The Samples

Few bands bridge the divide between instrumental proficiency and sharply crafted songwriting as deftly as the Samples. Long before the term jam band was coined — way back in the mid-Eighties, in fact — this Colorado combo funneled its freewheeling melodies into odes etched with inspiration — reflective, evocative songs that detailed love, loss, and nature's beauty. Helmed from the beginning by singer/songwriter Sean Kelly, the Samples exude a sort of stoner spirituality, grafting thoughtful, mesmerizing music to reggae-infused rhythms that carry the mood to either extreme. One moment they're a frat band pumping up the party; the next they're settling into a slower groove suited for quiet contemplation. Despite their fanatical following, they generally eschew the major festivals that attract their like-minded contemporaries, and rarely wander this far south. That makes a Samples soiree reason for celebration, especially for those who place equal importance on tunes and technique.