"Re-Compositions, Not Covers"
August 11, 2015 8:48 AM   Subscribe

Sam Amidon is a fiddler, guitarist, banjoist, and songwriter who writes and performs distinctly American music.

Born to music and dance teachers Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, some of his earliest recordings are as part of the Vermont contradance band Popcorn Behavior. Nowadays he is making music with artists like Bill Frissell, re-imagining and "re-composing" classic Americana sounds. Here he is with Frissell and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily in a Tiny Desk video from last year.
posted by rossination (10 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
He does great in Nico Muhly's "The Only Tune" (a far more radical recomposition than Amidon's own).
posted by kenko at 9:49 AM on August 11, 2015 [1 favorite]


So low key, strange and wonderful. So full of surprises.

I first became entranced at a solo show high up in a hotel, a random SXSW showcase, when the third song's chorus was his banjo telepathically prompting him to count out sets of push ups.

And Shahzad Ismaily, such a grand list of collaborators! Him accompanying a band is a very strong signal that band is worth seeing. I've been fortunate to see him with Sam Amidon, Ben Frost, Nico Muhly and Marc Ribot... Subtle and amazing, each time.

Their thread of odd magic continues through Bedroom Community, a super worthwhile and eclectic Icelandic label.

Thanks for this post rossination! You've got me listening to Doveman this morning :)

(on preview, great link kenko :D ..Sam (and Bill and Shahzad) played Big Ears again this year. Shoulda known it wasn't Amidon's first time)
posted by angelplasma at 9:55 AM on August 11, 2015


I got into his music via his parents (I'm an elementary school music teacher). I went to a workshop that they led and they did a section with music from Popcorn Behavior. There are some great tracks on their first album, and I use many of them with my little ones.
posted by rossination at 10:25 AM on August 11, 2015


I went to high school with Sam. We weren't close or anything and it took me a while to figure out how hilariously talented he was. Never flaunted it but had a really easy, casual way of tossing of anything musical on command/whim. Cool to see him come across my internet occasionally.
posted by that's candlepin at 11:04 AM on August 11, 2015 [1 favorite]


I would be terribly remiss if I didn't leave a link to my most favorite of Sam Amidon's songs, a cover of R. Kelly's Relief.
posted by femmegrrr at 11:05 AM on August 11, 2015


Thanks for the links.
First heard him on this album Divided & United: The Songs Of The Civil War. This is a wonderful project.
He covers Wildwood Flower.
posted by dougzilla at 11:43 AM on August 11, 2015


In case you're interested and have a membership, a Sam Amidon concert torrent is running now at Dimeadozen.
posted by key_of_z at 2:05 PM on August 11, 2015


I came to listening to Sam Amidon because of his connection to shape note singing. Here is his version of Weeping Mary.
posted by willF at 11:05 PM on August 11, 2015


I love Amidon so so so much. His album I See The Sign gives me all sorts of shivers.
posted by Theta States at 7:21 AM on August 12, 2015


Synchronicity!

Tonight I started digging through the 800 songs of the The Rise And Fall Of Paramount Records 1917-1927, Volume 1 box set and the VERY LAST SONG, SONG #800, was Pace Jubilee Singers - You'd Better Mind

Which Sam Amidon did on I See the Sign, with Beth Orton!
posted by Theta States at 8:37 PM on August 12, 2015


« Older Paper people not included.   |   Graceful Sunset Mix Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments