By CHRIS PETERSON
Salt Lake City got a sample of the Samples Wednesday and Thursday. Cheesy opening, I know. But, whaddaya want? The concert went late, and I'm tired.
The Samples decided to play two nights in Salt Lake City, ensuring all their fans could see the live performance. During their 'Outpost' tour last year, tickets for the Samples' Salt Lake show sold out, and many fans walked away unhappy. Thus the decision to play two nights.
There was a lack of energy at the concert -- not so much on the band's part, but from the audience.
'I've seen Samples' crowds with more energy than the crowd had tonight,' said Jon Canlas, a Sophomore from Springfield, Mo.
Sean Kelly, lead singer for the Samples, also noticed the lack of energy. Repeatedly throughout the show, Kelly had to remind the crowd they were their to have fun. The Samples threw in one of their more upbeat songs, 'Seany Boy,' and invited several of the audience members on stage while Kelly crowd surfed.
During another part of the show, video taken of nearly all audience members that night was projected onto a screen behind the band. The screen was a nice touch. During a song dedicated to Kelly's deceased mother, home footage of Kelly and his mom were projected on the screen.
The Samples played well, rehashing such old favorites as 'Weight of the World,' 'Shine on' and 'Tears Fall.'
'Maybe it was our set,' said Kelly, 'but it was mellow out there tonight.'
With three new members in the Samples' line-up, Kelly said the new members 'absolutely bring in more energy.' Kelly said the band didn't plan on playing the same songs both nights.
'It doesn't matter if we're playing for two people or 1,000. We just play music, and I'm happy we are.'
Opening for the Samples was Cory Sipper, an up-and-coming female vocalist from Santa Barbara. Sipper said she was a bit uneasy about opening to a Salt Lake crowd of Samples' fans. From the audience reaction and comments made from Sipper after the show, her acoustic performance went over well with the crowd that came to hear the upbeat sound of the headlining band.
Sipper, a fairly small woman who graced the stage solely with her acoustic guitar, filled the room with her large yet delicate voice. Singing songs off her latest self-released CD 'Swimology,' Sipper captured the attention of audience members who know good music when they hear it. With captivating lyrics, such as 'It's a long way out from where I am standing, an infinite route shocks my small understanding,' Sipper proves that you don't need a band to convey a complete sound.
Although she says she loves playing with a full band, Sipper pulls off the Tori Amos no-band-necessary stunt quite well. In fact, Sipper is often compared to Amos.
'When Cory sang, you could tell they were HER songs, they were a part of her,' said one concert goer.
Sipper, who has worked in the past with Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac and Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket, is currently working on her fourth CD. More information can be found about Sipper on her website located at http://www.buzzworm.com/corysipper. The website offers soundclips and video of Sipper's performances.