Fine degli anni ’80, Bay-Area di San Francisco, la scena punk di Berkeley e paraggi è molto viva e tra le band che si scaldano nei dintorni del 924 di Gilmour Street ci sono nomi quali Operation Ivy, Green Day, Jawbreaker e Samiam.
Se dal nucleo storico e dalle ceneri dello ska-punk dei primi nasceranno i futuri Rancid, e per la storia dei Green Day si sono sprecati fiumi di inchiostro, con i Jawbreaker che imploderanno dopo aver lasciato il segno a meta anni ’90 con “24 Revenge Therapy”, i Samiam che si formano nel 1988 dalle ceneri degli Isocracy, possono essere considerati i losers del gruppo, nonostante con molti cambi di line-up siano sopravvissuti in questi 30 anni all’illusione di diventare qualcosa di più grande.
Alta (in)fedeltà.
Il nucleo storico dei Samiam è formato dalla coppia Jason Beebout il cantante e da Sergie Loobkoff (chitarrista) presenti dagli albori ad oggi, mentre il ruolo di bassista e quello di drummer hanno visto notevoli cambi, se si pensa che sono transitati dalla band ben 6 batteristi!
Del resto quando sei in un gruppo che non solletica troppo folle oceaniche o la tasca sinistra o destra che sia, le motivazioni possono anche venire a mancare e si decide di fare altro o migrare altrove.
Punk apolidi nella terra di nessuno.
Molte band, tante, non hanno successo, non è questo il punto, non sta qui la notizia. Nonostante, va detto Jason e Sergie il successo dei loro amici Green Day (con il quale hanno suonato diverse volte) l’avevano anche annusato del 1994 con la firma per Atlantic, vedere più sotto.
I Samiam in un certo senso sono figli di tutti e di nessuno. Sono un po’ dei punk apolidi con impronte lasciate un po’ ovunque, ma mai ben marcate in maniera indelebile. Anzi sinceramente a loro di essere troppo integralisti non è mai fregato troppo.
Del resto i dischi dei Samiam, come lucidamente affermato da uno dei due membri storici, non finirebbero quasi mai certamente né tra i Best emo 90’s records né tra i Best punk-rock 90’s records. Troppo poco disciplinati per essere un gruppetto pop-punk qualunquista, troppo poco integri per assurgere al trono hardcore.
La carriera dei Samiam, che conta otto dischi da studio all’attivo, è stata una vera altalena, e l’evoluzione a livello di sound percorsa negli anni è stata importante, pur non perdendo spontaneità e quei loro tratti caratteristici che li rendono comunque riconoscibili.
1994: point break
Se il 17 luglio 1994, più a sud della Bay-Area, precisamente al Rose Bowl di Pasadena l’Italia del calcio è ad un punto cruciale e quasi al culmine della propria avventura americana in bilico tra sogno e disperazione, poco più a nord i Samiam decidono di rompere gli indugi e firmare un contratto con una major (Atlantic) preparandosi a calciare il rigore decisivo. Il 23 Agosto ne uscirà “Clumsy”, il successore di “Billy”, ma l’accoglienza nonostante un hook al passo con i tempi come “Capside” con relativo video musicale sarà tiepida.
1996-1997: point break (in reverse)
L’Atlantic non ritenendosi soddisfatta, e con già un secondo disco pronto, decide di interrompere i rapporti con la band e si rifiuta di pubblicare il lavoro. Sono anni abbastanza burrascosi per la band, che dopo una disputa con mamma-major riuscirà ad ottenere, acquistandoli, i diritti del disco solo nel 1997: sarà la svedese Burning Heart a stamparlo dopo mille vicissitudini.
Fiammifero su sfondo mare-azzurro.
Se “Billy” (1992) era stato il disco del precariato post-hardcore che farebbe ridere sotto i baffi compiaciuti Bob Mould, Grant Hart e Greg Norton in un'istantanea fotografica periodo "New Day Rising" e “Clumsy” quello dell’illusoria stabilità a tempo indeterminato, “You Are Freaking Me Out” aggiorna le parabole cupe degli amori infranti declinandole in una prosa pop-punk urlata.
Che il trademark dei losers fatto di silenzi grevi e di rapide impennate emotive clamorose in fondo sia sempre lì lo dimostra “Factory” pezzo-totem da urlare a squarciagola. E si può parlare senza timore reverenziale di quella parolina composta da tre sole lettere, senza rischiare un'incriminazione per apologia di fascismo.
E poco importa se “She Found You” possa all’apparenza sminuire il loro valore banalizzando la formula, se poi puoi ancora bisbigliare sottovoce il flebile ritornello di “If You Say So” davanti l’orizzonte o tornare ad urlare all’unisono con Jason su “My Convenience” e “Full On”.
Sebbene, come già rimarcato, questo calzare più scarpe, non ha certo aiutato ad accrescere la loro audience né tra gli skateboarders cresciuti a birra, Converse e hardcore melodico alla Lagwagon né tra chi all’epoca era stato folgorato sulla via delle nuove (?) fascinazioni rock provenienti da nord direzione Seattle.
Facciamo risuonare le note di “My Convenience” all’unisono, stringiamoci forte, piangiamo e urliamo al cielo, dimentichiamo l’ultimo rigore del divin codino come i bocconi amari della vita e risorgiamo insieme dalle fiamme.
“I think that our style has grown in a way that we are concerned in writing songs rather than trying to be punk or aggressive. Definately, I would agree with anyone that complained that we are no longer punk enough. That isn't a concern for us...we just try to make music. That isn't to say that we aren't considered loud, shitty punk by most people that don't listen to aggressive music. Hopefully, we have come to the point where both people that love punk music and others that hate punk, can like us. It has always been a goal for me to bridge that gap and get all sorts of people into what we are doing.”
(Sergie Loobkoff)
Elenco tracce e testi
01 She Found You (00:00)
what the hell have you got to look forward to
i don't hear anybody knocking at your door
your life has been a message in a bottle
dumped in the ocean, never reaching any shore
at the point where nothing makes you happy
these days seem darker than they've ever been before
here it comes again, that old familiar feeling
get sick and leave your troubles on the floor
(just when i thought you were breaking down
just when i thought you were breaking down
she found you
just when i thought you were breaking down
just when i thought you were breaking down)
you're shuttin people out has become more like a reflex
they used to be your friends, but they don't know you anymore
don't mean to hurt you, but it's my only self defense
i make myself a mystery, so they don't know who to look for
look at yourself, have you noticed your complexion
looks like you've been spending too much time indoors
in the mirror can you see your reflection
or am i the only one who's noticed that you look bored
(chorus)
i watched you fall apart
and never made a sound
what the hell have you got to look forward to
i don't hear anybody knocking at your door
your life has been a message in a bottle
dumped in the ocean, never reaching any shore
at the point where nothing makes you happy
these days seem darker than they've ever been before
here it comes again, that old familiar feeling
get sick and leave your troubles on the floor
(chorus)
03 Cry Baby Cry (00:00)
The king of Marigold was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for the queen
The queen was in the parlour playing piano for the children of the king
Cry baby cry, make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
The king was in the garden picking flowers for a friend who came to play
The queen was in the playroom painting pictures for the children's holiday
Cry baby cry...
The duchess of Kirkcaldy always smiling and arriving late for tea
The duke was having problems with a message at the local Bird and Bee
Cry baby cry...
Twelve o'clock a meeting 'round the table for a seance in the dark
With voices out of nowhere put on especially by the children for a lark
Cry baby cry...
05 Out of My Mind (00:00)
how did you get this far, understanding nothing at all
you're nothing but small talk, is there anybody home
is there a secret plan that you follow, do you do any thinking of your own
make up your mind, flip a coin or something
just say anything but i don't know
you do so much sneaking around, is it some kind of a stupid little game
let's pretend that you're the master mind, and i'm your little blind dope
(CHORUS)
stay out of my sight, i'll put you out of my mind
don't even want to know you anymore
stay out of my sight, i'll put you out of my mind
out of my mind
don't even want to know you anymore
stay out of my sight, i'll put you out of my mind
how did you get this far, understanding nothing at all
you're nothing but small talk, is there anybody home
transparent, simple mind
just hold your hands over my eyes
unless you're trying to insult me
you'd better work harder on those lies
(CHORUS)
06 Ordinary Life (00:00)
She's always restless,
she's over-medicated
with the kind of emmotion that feels out of place.
Never give your opinion they've got all the answers
follow the leader but remember where you've been..
So dont leave,its not me you know
can't control what goes through my mind.
So stay, please understand,
i don't mean all i said tonight.
Haven't slept for days and my words dont seem to come out right,
it's just a phase that you're gonna grow out of when you die,
and it's alright
you know,everythings going to be just fine
is it too much to ask for,some kind of ordinary life?
Two weeks clean a vague reality,
from a life time clouded,
lost details of your dreams,
the words you eat
the pills you need to sleep,
are things you never think if till they're always on your mind..
So don't leave,its not me you know,
can't control what goes through my mind,
so stay,please understand,
i dont mean all i said tonight.
Haven't slept for days and my words don't seem to come out right
it's just a phase that you're gonna grow out if when you die,
and it's alright,
you know everythings going to be just fine,
is it too much to ask for some kind of ordinary life?
Don't leave!
it's not me you know
can't control what goes through my mind,
so stay please understand i don't mean all i said tonight..
Haven't slept for days and my words don't seem to come out right,
it's just a phase that you're gonna grow out of when you die,
and its alright,
you know everythings going to be just fine,
is it too much to ask for some kind of ordinary life?
Is it too much to ask for, some kind of ordinary life?
Is it too much to ask for, some kind of ordinary life?
Is it too much to ask for, some kind of ordinary life?
07 Factory (00:00)
Old steel factory casting shadows
What it meant to me no one could know
Kept him away from me and I was greatful
And to the bar across the street where he made last call
(Chorus)
Big man
Beer can
Back hand
My last stand
Late night
Fist fight
Black eye
Who's right
Minor tragedy family outing
Major catastrophe two week vacation
Long year seventeen birthday coming
July 5th I can leave no more running
Old steel factory casting shadows
Come July
Please come July
13 Full On (00:00)
How do i still want you,
With everything you've made me do,
You almost taste like hate,
And i can't stay away,
Self destruction, no pain,
Character reduction, slow fade,
Lazy reflex, no feeling,
Hand to mouth, tightly bound,
Remember when we met,
Seemed so innocent,
But i was different then,
Now i know how the story ends,
Self destruction, no pain,
Character reduction, slow fade,
Lazy reflex, no feeling,
Hand to mouth, tightly bound,
I'm the one with the unreached goals,
Never thought i could sink so low,
I believed everything i was told,
Save me from the undertow,
Big on suckers bets,
Placed my soul in debt,
Looks like from where I'm at,
There's no coming back,
I'm the one with the unreached goals,
Never thought i could sink so low,
I believed everything i was told,
Save me from the undertow,
Save me, save me, save me...
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