Sam Bradley

17 November 2009:

I met Sam Bradley at the Fox Theatre when he was finishing up his sound check for that night’s show.  It was below freezing and not really all that welcoming of a night.  Colorado usually has very mild winters (though I keep telling visitors this, they don’t believe me).

With the cold limiting our desire to be outside, we ventured to Pearl Street Mall (the nightlife of Boulder) to find some spots for Sam to play.  We quickly found a deserted patio behind a restaurant, complete with a fireplace to warm our hands and some intimate mood lighting.  We got comfortable and chose a corner of the patio.  My crew had never heard Sam play before, so they were really surprised when he poured out his heart with the emotional song “Too Far Gone”.  Sam’s genuine performance was punctuated by the cold and emptiness of the space.  Beautiful, serene, intimate.  It all just… fit.

Next we ventured around the corner and into the basement of a bar to find a warmer space to play the next song.  An old brick dart room in the back corner provided the perfect setting for “No One and Me”.  Hundreds of people had left their mark on the walls of this room, written with chalk or dart-tips.  Sam left his own mark with a heartfelt private performance that we are more than happy to share with you.

Lastly we headed back out into the cold onto the nearly deserted Pearl Street Mall for “Passport”, a fun song complete with strip clubs and “lines of confidence” (you’ll see what I mean).  There were a few brave souls out in the cold, and a small crowd gathered to enjoy the performance with us.  It was great to finish up our Off-Stage Shorts with some traditional buskering (minus the panhandle, of course), and wonderful to hear a song I’d never heard before, belted out into the thin Colorado air by a talented musician.

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That night after filming, we were lucky to be able to see Sam Bradley’s show and take a few photographs.  With his full band backing him up, they gave a polished and energetic set that was a pleasure to witness.  Sam showed us his introspective and emotional side, as well as his fun and lighthearted side.  We’re very grateful to Sam Bradley for sharing a piece of himself and his music with all of us.  Thanks for coming out, Sam!  If you have a chance to see him live, don’t pass it up!

Be sure to check out sambradley.com!

A few screencaps and photos from the show are below: