Since jumping off the plane right onto the Moonshine stage at the Maverick Festival in September 2021, the trajectory of Sam Chase in the UK has only gone one way. With two Mavericks now under the belt, and half a dozen sets, this San Franciscan has undertaken a second jaunt around the country with new places and venues to explore. Exquisitely supported by Chandra Johnson on violin and Devon McClive on cello, the now established touring format of The Sam Chase Trio offers a powerful exhibition of orchestral roots underpinned by a wealth of Americana songwriting. Whether projecting to a wider festival audience or inspiring a small room of dedicated and inquisitive punters, the act modifies in a minimal way relying on the core juices of music, chat and charisma to engage an audience open to the unifying experience of live music.
The Kitchen Garden has long been a Midlands pit stop for overseas Maverick artists driving north. The appreciation has always been warm and likewise any opportunity to spread their music is a positive outcome for the artists. The Sam Chase Trio was intent on rewarding those who ventured out with a single set running past the hour twenty mark packing in a load of songs from a growing back catalogue. This has grew a little larger in the last couple of months with the release of YOU CALL THIS AN ALBUM. The irony sinks in when you see Sam Chase live. Without that experience, it is still a damn good listen heralding a lavish production quality that can never transmit in a stripped down trio.
However the trio format works to a tee on the road. Expect to feel part of the show from the off. Pleasantries and courtesy reigns supreme. Adjusting your inner tuning to the gravelly gruff vocals that echo with the toughness of elite Americana pays dividends. The location's acoustics will be challenged but not breached, and there is always the finely crafted musicianship to effortlessly juxtapose.
Roots anthems can solidify any live experience and Sam Chase owns a pair as good as anyone on the circuit. The Kitchen Garden joined a likely extensive list of places to bellow out the sentiment 'Rock Bottom Never Felt So Good' and the infectious chorus to the slightly more intentionally complex 'Chasing Windmills'. A call for any requests early on was foolishly answered with these two as they were always going to feature. However he joyfully picked up one for 'John Prine' and prefaced it with a more extensive back story to what afforded the festival sets. This is a prime bonus of the stand alone gig.
Story and inspiration are a key part of any Sam Chase show. One particular one picked up was the origin of 'I Sold My Soul to the City' which told of how you finally become wedded to the city of San Fransisco. This can be found on the 2013 album WILL NEVER DIE, a record that also supplied the impressive song 'Perfect World' in a set list that evolved to say the least.
Perhaps the highlight away from the obvious finale was 'Cherished Memory'; a hugely personal take on the world we live in today. Going back to the recorded version of this song that can be found on the new album triggered a resemblance to Ryan Bingham in the vocals. A winner for me.
A couple of other songs with famous name checks lodged in the memory. 'Don't Let Me Die Middle Aged' will be forever linked to the age and weight of Elvis. Sometimes you need to be there. 'Dear Don' had been mothballed for the obvious reasons, but a request for a repeat after hearing it the weekend was obliged. The sentiment of the song could do with exporting to our shores.
The minor details play second fiddle to the experience of seeing The Sam Chase Trio live. An addictive lure emanates a glorious journey from stage to audience. This Birmingham show was certainly one with a difference. A show etched in the memory planting the line "I hear there's Kool Aid' firmly in the mind's forefront and re-affirming "rock bottom" ain't a bad place to be.
