lombardo, formerly a member of 10,000 Maniacs and currently with John & Mary and The Valkyries, has high praise for “Measure of Doubt.” “I was really impressed by all aspects of the CD; he did multilayering and all the recording himself. But what impressed me the most was that he wrote great songs, that’s really the hardest thing; a lot of people are pretty talented players, but the creativity needed to come up with material like that is much more unusual. I thought it was really well-written and well-performed. There are a lot of records that you buy that have one or two good tracks, and filler for all the rest, but Sam’s album created an overall vibe and was listenable, from beginning to end. I think Sam has all the potential in the world, especially considering his age.” - The Buffalo News 5/9/07
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