Transmissions
from the Sea of Tranquility couldn't have come at a better time for the
band.
"Last
year was a rough time for all of us," admits Sean Kelly, referring to the
myriad of personal troubles that the band members endured last year, "But
right now, I'm seeing things clearer than ever. Music isn't a source of
worry for me anymore. We're all much more focused in each of our lives,
and that lets the music come through us easier than ever."
Sean
credits much of his newfound clarity to a recent therapeutic revelation.
"For years I've been talkingand singing about the way our society mistreats
the environment. But, all that time, I've been treating people just as
poorly by not recognizing or accepting them as individuals. There's been
a lot of growing for me in the past year as I learned to open my heart
to many different people, and I think my music will reflect that from now
on."
Transmissions
from the Sea of Tranquility also marks the recorded debut of new band members
Rob Somers (guitar), Kenny James (drums) and Alex Matson (keyboards). They
join the band's original songwriting core of Sean Kelly (vocals/guitar)
and Andy Sheldon (bass/vocals). Most Samples fans will recognize Sean's
childhood friend Rob from his stints as guitarist on Sean's solo Lighthouse
Rocket and Carnival Disaster tours. (Serious fans will also know that Rob
performed with Andy and Sean in a pre-Samples band called The Last Straw.)
Alex is a friend and ex-bandmate (The Czars) of Rob's who also somehow
survived the Carnival Disaster Tour.
So
Sean knew Rob and Rob knew Alex. Everybody knew Kenny. Mr. James has built
quite a reputation for himself as the talented drummer for many Denver/Boulder-based
rock, jazz and funk bands. And I mean many--as in, say, five different
bands at once. He's also the solo, multi-instrumental force behind the
recent The Witching Hour release, and he was just named "one of the
finest musicians in Denver" by Westword magazine.
"There's
no way we could be doing this without Kenny, Rob and Alex," says Sean,
"It feels as though there's a breath of fresh air blowing through this
band right now, because of them." These talented newcomers are sure to
bring that same exciting energy to the proceedings as The Samples return
to the road in support of Live Transmissions... this fall. The band's wide-open
approach to concert performances ensures that Sean, Andy, the new members
and the fans will all be freshly inspired each night as The Samples continue
to explore their brand new musical playground.
