Press Sandwich

**Prefix
The Sammies
Glisten (MP3)
July 8, 2008
By Andrew Winistorfer

Remember when garage rock seemed like the best genre revival ever? Well Charlotte’s The Sammies do, and they’re acting like it’s 2001 all over again with “Glisten” off their forthcoming Sandwich (out in September). “Glisten” is like a Strokes B-side with (slightly more) audible vocals, a better guitar solo, and more “Whoo!”-ing.

Sandwich is out on 9/23 via MoRisen Records

**Side One Track One - with an early preview
ONLINE
The Sammies
July 8, 2008
By John Laird

As for today's ramble, it's all about the Sammies. I was pretty bummed out when I didn't get a chance to see one of their supposedly incredible live performances at SXSW, but hopefully with a new album ready to go they'll be touring all over soon. Keep an eye out for the sure to be good Sandwich on September 23 via MoRisen. Enjoy.

The Sammies - Glisten: If you caught my post on these guys the last timearound then I think you'll be happy to know that their sound is still raw, full of energy and as catchy as can be. I mean, it's literally everything you could want from a driving rock tune that's a perfect fit for car rides and summer excursions. Fully expect this to be the kind of gem that you instantly have a good time with.

I probably should have went with the live video of Falling Out so that you can see why I wanted to catch them at SXSW so badly, but this one for Coming Out Wild sounds so much better. Plus, I find it hilariously weird that the performance was done on some show for Fox News.

**Blurt - formerly Harp
ONLINE
N.C.'s The Sammies Fix a "Sandwich"
July 8, 2008
By Fred Mills

Whattaya get when you combine such dubiously-phrased monikers as Frank Backgammon, Donnie Yale, Conrad Vacation and Bobby Freedom? Why, Charlotte's Sammies, of course! Sandwich, their sophomore effort, will drop Sept. 23 on MoRisen, the same label that issued their well-received 2006 self-titled
debut.

Recorded in Kernersville, NC at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium, it was produced by Ben Holst (Drive-By Truckers), Billy Bennett (Drive-By Truckers, The Whigs) and The Sammies. The label describes it as a "fusion of classic rock, early punk and indie rock" featuring 13 new songs including "Golden Sun," "In the Basement," "Treat Her Like a Queen," and "Old Grey." The band hasalready lined up some pre-album release gigs in and around the South (dates listed below) — their live shows are pure firestorms — and you can expect
the full-court push when the album hits stores.

Meanwhile, over at the band's MySpace site you can check out some samples of the new material, notably the Who-meets-Plimsouls anthemism of "Sleep In My Clothes" and the glam-slam sonic KISS that is "Treat Her Like A Queen." Goddam, this is a good band. Way back when BLURT was still known as Harp, we advised you thusly:

"North Carolina's the Sammies are a quartet of self-proclaimed country boys whose idea of roots music is more Echo and Iggy than Johnny and Willie. The music is supercharged beer-and-babes rock, but the Sammies draw inspiration from so much of the rock 'n' roll canon they're impossible to pin down.
Their party-perfect debut romps through double-time Ramones tempos, spiky post-punk, Stooges 'tude, AC/DC power riffs, DEVO robot rock, Byrds jangle and early Roxy Music textures."

We still stand behind that description. Sam on!

Sammies Tour Dates:

Jul 25 2008 9:00P Barley's Taproom Knoxville, Tennessee

Aug 1 2008 9:00P Grey Eagle Asheville, North Carolina

Aug 9 2008 9:00P Visulite Theater - CD Release! Charlotte, North Carolina

Aug 23 2008 9:00P Raleigh Downtown Live | The Pour House Raleigh, North Carolina

Sep 6 2008 9:00P The Hummingbird Macon, Georgia

Sep 9 2008 9:00P The Pour House Music Hall Raleigh, North Carolina

Sep 13 2008 9:00P The Soapbox Lounge Wilmington, North Carolina

Sep 19 2008 9:00P Tasty World! Athens, Georgia

Sep 20 2008 9:00P The Nick Birmingham, Alabama

Oct 17 2008 8:00P Duke - Campus Concert Series Durham, North Carolina

Nov 7 2008 9:00P The Garage Winston-Salem, North Carolina

 

Previous Press

**The Daily Tarheel - Diversions
Jordan Lawrence

Lovers of frenetic guitar rock got a real treat Wednesday night as Bull City, The Sammies and The Whigs took over the Local 506 for a show overflowing with infectious energy. Despite The Whigs growing fame, as they came fresh off a performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, it was The Sammies that owned the night.

Durham’s Bull City opened the night on an exhilarating and highly accessible note. Playing their often witty blend of bluesy classic rock and country flair, the band rocked hard, invigorating the crowd for the rest of the night. The interplay of guitarists Jim Brantley and John Kurtz was great as they proved that they should be in the conversation for best guitarists in town.

Charlotte’s The Sammies took the momentum from Bull City’s set and pushed it to an even higher gear. The band was completely in synch with each other as they played with an overpowering energy.

Singer/guitarist Frank Backgammon owned the crowd, moving pell-mell over the stage, playing forcefully and delivering his lines with gusto. Smooth but still extremely intense, The Sammies delivered a set so polished they would have been better suited as the headliners.

Though they may have been outplayed, The Whigs were by no means slouches. Taking the stage in front of a nearly packed house, the Athens trio plowed headlong through a set that clubbed the audience right over the head with its intensity.

Despite the fact that their performances were not as dynamically interesting as The Sammies’, the band still delivered an admirably tight set. Overlong, but not the point that they lost anyone’s interest, The Whigs’ performance easily satisfied the audience.

**Boston Music Spotlight- CMJ

Finally, we caught former Performer cover boys The Sammies as they rocked the MoRisen Records showcase at Ace of Clubs. Sharing the bill with other formidable Southern acts like Dead Confederate and The Houstons, The Sammies put on an inspired set with a righteous abandon-ship performance. New bassist Conrad Vacation flawlessly meshed with the veteran members, including ace guitarist Bobby Freedom, who plays with a visible entrancement, and ever-charming brothers Frank Backgammon on lead and Donnie Yale on drums. They had played a KEXP live session earlier in the week and seem well poised to break beyond their local-hero status in their hometown of Charlotte.

**Boston, MA
The Sammies come to Somerville
A review of The Sammies at PA's Lounge on July 12
July 17, 2007

By Jed Heneberry

The Sammies are what my college band should have been. Even better, they're what the Kings of Leon should have been when everyone was calling them the "Southern-fried Strokes." Plain and simple, The Sammies are a good band, and are shaping up to be an even better one when you take into account all the new material they played at PA's Lounge.

Hailing from North Carolina, The Sammies released their self-titled debut (produced by heavyweight John Agnello) last year and are currently working on building a following outside of their southern comfort zone. Their songs, uptempo post-punk rockers, have gained national exposure in movies (Employee of the Month, Happily Never After) and television ("Friday Night Lights," "Las Vegas," "Wildfire").

Their show at PA's began with two new songs buoyed by bassist Gymmy Thunderbird's bouncing lines, sounding more Albert Hammond Jr. solo than full-out The Strokes. Drummer Donnie Yale sang backup while pounding away on his kit as singer and guitar player Frank Backgammon, looking like a cross between Jack White and Billie Joe Armstrong, led the way.

The jam-session "White Blotter" allowed the band to demonstrate their chops and versatility, starting out like Bloc Party's " Helicopter" and journeying through a half-time guitar romp to a full fledged guitar burn out. The band's song structure is very similar to old Metallica in that the songs are based around a straight verse-chorus-verse-chorus template before a bridge that departs into more of a group solo. The approach did not grate or become boring, as each break took fresh, interesting rhythmic or melodic turns.

"Caretaker," from the debut album, had a dirty dancehall feel, thanks to Yale's hi-hat, but it was the new material that stood out. "Treat Her Like a
Queen All the Time" was a delightful mashup of "Helter Skelter" and "Icky Thump" that I wish would be recorded and released immediately. The band also delved into cover tune territory, playing a version of "You Really Got Me" that was all Kinks and no Van Halen.

The band ended the night in perfect fashion, with another great new song with an even better title, "Boy Georgia," which again featured a choppy, American Bloc Party sound. Show closer "Train Wreck" was fittingly epic, with Yale shrieking "Yea Baby" echoes behind his brother Backgammon's vocals as the band built up to a perfect combination of the Southern Rock guitar jamboree of "Freebird" and the meltdown thrash destruction of The Who.

As the band left the stage amidst a pile of guitars, amps, drum equipment, and empty beer bottles, it was clear that The Sammies have it. Man, I wish I was in a band like that one.

**Hooters
The Sammies
July/Aug. '07

**Knoxville News-Sentinel
Where's the party? The Sammies know
June 8, 2007
By Jer Cole

For three years, the Charlotte, N.C.-based rock outfit The Sammies has been out to prove its self-asserted description as "the best thing to come out of
North Carolina since tobacco." The band, which met at UNC's Charlotte branch, combines classic and indie rock to create a catalog representative of rock 'n' roll's potpourri of incarnations, but prides itself on its live presentation.

Frequently playing the Southeastern circuit, the group has an energy that is the staple feature of its performances. A love of boozing, which may play into the energy the band exudes, is The Sammies' trademark, and the band named itself after a friend who exposed the members to both alcohol consumption and classic tunes.

"An old dude down the street who used to buy us beer ... was named Sammy," says guitarist/vocalist Frank Backgammon. "We'd go over there and listen to music and have some brews, and he said if we ever started a band, we better name it after him. We are true to our word.

"We own thousands of CDs between us and have listened to them all, extensively," Backgammon says. "Whether we knowingly do it or not, I'm sure
we take a little piece of them all and meld it into The Sammies' sound. We love classic rock, blues, '80s cheese, and indie music primarily. We like all music really, but right now we choose to emulate the rock 'n' roll end of the spectrum. It's like a Lynyrd Skynyrd that shops at the mall."

The band says that the amalgam of styles covered on The Sammies' self-titled debut release will be significantly scaled down to a more signature sound on the group's upcoming recordings. The ensemble hopes to commence work for its sophomore album in the coming months in order to have the release available by the end of the year.

"It's early still, but the songs have a little more melody, I think," says Backgammon. "The last album was our debut - a collection of songs. It shows you a nice snapshot of what we can sound like at various times. The new one will be a little more pinned down. I think we are recording the bulk of it in the next month. The concentration will be on sounds, so getting the right sounds may take a little longer this time."

The Sammies' upcoming show at Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria will be the band's first in Knoxville. The band, which performs regionally, is eager to hit the road, noting a scarcity of musical venues in the members' hometown.

"Oh, you haven't heard about Charlotte's huge music scene?" Backgammon inquires facetiously. "No, Charlotte and 'music scene' are far from synonymous. Charlotte is still a rather young city. Within the past five years, it has changed so much. More and more clubs are popping up, and more bands are starting up. We don't have the history Chapel Hill has, so we have to make it. It's our little fantasy that we can help put Charlotte on the map. Our label, MoRisen, is based in Charlotte. We recorded our first CD here. We went to school in Charlotte. Why not stick around? It takes a little more work on our part to be seen and heard, but in the end it'll hopefully be worth it.

"We have never played in Knoxville, and don't know much about the city," Backgammon says. "I have heard of several bands from the area who do well, more bands than I know from Charlotte. We always look forward to playing new places, especially places that are easily accessible to us such as Knoxville. UT is there, right? For that reason alone, it should be fun. Can you beat SEC football?"

No, you can't.

The Sammies will perform at Barley's on Saturday night at 10. Joining them will be Knoxville's own Cold Hands. The show is free, but admits only those ages 21 and older.

**Encore
Wilmington, NC
It’s All About WE!
Wilmington’s DIY music festival kicks off Thursday, May 24th
May 16-22, 2007
By Cory Withers

The Sammies

I told my friend Heather that I had to write about "some band called The Sammies," and she said, "Oh, my gosh, look what that did to my arm." The mere mention of them had physically given her chills. Frank Backgammon, Gymmy Thunderbird, Bobby Freedom and Donnie Yale will be bringing their pseudonyms and the sounds from their self-titled album to the stage at 8pm on Saturday, upstairs. Chills are compelling enough to get you out to the show, aren't they?

**Wilmington Star
Wilmington, NC
WE Festival XI

There's music and much more at annual indie smorgasbord
May 24, 2007
By Shawna Kenney

11:30 p.m. The Sammies (below) 'Time-Out New York' compared this Charlotte band to Pavement and Dinosaur Jr., yet it's just as easy to imagine their songs in a Jon Hughes movie. Their self-titled release on MoRisen Records will be followed this July by a limited-edition record on good old-fashioned vinyl. Woo!

**Time Out NY

The Sammies are a four-piece band with a fun '90s sound; their self-titled album, on MoRisen RecordD, points to Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement.

** Blogs 4/27/07

The Architectural Dance Society

ONLINE

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Nothing Painted Blue

April 24, 2007

The Sammies "Falling Out": You maybe can't quite hear it on this track, but the Sammies illustrate that it's been long enough since The Great Punk Divide of the late seventies/early eighties that bands who dig through older relatives' music collections no longer feel compelled to stick to either the Echo & the Bunnymen or Lynyrd Skynyrd sections: they can do both. Is it me or is there something vaguely Flock of Seagulls about this one? No matter - it just grabbed me by the ears and wouldn't let go.

Sammie, Take Care
In the music history you can find a lot of rock bands in which brothers or sisters have been playing together. Some examples: the Kinks, the Bangles, Allman Brothers, Kings of Leon and the Stooges. That's not so very strange when you realise that most of them started playing music as a child and that's obvious that you do this together with a bother or sister. The brothers Frank Backgammon and Donnie Yale from Charlotte, North Carolina started together on the guitar and after they'd learned this instrument, Donnie began playing the drums. The next step was to recrute school friends Gymmy Thunderbird and Murphy Upshaw and The Sammies were born.

The self-titles debut album by The Sammies has been released at MoRisen Records in the States last year and it was very well received. The four young men are currently working on theit next record, which shall be released in a few months. This means I'm a bit late (or too early) with this post but I didn't want to wait too long with this review because The Sammies make beautiful pop-rock music. Music in which you can hear influences of Southern Rock, punk and indie-rock like can be read in their bio.

Just listen to "Caretaker", one of the best songs on their CD and I also like "Falling Out". If this is not enough for you, you can listen to the whole CD.

Thursday, March 8, 2007
Shall we dance together?

Because when I hear The Sammies...I want to DANCE!

Listen to "Falling Out" and/or "Coming Out Wild."

Now tell me that song doesn't get you all types of fired up to put your dancing shoes on and jump around like you're a kid!? All of the different sounds and influences that meld together is just incredible! I know I sound super excited and that is because there is no way to listen to The Sammies and not want to party!

Why oh why did I not hear them ages ago? Their album came out in JUNE! You so have to purchase this cd, it is amazing.

MMmmmm...I'm going to say I think they sound like "The Damnwells" and we all know I love them!

** Harp Magazine

THE SAMMIES STORM THE EAST COAST

April 10, 2007
By Fred Mills

N.C. upstarts the Sammies are currently knee-deep in the latest leg of their tour supporting their self-titled debut for Charlottes MoRisen Records.

Produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Breeders, etc.), The Sammies was
described by this very publication as a "party-perfect debut [that] romps through double-time Ramones tempos, spiky post-punk, Stooges tude, AC/DC power riffs, Devo robot rock, Byrds jangle and early Roxy Music textures."
(See the January/February issue of HARP for the full hyperventilatin commentary in our Fresh Faces section.)

Founded in Wadesboro, NC, by siblings Will and Joe Huntley, (a/k/a guitarist Frank Backgammon and drummer Donnie Yale), the Sammies also include bassist Gymmy Thunderbird and guitarist Bobby Freedom and currently base themselves in Charlotte but are usually seen trundling up anddown the Interstate, wowing audiences and critics alike with their hi-nrg, powerpop-inflected brand of raucous hard rock. Notes Backgammon of the bands approach, Its loud, spastic and at times semi-possessed. No frills, just straight-up rock n roll thats loud and in your face. Boy howdy to that; HARP has witnessed enough Sammies shows to get down on our knees and
genuflect.

The group was prominent in Austin last month at SXSW, commenting, somewhat shell-shocked, on their blog at their MySpace page about driving through the night in order to arrive in Austin Tuesday, 3/13, for our first show of four. We played at Campus Estates with Steel Train, and the very kind ladies at Campus Estates let us stay there till Friday in exchange. That place has to be the coolest apt. complex in the damn universe! The rest of SXSW was a jumbled blur; between running to and from gigs, loading up and down stairs,
meeting up with friends, attending parties, drinking free drinks way too early in the day, trying to eat and sleep a little, oh, and catching some other bands you really wanted to see, we are all run down and tired as hell, still! Now we have to work hard and get some new songs recorded so we can give you some new shit. No worries, the songs are done, just not "in-the-can" so to speak. We have been, and will continue to be busy."

Meanwhile, the Sammies have recently enjoyed an additional profile boost by way of serial product placement: their songs have been featured in the films Employee of the Month and Happily N'Ever After and the TV shows Friday Night Lights, Las Vegas and Wildfire.

Following a quick detour out west to Denver the band swoops back east for a string of dates (including a homecoming gig in Charlotte on April 27). Currently scheduled shows are as follow:

Sammies Tour Dates:

Apr 12 2007 12:15P KUSA Denver, Colorado
Apr 12 2007 8:00P HiDive Denver, Colorado
Apr 14 2007 11:00P Springwater Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 27 2007 11:00P Visualite Th Charlotte, North Carolina
May 10 2007 2:00P KEXP New York, New York
May 10 2007 8:00P FearlessMusic.TV New York, New York
May 11 2007 9:00P 500 SONGS FOR KIDS - SMITHS OLDE BAR Atlanta,
Georgia
May 18 2007 8:00P 3 05 South Durham, North Carolina
May 26 2007 6:30P Rocks Bar Richmond, Virginia
Jun 1 2007 9:00P Snug Harbor Charlotte
Aug 11 2007 8:00P Vespertine Crawl Macon, Georgia

** Side ONe: Track One

OK, the madness has to stop. There is no possible way that I can continue to keep running across brilliant artists that cause me to completely reshuffle my SXSW schedule in order to fit them in somewhere. For instance, today I have The Sammies who rocked my face off with their self titled debut and caused me to trash my current SXSW plan and hit the net in search of when and where they will be performing. The North Carolina quartet plays some amazing southern dipped, bar band-enthused indie rock and from what I have read they are fantastic live. I really think that you guys are going to have a good time with The Sammies today, especially since it's the kind of music that reminds you the weekend is only one more whole day away. Feel free to rock about your cubicle.

:The Sammies - Falling Out: This song alone is what has inspired me to seek this band out next week. The music moves along at a quick pace with catchy guitar riffs and upbeat drumming leading the way like there is no tomorrow. The lyrics are especially fun to sing-a-long with and I love the straightforward lines in them like: "I wanna screw you tonight" and "I got to find a way to put a smile on my face." I can't wait to hear this live!

:The Sammies - Caretaker: Vocalist Frank Backgammon's hearty snarl in this makes me want to take my shirt off and crush beer cans on my forehead. The only reason that I don't is because right before I convince myself to do so the song switches gears around the two minute mark and focuses more on jamming than inspiring redneck shenanigans. Seriously though, this song is a raucous blast that needs to be heard immediately.

** Independent Music Blog

North Carolina rockers The Sammies have known each other since they were kids-- especially brothers Donnie and Frank. This isn't a surprise to anyone who has heard the band's self-titled debut. The Sammies sound like a band twice their age-- each individual member's parts mesh seamlessly with the others creating a hooky, southern-tinged indie rock that refuses to stay out of your head. The Sammies' live shows have been the talk of the southeast for quite some time, and the band's first long player is already getting loads of praise from respected outlets like Pitchfork and Harp Magazine. If by some chance you haven't heard The Sammies yet, you're missing the coolest and most fun new band around. Get familiar with The Sammies now-- if you wait any longer you'll be way behind the curve.**TopPostFresh Friday

I was going to write about a different band today, but then a little email arrived in my inbox reminding me of a band I fell in love with last fall. The group still hasn?t been receiving the adoration they deserve, so there will be a slight change in plans.

When I was little, I listened to a lot of Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen. This was just what my parents were into. And driving around with them, you could always hear my little voice coming from the back seat singing, ?Island?s industry, that is what they are!? Believe me, even with the wrong lyrics, it was adorable.

If I could describe to you the sound of The Sammies, it would be a mixture of all those country and rock artists I so fondly remember from my childhood, tinged with some of my not so lost, youthful exuberance. The Sammies are part of the retro-country sound that saw a widespread popularity with The White Stripes and continues on with the younger generation of O?death, Catfish Haven and Illinois. Their NYC show over seven months ago still stands as one of the handful of performances I would count amongst the best of 2006. I came in to see them not knowing a thing and walked away an over enthused fan.

I am not going to tell you to start listening to this band to get ahead of the curve; instead, you should give it a listen because I said so. I kid. You should listen because it is just hands down great music made by a group of lovable, earnest musicians.

**Charlotte Creative Loafing

The Sammies w/ Snowden, Pacific Stereo, CR Rollyson
[Music]

Fri., Feb. 16
Milestone, Charlotte

The Sammies by Davis (2/16/2007)
The past year or so has seen a lot of milestones for the boys in the Sammies: two songs on the Employee of the Month soundtrack, a well- received SXSW gig, a song on an upcoming Friday Night Lights episode, a recommendation from Observer columnist Tom Sorenson that the Carolina Panthers adopt the group's "Panther Leap" as their official team anthem, ever-burgeoning live crowds, and mention in Harp. Fitting, then, that they're playing a club called the Milestone, which, coincidentally, might be the perfect place to catch the boys' beer-soaked, babe-baiting body rock. There's nary a whit of pretension with either the venue or the headliner, which, in this town, is always refreshing. With Snowden, Pacific Stereo, and former The Talk bassist CR Rollyson, who's thankfully letting the (rather enjoyable) music do all the talking.

**Matt Dentler's Blog

My Top 25 Albums of 2006
Before a full week goes into 2007, I wanted to follow-up the "Film Folks' Favorite Albums of 2006" with my own list. My list has 25 albums. You might think I'm indecisive, but I assure you, I've purchased or received a disgusting amount of albums this year as evidenced by my "Five Albums Worth Your Dime" column. So if you're looking for a fair ratio, you're actually getting it with my list of 25 "finalists." So, here we go, my Top 25 albums of 2006:

6. The Sammies, The Sammies
(Debut from a young bunch of North Carolina power-poppers is the antidote to Kings of Leon overhype.)

**The Daily Tarheel -Best of the Tar Heel state: Top 10 albums

6. The Sammies, The Sammies (MoRisen)

With a hook-laden, garage-rock sound that is equal parts The Strokes and Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Sammies put their hometown of Charlotte on the musical map in 2006 with their debut LP.

Featuring songs about partying, girls, angry robots and the Carolina Panthers, The Sammies is an album that is rock 'n' roll as The Sammies want it to be: free of pretentiousness and self-importance. The band shows itself to be at its best when the only goal is to be loud, rowdy and fun.

And track by track, the band's debut accomplishes exactly that.

**The Charlotte Observer

Sammies slam toward goal line
Rockers headline NYC showcase, score radio and film exposure
COURTNEY DEVORES

Charlotte-based rock quartet the Sammies are as passionate about the Carolina Panthers as they are about music.

Need proof? Listen to "Panther Leap," an anthemic, Rolling Stones-like ode to the team on their self-titled debut album.

Need a reason? Listen to them explain:

"We try to model ourselves after a professional sports team," says drummer Donnie Yale.

"The Panthers are like the Sammies ... they play as a team," adds singer/guitarist Frank Backgammon, 27, who is Yale's older brother.

Another similarity: Both teams are coming on strong.

Since releasing their debut on Charlotte-based Morisen Records in June, the Sammies -- who play the Visulite Theatre on Saturday -- have watched one single ("Trainwreck") climb to No. 6 on CMJ's Independent Radio Charts and heard another ("Coming Out Wild") in the Dane Cook-Jessica Simpson movie "Employee of the Month".

The band also headlined Morisen's showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York last month; check out the video at www.myspace.com/thesammies.

"That stuff really affects bigger markets," Backgammon says of the radio and film exposure. "Our first time playing in Atlanta, D.C., and New York, people knew the songs."

Backgammon and Yale, who grew up playing Neil Young covers in their parents' house in Wadesboro, hooked up with childhood friend Gymmy Thunderbird at UNC Charlotte to form the band. Bobby Freedom joined the team full-time in August after the old guitarist quit mid-tour.

"I popped in the CD and learned the songs on the ride between Raleigh and D.C.," says the 26-year-old, who was already credited as "right hand Sam" on the CD.

The Sammies -- whose name refers to sandwiches -- are ready to kick their steady climb into high gear as soon as Yale, a 22-year-old psychology major, and Freedom, who is completing a master's degree in electrical engineering, graduate in December.

The band's goals include spending most of 2007 on the road; feeding the buzz that college radio airplay has created; writing and recording a second record; and, as Yale says: "To be a successful musician and buy the Panthers."

*The TripWire

Comments

After hearing all the hooplah about this band I caved in and picked it up. Definitely surprising from a small label, sounds like a small budget album, but the music is great. Hard to put a finger on exact influences, I'm guessing either they have different styles throughout the band, or they just listen to a wide variety of music. Either way it definitely impressed me for a band thats not making the scene yet. by rocklover420

The Sammies fuckin' rock! by subparrockstar

The Sammies may be one of the most promising young bands out there right now. They've obviously got chops, and they've obviously spent a lot of time listening to all kinds of music. It shows through on the album...which may well be one of this year's best. Check 'em out. You won't be sorry. by brYan

showing how music should be done by method360

Garage rock will NEVER DIE! At least not when bands liek The Sammies are still kicking out the jams! by 138

on a scale of 1-10, 798! by RossIsCool

AWESOME!!!! by ktwall

This CD helps me get out of bed on those monday mornings. Its one of those CDs that is good from start to finish and.....it makes me smile. by Bigsassy

Kick ass rock music. Glad to see something like this come around. Can't wait for a live show I hear it's great as well. by Rollingstoneguy

You will not be able to get these tunes out of your head, but it won't be in the annoying way. You'll want to hear each song more than once in a row, and soon you'll have just fallen in love with the band. Check out the album, and as you find yourself tapping your foot to the beat, add The Sammies to your friends list. You know you want to. by Heather Varnum

Great sound: guitars that tangle together, dancing baselines, synchopated drumming. Great for a first album. My guess is their name will be popping up a bit more. by walkfan

AMAZING. simply AMAZING. Who'da thought music this good would come from Charlotte, North Carolina (a.k.a. Yuppieville) by Mitch_S

You guys rock!! Everyone should have this album in their collection!!! by luckycharm28655

Damn, these guys are good. by Frank.Gray

*MOG Top Artists of The WEek - The Sammies - 7/28/06

*Metro Distortion Blog

I was recently introduced to MoRisen Records, an indie, Charlotte, NC-based, label and with it, two promising bands: The Sammies and The Talk.

Perhaps a gentle reminder of how Pitchfork can positively benefit young up-and-coming bands, they recently gave a single from The Sammies' debut album, "Falling Out" 3.5 stars out of 5. The Sammies display an eclectic range of genres whether it be straight indie rock, southern rock, post-punk, or even glam rock. When listening to the album, at various times I'm reminded of other contemporaries Stellastar*, Jet, and the Vacation. Who knows if that hybrid is calculated but I really think it works. The debut shows a hell of a lot of promise and after a couple of spins in my ipod, I think this will be an album that I continue to come back to from time to time. The Sammies s/t debut came out on June 27. They'll be touring with Birdmonster this fall including the Black Cat on 9/4, Maxwells on 9/6, and Mercury Lounge on 9/7.

*Charlotte Magazine

"Vigorous, uncomplicated rock n' roll - the kind that snatches your ear and hangs on to it. The first three songs are especially infectious: 'For John' followed me for days after I first heard it. Wild and raucous...striking melodic riffs...driving rhythms...thrilling guitar solos.." - M.F.W.

*Sonic SLang

Out of Charlotte, NC, the band is serving up Futureheads-style licks with more than a few southern rock accents. Of note is "Falling Out," an irresistible track crafted around a free-wheeling guitar hook and chorus. You can stream it at the band's Space, but the official site also has several tunes available for download, the best of which might be "Let it Go."

Combining Cure-like guitars with Strokes-ish vocals, "Let it Go" shows off a clear knack for a crafting a winning melody. With an already established live reputation, The Sammies could be on the verge of something.....

*CMJ Now

In Charlotte, North Carolina, far from maddening trends, bands like the Sammies can craft transcendent guitar pop pound without a hint of explanation. This debut shines with spirited garage-ology, featuring sunburst riffs and falsettos (Falling Out); a blushing
baritone singer taunted by gutteral, back-up counter- yowls that add burly oddballsiness (Caretaker, Turkey Herky Jerkey); and first lay flabbergasted footstomp effortlessly meshed with that ol Byrds-y charm (Let It Go). Bungling, at times, with baby boogie that feels out of their experience, it is never for
lack of unadulterated gumption. (ED)

*Pitchfork Media

The Sammies
Falling Out
[2006]

The Sammies probably weren't even alive for post-punk, let alone punk, but what does that matter? On this energetic and infectious album track, they sound like Bloc Party or the Futureheads reincarnated as a Midwestern bar band. Drummer Donnie Yale makes his hi-hat sound ready for a fight, Gymmy Thunderbird's bass steps up disco-style to the chorus, and Murphy Upshaw's guitar is a rowdy pit of jostling elbows. Sounding a little like Mike Ness and a little like Paul Westerberg, vocalist Frank Backgammon foregoes darkly existential angst in favor of light hook-up despair, frankly admitting, "I wanna screw you tonight! I wanna be your best friend!" while the band puts the moves on that hot pop-hook chorus. "Falling Out" is just one cheeseball pick-up line away from getting into your ears' pants.

*Underground Music

3.5 out of 4 stars...."a fast moving blend....rock n roll and energy...punk allure...a quality album." - Kotori Magazine/Get Underground.com
and hooky....the record is quite good."