Samiam

Samiam
Samiam performing at the Fillmore Auditorium in 2022 Left to right: Kennerly, Darby, Beebout, Brooks (behind drum kit), and Loobkoff.
Background information
Origin	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock hardcore punk pop-punk melodic hardcore emo
Years active	1988–present
Labels	New Red Archives, Cleopatra, Atlantic, Hopeless, Your Choice, Burning Heart, No Idea, Dead Broke, Pure Noise, Golf
Members	Jason Beebout Sergie Loobkoff Colin Brooks Sean Kennerly Chad Darby
Past members	See below
Website	Samiam on Facebook

Samiam (pronounced "sam-I-am") is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, active since 1988.

Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe.

In the mid-'90s, the band was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing their major label debut Clumsy in 1994. Their video for single "Capsized" gained considerable airplay on MTV. Samiam performed on The Jon Stewart Show in 1994.^[1]

Samiam recorded one more album during their time with Atlantic, though the label opted not to release it.^[2] The album, You Are Freaking Me Out, was eventually released in 1997 by Burning Heart Records.^[2] Its single "She Found You" garnered considerable radio play in 1998.

Over the years, Samiam has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America and Japan, and performed with bands like Bad Religion, Green Day, The Offspring, NOFX, No Doubt, Toadies, Sense Field, Blink-182, Deftones, 311, Millencolin, and Fishbone.

In early 2001, the band went on hiatus after supporting the Astray album. Despite what was initially to be a breakup, they continued to tour abroad yearly (Europe and South America) with occasional shows in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This led to the recording of the band's seventh album Whatever's Got You Down, which was released in 2006. Samiam toured Europe three more times in 2006 and 2007 and played various US dates in 2008.

Samiam toured Australia in September 2009, together with the band A Death in the Family.^[3] This was followed by an appearance at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida in November 2009^[4] and shows in Santiago, Chile; San Miguel, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil in December 2009.^[5] October 2010 brought them together again with A Death in the Family for a European and East Coast tour.^[6][7]

Samiam released Trips, their first album in five years, on September 6, 2011.^[8] Semi annual tours have followed ever since in Europe, Australia and South America. In 2015, while in Chicago for an appearance at Riot Fest, a four-song demo was recorded but never finished.^[9]

In December 2019, Samiam announced on their Facebook page that they are working on their first studio album in 8+1⁄2 years.^[10]

The band's musical style has been described as punk rock,^[11][12][13] hardcore punk,^[14][15] pop-punk,^[16][17] melodic hardcore,^[18] and emo.^[17] Samiam's influences during their initial 1990s run included the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Swervedriver,^[19] and Short Dogs Grow.^[20]

Current members

• Jason Beebout – vocals
• Sergie Loobkoff – guitar
• Colin Brooks – drums
• Sean Kennerly – guitar, bass
• Chad Darby – bass

Past members

• Ryan Sullivan – guitar (1988–1989)
• Johnny Cruz – drums
• James Brogan – guitar (1988–2000)
• Martin Brohm – bass (1988–1993)
• Aaron Rubin – bass (1993–1997)
• Jeremy Bergo – bass (2006)
• Mark Mortinsen – drums (1988–1990, 1993)
• Dave Ayer – drums (1990–1993)
• Tré Cool – drums (1999)
• Scott McPherson – drums (1999)
• Victor Indrizzo – drums (1993–1995)
• Davey Latter – drums (1999)
• Michael Petrak – drums (1995–1999)
• Charlie Walker – drums
• Billy Bouchard – bass

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• Official Facebook page
• Videos on YouTube.com
• Interview with Sergie Loobkoff on Scanner zine, 2010