I can’t believe it has taken me this long to see Sam Roberts. I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard “Don’t Walk Away Eileen” and have looked forward to each new album’s release, pushing them on anyone who might be interested. His music isn’t particularly hip, it’s just sounds good. It’s not quirky enough to have much indie cred, nor grimy enough to be part of the garage rock scene. No, he writes classic, roots-influence rock and roll, with loud guitars, big hooks, and catchy choruses. It’s music that sounds like it should be played in front of large and excited crowds, but even in a smaller club like Portland’s Berbati’s Pan, the band put on a show as if they sold out a place five times the size. And even after years of build up, it was everything I hoped it would be.
Rounder Records finally released Love At The End Of The World in the US just this year, so I wasn’t surprised when they took the stage and ripped through some of the best tracks off that album. They opened with the excellent title cut and then moved into amped up versions of “Fixed To Ruin” and “Up Sister”. While the majority of the songs were just released, they still worked in a couple of my favorites off We Were Born In A Flame, including an awesome version of “Brother Down”. For all his strutting across the stage and performative bombast, Sam Roberts was very grateful that people had come to see him. Apparently, his previous tour through Portland wasn’t as well attended. Maybe he’s finally gaining some traction in the US. After witnessing a set like the one he played that night, it kind of blows my mind that he isn’t more popular.
The Sam Roberts Band: website | myspace
