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Sam Russell



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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Status: Single
City: Seattle
State: Washington
Country: US
Signup Date: 6/30/2005

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Monday, November 01, 2010 
Hi, I'm a blog! You know what that is, right? Well, I'm a music blog so that means I'll probably only be talking about specifically music-related stuff like being in the recording studio, playing shows and hanging out with Bruce Vilanch. If you're looking for personal, on-the fly musings or waxings, you've come to the wrong place. The blog is indulgence mainly for Sam Russell to chart the slowwwww progress of recording in the studio as well as to obsessively catalog the consciously changing setlists and line-ups of shows. Sometimes he talks about songwriting but didn't Bukowsi say only assholes talk about writing? And wasn't he kinda right?
6:54 AM 
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 
I just sat down to write a brief recap of the show last Friday at the practice space and realized that the blog I KNOW I wrote last month about the CD Release show at the Shanty is MIA. Well, that one wasn't very descriptive or very long so not too much harm done, but my apologies to those who checked the space since then for thank you's or shambolic prose, here's a double dose of both now (also, still haven't found a new blog home yet. Just post these on Facebook? Naw...)

10/15/09-THE SHANTY TAVERN CD RELEASE SHOW
w/Green Monroe (Michael Spaly, Scott Andrew, Dave Forrestor amd Marc Hagar) & Creeping Time

expanded line-up playing with me was Michael on guitar, Ken on upright bass, Dave on drums, Kjell on violin, Andrea on violia, Isaac on percussion, John on Hammond, Carey Rayburn on trumpet, ___ on trombone, Daniel Rossi on trombone

the setlist was Salted Caramel Shake/Elevator Mirror/Waiting on the Waffle/Abercrombie Girl/Panthers Medley: Back to You/Panthers/I Want it That Way/Artificial Chocolate/The Legend of Christopher Moon/My Pink Booth/Waiting on the Waffle (fast F'in Eagles version)

I also sat in with Creeping Time for Wagon Wheel, Samson (Clay Ballard's song that he sang), Black Beans and Powderfinger

The Shanty was a great, low-key night. It WAS the CD Release show but holding it at a roadhouse up on Lake City promised to make it a more intimate affair if held elsewhere. I was pretty sick with flu all night and made it through all right. The horns sounded good and the new stage monitor sounded good too. The fact that it was a Release show couldn't help but make it significant and make obvious the ways in which I proceed with playing and recording music don't work in all aspects. If there is a word to spread, it is not. The potential to be isolated and featured has only partially been. Is there a point in making a big spectacle if no one cares? Too general a question in the light of day but not through the gauze of flu-aided sweated covering the eyes. Thanks to Danya and Ron and Sindy for making the show happen. Thanks to Mike, Jon, Rebekkah, Karrah, Cristol, Schuyler, Beth, and all the rest who came out and whose names have been buried in my memory from what has occured since. Let us now jump forward in time to...

11/6/09-BALLARD MINEHOUSE/PRACTICE SPACE SHOW
w/Justin Roeser, James Apollo, Noah Dassel & Aaron Zuege, The Sumner Brothers

This show was held at our practice space in Ballard called The Minehouse and featured 3 acts that practice there (me, Justin and Noah & Aaron) as well as James and from Canada The Sumner Brothers. Since we were all doing half hour sets I decided to do just one long song, as has always been dicussed/dared between me and Michael over the years. I did Don't Come to New York City which has much room for stretching and improv and in the end we made it to 23 minutes before giving it a final rest. Joining me were John on Hammond, Michael on guitar and fiddle, Ken on upright bass, James on acoustic, me on vocals and guitar (I didn't play guitar at the release show) and Justin on drums since he knew the song and Dave. dave did hop on the kit for a version of Mt.Prospect to fill out the set though. We opened the show and had a nice little ground downstiars attantive and listening. The sets ran late into the night followed by a desultory jam at quarter til 3 AM with a auidence of 2 drunk guys Spaly brought in from the Sunset where he'd played a set that night with Nathan Wade after playing with me. All around though a nice little night and one that would be great to repeat or even expand upon.
Currently listening:
I and Love and You
By The Avett Brothers
Release date: 2009-09-29
9:20 PM 
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Thursday, October 08, 2009 
Last Saturday's Surf Rider Foundation benefit show wasn't a well-attended show but more like a private party that gave those of us playing not only a chance to rehearse for the CD release show but also stretch out and jam a bit without worrying about set lengths. Creeping Time started things off, a movie that not surprisingly containe a lot of surf footage was shown, and then I went up and played a set with CT (joined by John on Hammond). At the end we were asked by Gary the prganizer to do a few more, so Creeping Time did a couple and then we all joined for the big finale. Here's what we played

Salted Caramel Shake
Waiting on the Waffle
Elevator Mirror
Abercrombie Girl
Panthers/I Want it That Way
Artificial Chocolate
The Legend of Christopher Moon
Black Beans (Sam and Ken lead vocals, CT song)
Freezing to Death (with Tom from Creeping Time, Ken singing)
Mt. Prospect
My Pink Booth
Powderfinger (Neil Young cover, Ken Michael and Sam all singing)

There was much dancing during Legend of Christopher Moon and my second show not playing guitar and singing (except for the first couple songs and a couple near the end) helped this out quite a bit.  During the raffles Kjell one TWICE (but gave back the second prize) and I took home a bunch of souvenir glasses. Not a bad night.
6:02 AM 
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009 
It's been a record (for me) TWO MONTHS without doing a blog, the first time in at least three years of going that long. I think soon I'll start continuing doing this blog on a host other than MySpace. MySpace will no doubt continue to serve as a universal go-to for bands for awhile at least but like many others I'm sure, I associate MySpace with where I was at 3 or 4 years ago when I started blogging. I still like the idea of blogging to document shows and recording sessions but don't see a point in keeping these golden observations on MySpace since the shift continues towards Facebook and Twiitter and since I myself would like to move on from these here pastures. I'll probably do a blog somewhere else then link it on Facebook. That's what the kids are doing these days, I think.

I also am reluctant to keep blogging about individual shows in the fashion that I have been over the last 3 years. I'm a setlist nerd both when it comes to shows I go to and my favorite artists and also in regards to keeping my own archive and going back over to see what I've played. I must admit though to preparing setlists with this sentiment in mind and for the very rare (and probably non-existent) fan that would get a charge out of wildly shifting songs and musicians from show to show. For now I retire from this fanboy approach and move towards an autumn attempt at (cough) professionalism, For the next six months or show, I plan to do more or less the same set from front to back, focusing mainly on the songs from the soon-to-be "officially" released album. I plan to create a set based on the shifting peaks-n-valleys arrangements these songs have and embellish on this philosophy throughout the set, by having sections that may stretch or end according to the mood of the audience, the band, myself or the fly buzzing by the light bulb. I am also trying for the first time NOT playing guitar live and focusing on the singing. I had a ball doing so this last Saturday at Fremont Oktoberfest. This was Michael Spaly's first gig back with me since moving back from Boston and he agreed to focus on the rhythm parts to free me up vocally. Thanks Michael! Also joining me on the rain-then-sun-then-rain afternoon were Allison, Ken, Dave, John T. again on Hammond, Isaac on percussion station and the return of Andrea Yoshida on viola, vocals and percussion. The set went:

Salted Caramel Shake/Artificial Chocolate/Abercrombie Girl/Waiting on the Waffle/The Legend of Christopher Moon/Panthers medley (with a bit of The Wedding March to proceed in honor of Allison's upcoming nuptials)/My Pink Booth

Energy was a bit low at first but it WAS a rainy Saturday afternoon. And people stopped listened, seemed to enjoy overall. Waffles flew from the stage then back then all around and in the air during Waiting on the Waffle. Thanks to Beth for picking them all up after!

Coming up is a show at the Ballard Elks club on the 3rd for Surf Rider Foundation and the CD Release show on the 8th. Good times ahead...  
10:45 AM 
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Monday, July 20, 2009 
7-18-09-University Street Station (3rd and University), Downtown Seattle

line-up
Sam-vocals, acoustic guitar
Ken-vocals, upright bass, acoustic guitar
Kjell-fiddle, vocals

setlist (slightly incomplete)

In Dreams (Roy Orbison cover)
Mt.Prospect
Black Beans/The Bare Necessities (Creeping Time song/from
     The Jungle Book)
Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis)
That's Alright Mama (Elvis/Arthur Crudup/Clay Ballard)
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Bob Dylan)
Train Wreck
Freezing to Death (Creeping Time)
Bring it On Home to Me (Sam Cooke)
Abercrombie Girl
Soldier's Joy (traditional fiddle tune, quite butchered by Sam)
I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan)
Samson (Clay Ballard)
Elevator Mirror
Cheap American Lager (CT song)
Fire at Captain Mike's
The Legend of Christopher moon
Rest Stops (CT/Michael Spaly song)
Waiting on the Waffle
Moonshiner (traditional/Uncle Tupelo)
Shake Rattle & Roll>Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' ON (Big Joe
     Turner/Jerry Lee Lewis)

The new Light Rail to Tukwila was unveiled by the City of Seattle yesterday with much ceremony, including the hiring of buskers at each stop of the station. Our friend Jerin Faulkner organized the event and much thanks to her for asking us. It turned out to be a blast. Stationed on the mezzanine directly above the subway, we alternately played for around 5 to 7 minutes at a time for a small captive crowd in line for the light rail. When the next train would come, we would play for the employees/volunteers standing there while the next crowd gathered. One volunteer set the tone of the gig by requesting some Roy Orbison right away and we gamely attempted In Dreams, one of teh first few butchered songs of the day. The same gentlement requested Heartbreak Hotel, which we did a slightly better job on. Tunes veered between mine, Creeping Time's (Ken andKjell's band) and whatever popped in our heads. Risque lyrics were sometimes altered on the fly for little children standing in front and/or dancing, hence no "donkey punch" in Fire at Captain Mike's. We also did our friend Clay Ballard's song Samson because Ken had the chords on his upright bass written from playing with him the night before. Worst butchering of the day by far was an attempt at Kjell's signature fiddle tune A Solder's Joy where I couldn't keep up or here the different tempo or chord changes, never having played the tune before. It wasn't pretty. But the two hours flew by and we all wished we got to play a little longer.
Currently listening:
The '59 Sound
Release date: 2008-08-19
2:50 AM 
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Friday, July 17, 2009 
7-16-09-The High Dive w/Pillow Army and Lady Drama (CD Releases for both)

line-up

Sam-vox, guitar
Ken-electric bass, vox
Kjell-fiddle
Dave-drums, vox

setlist

Blue Eyeshadow (KS)
Abercrombie Girl (surf version, SCS)
The Legend of Christopher Moon (SCS)
Stairway Landing (new song)
Elizabeth Street (YS) (w/John Simpson from Pillow Army)
Train Wreck (KS)
Waiting on the Waffle (SCS) > Shake, Rattle & Roll (Big Joe
     Turner cover)
Neverland '84 (old, unreleased song)
Black Beans (Creeping Time cover)

album/reference breakdown
KS=The Katie Sermon
YS=The Youngest Sister
SCS=The Salted Caramel Sinner
Big Joe Turner=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Joe_Turner
Creeping Time=Ken, Dave & Kjell's band
                         www.creepingtime.com

Last night at The High Dive was quite a surprise. One gets used to playing a series of shows with 20 or so people in the bar all night then doesn't know how to respond when the place is packed, especially on a Thursday! The occasion here was a double one, to celebrate the concurrent releases of both our friends Pillow Army and our new friends Lady Drama's EP releases. I made the mistake of assuming it would be "another" weekday night at the High Dive and planned for an unhearsed set with a stripped-down ensemble of Kjell, Dave and Ken. It was actually only the three of them (= Kate Noson) that accompanied me for my maiden full-band jump off The High Dive 3 1/2 years ago, so last night was a chance to pull out some older numbers without practicing and see how we did. Again, if I would have known the double-occasion occuring and how fantasic and prepared Pillow Army and Lady Drama's sets both would be, I would have planned on more full sound myself. But as Ken pointed out, it might have been as much fun...
     Blue Eyeshadow, never actualy played live with Ken, Dave & Kjell went all right, Abercrombie Girl was a bit of a struggle at first as a sang Kjell the riff sped-up since he'd never played the fast version of the song. Chris Moon lurched back and forth in tempo but locked in for the fast parts and came off alright. Stairway Landing was probably the best I felt like I'd sung that song. Lix Street was a little of a mess with John Simpon sitting in not knowing the song and with only minmal instruction (but it wasn't his fault it was a mess). Train Wreck is another older song puller out that seemed to go OK. Waffle went alright though at this point in the set and Train Wreck, I definitely missed amother rhythm/lead instrument to fill in the space between me and Kjell. Neverland suffered from this too, with just my bad guitar tone trying struggled to get the chords across all by it's lonesome. For closer, we tackled Black Beans, the first song I ever played with Creeping Time. I told them to play it FAST, but it turned out to be too fast so things had to slow down...
    Pillow Army followed with a fanstaic, highly orchestrated set that was quite breathtaking, one of teh finest sets I've EVER seen in Seattle, great job guys. Lady Drama pulled off the feat of having to follow that, wouldn't want that job. A really really great night overall, great company and the best time I've had at a show in a while. Have to do it again soon...



Currently watching:
'68 Comeback Special
Release date: 2006-08-01
7:29 PM 
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Sunday, July 12, 2009 
I've taken the liberty of posting the entirety of the upcoming release "The Blue Moon Bible Vol.3-The Salted Caramel Sinner" up on the MySpace player. Finally settling details for an October release show. Get ready for much ado. In the meantime, enjoy...
Currently listening:
David Lynch Presents: Fox Bat Strategy: A Tribute to Dave Jaurequi
By Fox Bat Strategy
Release date: 2009-06-30
8:22 AM 
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Saturday, July 11, 2009 
7/10/09-The Shanty Tavern w/Thunderbird Motel & Justin Roeser/Accordion Toby

line-up:
Sam (guitar/vox)
Justin (guitar/vox)
Ken (bass/vox)
James (keys/vox)
Dave (drums/vox)

setlist:

Crossing Russell Road (string broken during)
(much stage banter here, mostly by Justin)
Abercrombie Girl (fast "surf" version)
Grenadine
Our Song (Taylor Swift cover)
Salted Caramel Shake
The Stairway Landing (a.k.a Alexandra)
Neverland '84
Mt. Prospect (with/snippets of Man in the Mirror, I Ain't Got a Home & Shake Rattle and Roll)

Good times at the Shanty last night, which has proven to be the most consistently gratifying place to play in Seattle, not a bad show there yet (fingers crossed). Last night threatened to be at the beginning when I broke a string on the first song. Ray, soundman extraordinare, played guitar tech for me, at first by fetching Justin's back-up then RESTRINGING MY GUITAR FOR ME! Wow, thanks man. I strugled with Justin's guitar for a couple songs and once I got mine back the energy seemed to really carry forth. Great crowd too with Thunderbird's people digging our set and vice versa. Near the end of Mt.Prospect I took a little tumble on stage.Perhaps I'm still on stage and every moment since has been a dream....Thanks to Danya for booking us, John her father slinging the PBR's, Thunderbird Motel  and Justin & Toby for playing and Angie, Burt, Suzanne, Paul, Paul 2, Chris, Holly, Beth, Mailen, Mailen's mother, and everyone else who I can't think of for coming and listening. Next up, the High Dive on Thursday...
Currently listening:
Wilco (The Album)
By Wilco
Release date: 2009-06-30
8:56 PM 
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Sunday, June 28, 2009 
6/24/09-EGAN'S BALLARD JAM HOUSE-Songwriter Shoot-Out w/Sean McArdle & James Apollo

line-up: Sam, James, John Tomlinson on piano

(rough) setlist: Better to Be Born Lucky (James)/Salted Caramel Shake (Sam)/Golden When It's Gone (James)/It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Sam, Dylan cover)/It's Cruel (James)/Candyland (Sam)/The Alamo (James)/I Shall Be Released (Sam, Dylan cover)/I Forget Why (Sam)/The Replicant (Sam)/I've Got it Easy (James)/Empty Parking Lots (Sam)

This show was concieved as a "Songwriter Shoot-Out" to alternate songs with Sean McArdle, who was in Seattle on tour. However, he had to leave early to get to a booking across town at the Comet so he played a half-hour set followd by an hour set from me and James where the auidence was my girlfriend, her roommate, two other people in the back, and two girls that came in for twenty seconds and left. I used the opportunity to try a couuple new songs, rehearse some of the weekend gig's songs with new-to-me organist/key man John Tomlinson, who usually plays with James but sat in me for the gigs through the weekend (see below). Also, me and James attempted but failed to rememer the words to a couple Dylan covers we did a couple weeks before at a tribute.

6/26/09-New Frontier Lounge (Tacoma)-w/Justin Roeser & The E-N Council and The Moonspinners

line-up: Sam, Ken (bass), Kjell (violin), Isaac (drums), John (Hammond organ), Justin (guitar/percussion, last 4 songs only), Toby (accordian, two songs only)

setlist: Salted Caramel Shake/Elevator Mirror/Fire at Captain Mike's (w/Toby on accordian)/Tender Years (George Jones cover)/Neverland '84 (for MJ)/Waiting on the Waffle(w/Justin)/Empty Parking Lots (w/Justin)/Mt.Prospect > Empty Classrooms (w/Justin and Toby)

It was appropriate to play two songs with "Empty" in the title at The New Frontier Lounge (our first gig in Tacoma) due to the sparseness of people in the place, the kind of venue that wants the bands to bring in the people, not bring in bands FOR the people. That's pretty standard most places of course, but The New Frontier Lounge looks like such a traditional friendly blue-collar neighborhood bar that I figured there's be a slew of regulars to roll some thunder for. As it turns out just our girlfriends and/or wives, a few scattered people some of the band people knew in Tacoma and a couple regulars. Since we played The Comet the next day, we took the gig as a "dress rehearsal" for that one. I've been working on doing a straighter set lately, a little bit more nailed in songwise and this weekend was a pretty successful experiment in seeing how two back-to-ack gigs with nearly identical setlists worked. The only last minute addition came with "Neverland '84" an old song I wrote with a band I was in a few years back about Michael Jackson that I thought summed up my reaction to his death (note: it doesn't involve jokes about screwing little boys). Justin 9not playing with me regulalry anymore) and Toby (from Justin's band, who recorded with me a month or so back)  sat in for a couple songs and everyone had fun. The Moonspinner's were good for the aprt of the set we saw, reminded me of Julee Cruise.

6/27/09-The Comet Tavern-Happy Hour Show! w/The Dating Pool and The Riffbrokers

line-up: Sam, Ken, Kjell, Isaac, John, Andtea & Andrew (backing vox on "Fire at Captain Mike's")

setlist: Salted Caramel Shake/Elevator Mirroe/Fire at Captain Mike's/Neverland '84 (for MJ)/Waiting on the Waffle/Empty Parking Lots/The Replicant/Mt.Prospect > Empty Classrooms

Playing a show in Capitol Hill during Pridefest didn't turn out to be nearly as crazy as I thought. Pretty mellow in fact. What normally would have been a small audience seemed huge after the two previous shows in the week. Same set as night before except for the addition of The Replicant and subtraction of Tender Years.  The sound was worse than New Frontier but energy a lot more up. At one point my guitar hit Kjell's violin ut nothing was damaged, I think
Currently watching:
Seinfeld - The Complete Series
Release date: 2007-11-06
8:51 AM 
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Sunday, May 31, 2009 
Last weekend did the Dylan tribute night at the Conor Byrne. A couple days prior I'd taken a nasty spill at work and got a nice concussion out of it, so I sat for the whole set sans guitar and read off lyrics sheets. Or rather I sat til Tangled Up in Blue then got up to do some old tired schtick. The show was a hassle trying to NOT play after midnight and keep the booker and band happy, somehow we pulled it off. I left midway through the set after ours feeling very dizzy and it's too bad cause the trio I was watching when I left was good. James played after me and killed it and between our two sets we ate up a good 45 minues of stage time. Here's our sets

SAM n RATS

line-up: Sam (vocals only), Justin (guitar), Ken (acoustic huitar), Schuyler (bass), James (organ), Dave (drums)

set (all DYlan covers): Huck's Tune/ Love Minus Zero/No Limit / You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Ken lead vocals)/ Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)/Tangled Up in Blue/I Shall Be Released (Ken-lead vocals)

JAMES (w/Schuyler n Justin)-Romance in Durango (me on backing vox), It's All Over Now Baby Blue, I Threw it All Away, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You. (MIA-Ballad of a Thin Man)

Also, as many have said all ready, R.I.P. to Jay Bennett, formerly of Wilco. My first Wilco show was in Chicago a month after he got booted from the band but I'd fallen in love with the band because of SUmmerteeth, an album that greatly bears his mark. I saw him live solo and with Ed Burch a couple times too and he always came off as pompous ass on stage but you couldn't deny he was putting everything into what he was doing or the deep insecurity and self-doubt said pompousness might have been masking. His talent however, wasn't masked at all. I'll play Venus Stopped the Train (though with Tweedy singing) before I go to bed for you Jay.
Currently watching:
Big Love - The Complete Third Season
9:06 AM 
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