Jan 26th, 2007: Sam Hurrie at the HBI
Sam Hurrie is quite the player.
I’ve only played with him once before, and it was a last minute type of gig. Sam’s drummer had come into contact with the Norwalk Virus, and they had to cancel the show. Well, the staff at the Heriot Bay Inn needed a band, so they (and Duffy Frank!) suggested he give me a whirl.
Needless to say, things went well enough that the next time Sam needed a player, he gave me a call.
I was thrilled!
Of course, showing up to a gig cold (no idea of the material to be played, the ability of the other players, their approach, their temperament) is always as risky as it is exciting… fortunately with Sam Hurrie… it was a blast!
Last time, I learned that Sam’s style of interaction with a band was perfect for my style and approach to drumset. He plays a mean guitar, bluesy and soulful, with a dynamic range that tread into the realm of a jazz combo, but can easily settle into a good solid groove ala the Stones.
This time around, he had a different bass player, by the name of “Todd”. You know, I barely said more than three words to Todd all night,and I got to say that I was a little uncertain as to how it would go. Would he be as seasoned as the last guy, Chris? Would we connect? Would he have the dynamic chops to take the music down to a whisper and then roar when it was time?
You bet he could! He is a shit hot player, with a groovy laid back style. We hooked up pretty good. I did have to adjust my bass drum technique on the shuffles, but truth be told, I tend to overplay the bottom end on blues tunes anyway. I like to play the full shuffle rhythm down there, but I found just laying into the “one” with a quarter note really pulled my part together with Todd’s. By the end of the night, I knew this guy had talent, and he loves to play. He asked for my number so we could hook up and do some shows in Nanaimo…but I never did get it to him. Here’s hoping Sam forwards that along! (I could use some gigs in Nanaimo!)
As for Sam, I couldn’t help but gush to him before the third set. I had wondered if it was going to be as good the second time around… well, it was better! I asked him to consider hooking up for one more show before he (sadly) moves to Ontario. I really hope we do, because I’d love for some of my friends and most importantly, my wife to hear this stuff!
I knew it was a night of special music… not because of the audience. They had a good time, and we got some nice compliments. It was special because three musicians who had never played together gelled instantly. We grooved, we explored, we had a fucking great time! The next day, my entire body was sore. I’ll play rock shows through a huge PA, and I’ll be slamming the drums and this show left me more spent. I think it’s because the level of control required to move through huge dynamic ranges is far more demanding on the body than going balls out loud… or maybe I just drank too much gin.
