I know what you are thinking. Will these girls EVER talk about the show?? We finally got there. And we get serious. Well, as serious as we can get which is really not all that serious. We talk our favorite songs, our favorite moments (which just so happens to include our good friend Kristy busting down the backstage door to get to Marcus like the police), and much we missed Marcus over the past two and a half years.

LiLi: serious question time

Amber: uh oh

phew

okay

bring it

LiLi: other than woman you crazy, what was your fave song?

Sam. Sigh.

Amber: i really, really like the new song (amber edit: Not Your Kind, obvs)

i know it’s not quite so upbeat

LiLi: oh yeah?

Amber: but i like it bunches

LiLi: well, i really, really, REALLY like the new song

so there

i’m kidding

i like it

but i have to say

that my fave was an oldie

yeah

i will be that person

but soho whores (amber edit: sorry for the wooing. yes. some of those woos are mine) was the first song of sam’s that i heard

and i remember tweeting who sang it

and you and jbell virtually rolled your eyes at me

hahahaha

Amber: LMAO

we were like, duh, sam bradley

DUH

LiLi: and then when we were in LA someone had that song on before the show at the hotel cafe

and i was like awww..memories

so to hear it once more

was like AWWWWW

MEMORIES

Amber: that was such a better answer then the new song because i like it that i gave

i guess i have just really been digging everything new sam has done

not to sound all cheesy

LiLi: too late

Amber: but it’s just getting better

LOL

gah

i know

LiLi: please

like i didn’t get all feely yesterday

ugh

let’s not talk about that

Amber: oh no

moving on….

LiLi: so

the part where Kristy

busted in on Marcus backstage

Amber: oh my gah

she banged on his door like the police

LiLi: um…what do you think sam was trying to prove to marcus?

he was all “go get marcus. MARCUS!!”

i was teetering the sobriety ledge about then

Amber: that was an odd moment

LiLi: none of it really made sense in my fuzzy brain

do you think it was a bet?

Amber: to see if someone would bust down the door?

LiLi: like marcus said, there’s no way people will rememeber that song

much less sing to it

lol

yes!

Amber: cause if so, i should’ve put my money on kristy

LiLi: uh

NEVER bet against kristy

she makes shit happen

Amber: hahahahahahaha

LiLi: she’s kinda like a mob boss

what do you need?

done

i’ll take care of it

Amber: oh she did take care of it

thank goodness marcus wasn’t changing or anything

can we talk about one of my fave moments of the show?

LiLi: hahahahaha

no

lol

Amber: damn

LiLi: duh

of course

Amber: kiss is a knife

that was LEGIT probably the best part of the show

LiLi: YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Amber: for me

LiLi: and for anyone that likes sunshine

and puppies

and awesome things

Amber: i don’t think everyone gets how that went down

Jack and Marcus. Double sigh.

i don’t think it was planned

LiLi: i don’t think so either

Amber: sam was just bobbing his head and singing along near us and then

BAM

he jumps on the stage

LiLi: and we all died

Amber: and steals the mic from jack

(which i will forgive him for, but only this once)

kiss is a knife is one of those songs that translates so much better live then recorded

and the 2 of them were so

IN TO IT

i was a puddle my friend

a puddle

LiLi: SERIOUSLY

i can’t handle that song live normally

but with sam

AND JACK

jeebus crisp

Amber: GAH!!!!!!

LiLi: i had a moment

Amber: i’m glad we were able to hold each other

LiLi: fo reals

Amber: i may not have made it otherwise

LiLi: lol

Amber: on marcus’ performance in general

can i just say

that i forgot how amazing he was live

i thought i remembered

but i didn’t

LiLi: ditto

it was like i thought i was prepared

since we’ve seen him what?

twice before?

but nope

i was blown away

Amber: 2 and a half years between shows though

LiLi: it’s like it was him

only fresher, more fine tuned

Amber: YES

LiLi: like i was rememebering AM

and we heard him in digital

Amber: that is the best comparison ever

LiLi: oh

Amber: he was so shy on stage before

and now

LiLi: well

thank you

Amber: he owns it

our wee little marcus has grown up

LiLi: gah!

Amber: with his $300 shoes

and all

marcus being all growed up

LiLi: seriously

i remember his very first show here

he kept saying how nervous he was

which i thought, dood, you don’t have to tell us

we can see

but last week?

yeah

Amber: no nervousness

none

LiLi: completely different

he’s still charming and kinda awk

but he’s not without confidence

Gah. This whole four part thing is kinda fun. I’m going through major withdrawals and this is helping so much. Now, tomorrow is the last one and you gotta read how it all ends (which is actually with a couple of regrets, regardless of the title of this post.).

His voice is so powerful, husky and effortless that it captures an audience which led to the entire room being silent during every single song.

eGigs posted a fantastic review of Marcus’ show in Birmingham. I mean it, it’s really amazing and making me long for my next chance to see Marcus in person.

Welcome to the club Hayley!

Actually, I did remember pretty much everything from the Dallas show. I kind of had an amazing time. And the night pretty much ended up being epic, as always.

Let us start from the beginning…

ohaithere Mr. Bradley!

I arrive, and some how I am at the front of the line to get into the show. I don’t know how this happened. In case you all don’t realize, I’m normally not there till the doors open cause seats by the bar are normally easy to find for some reason. Thank goodness our ticket winner Shannon came early and managed to mosey her way to the front of the line. I was lonely. And the girls behind me kept talking about how awesome their recent trip to church camp was, which was making me feel awkward since my boobs were hanging out. No really. They were. We’ll talk more about my cleavage later… I promise!

We got inside, got my $9 beer and I was starting to feel a little bit better. I was right in line of where I knew the eff me eyes would be and was explaining the awesomeness that is a Sam Bradley concert to Shannon, who was a Sam virgin before that night. Woo hoo! Always happy to assist someone with popping their cherry!

Poor LiLi did not make the Sam performance at the show. I was so sad for her. I even saved her an amazing spot (in line with the eff me eyes. duh.), but it was not meant to be. And, while I was hoping Sam might start a little late, he started 10 minutes early. LiLi didn’t stand a chance. Which is why you are getting the “Amber only” side of things right now.

The show starts and I tell you what, the boy can perform! This is why I’ve fallen in love with Sam. I was just in like with him until the first live performance. And now, even at concert number 4 for me, the boy still has it! In fact, dare I say he has gotten better since the first time I saw him? Yes, I dare say it!

Man. I love this picture. :sigh:

My fave songs from Friday? Duh. Lights. Mainly cause I love the f-bomb a lot, especially with church camp girls standing next to me. That was win. Scared was equally amazing. And he busted out this song called Sugar Mama, which just made me giggle thinking about this post I wrote about Sam’s quest for a sugar mama. I’m guessing he’s still looking ladies! I’d volunteer, but I’m pretty sure you have to be rich to be a sugar mama, right? Damn it. He also sung a song written by his mom during the show. During an awkward silence before he started, I yelled out “moms rock!” Yes. That was me. Love me through it.

Overall, the show was major win, with the biggest flaw always being that it is too short. But I guess that is a sacrifice you have to make when opening for other musicians, which I will say, is a smart marketing move on Sam’s part. I’ve seen lots of positive tweets from Brooke Fraser fans on Sam over the past few days, and it’s all about growing the fan base, right?

Do I dare talk to you all about the “meet & greet”? Of course I will. Duh. That was the best part of the show.

So I only went through the line twice. Let’s all be amazed by this, cause you know how I am when I have a couple of beers in me. And apparently Sam does too, cause whilst talking to Two Shoes, Sam waved at me, then asked me if I was drunk. I shook my head no, and then he gave me “the look”, then I shook my head yes. Color me embarrassed.

I talked to Two Shoes for a bit while we waited, and while I apparently thought it was the first time we really met, he informed me otherwise. Via Twitter. Awesome. :facepalm:

@ShackofSoul we defs met in LA.. One can't forget you—
two.shoes (@twoshoesx) November 13, 2010

Alright, enter Sam. First things first, I had him sign the bazjillion things I bought at the merch stand, got my hug, and then took my picture. Which I love, thanks to Picnik’s 1960′s effect!

Love me and my hipster plaid!

Then whilst trying to turn off my camera, I managed to snap a shot of my chest. Sam leaned over and whispered, “I think you just took a picture of your cleavage.” And I pretty much died right there. Cause I did, well sort of. This was what happened…

My failed cleavage attempt. No worries. I got a better one later.

Gah. Embarrassing.

I walked away at that point and proceeded to wait on LiLi, who finally got there and then we got to the end of the line again (which luckily was the end, cause we needed some extra Sam time).

And then…. To be continued!

Hahahaha! LiLi is gonna spill the rest of what happened that night tomorrow.

What will you do till then?!? Duh. Enter to win your own autographed copy of Zuni! Read the instructions in yesterday’s blog and srsly, get entered.

I have to say, I’ve never been to The Conservatory in my life, and even with all the fair warning I was giving regarding the state of the place, it was crazy. A true dive if you will. BUT, if there was one really amazing thing about it, other then the “charm,” it was the fact that there really were no bad “seats.” It was a very intimate setting, which I did enjoy. (By the way, Phil LOVED the place! I think if he could, he would have married it! Or at least moved in and called it home.)

This is not my first time to see Bobby, but I think it was the most fun! He told great stories (as always), took crowd requests and just generally seemed to be having an amazing time! The crowd was a pretty good size for a Monday of all days, and they were fierce! Everyone there was clearly into the music and provided a really great atmosphere for all.

Once Bobby started, he made a comment that our crowd made him not want to stop playing, and for awhile there, I thought he might be right. He played all my faves, including, Left to Lie, Dead and Done, Two Years Old, In the Frost and Bounty of Mary Jane. I was on freakin’ cloud nine the entire time. I swear, I was smiling a big huge goofy ass grin the entire time. Couldn’t help it, I was just so excited that not only did I have the opportunity to see Bobby again, but that I could actually go home and sleep in my own bed afterwards! SCORE!

That's me and Bobby!!

The concert was over, and even though it was late and a Monday, Bobby of course made every effort to meet the fans! I think the best thing about meet and greets with the guys is that it’s not just a quick autograph and a move along like cattle. The guys, Bobby included, actually take a moment to speak to everyone, sign anything and everything you got and take a picture!

The best part of the night… getting praise from Phil and Bobby about the site! I think I can speak for both myself and LiLi when I say this, but when we started the site, we had no idea that outside of our little crew, anyone would come to it. More importantly, we never expected to be on the radar with any of the guys, and we appreciate everything from them. Our goal with this site has not only been to try and promote the guys a little more, but to also have fun with it and maybe, every once and awhile, be a little bit snarky. We can’t help it. It just comes out that way.

And also, Bobby (and Sam too, cause I know you are reading this!), you are freakin’ me out by recognizing me all the time, too! Kind of excited to see Marcus this week, but I swear if he says he recognizes me as well, I may have to go a little more incognito! (Just kidding!)

Okay, so this isn’t REALLY a concert review. More me fangirling like an idiot in writing. But I think the overall theme is this… It was a BLAST for everyone and I think I can say quite safely that Bobby will be back to Oklahoma! (Right Phil? RIGHT?!?)

Bobby – Thanks for not listening to all the NY or LA peeps who said you couldn’t pull a crowd in Oklahoma. It is clear that you proved them wrong! Well done!! (By the way, I think you could play in a barn in the middle of Timbuktu and pull a crowd. Just sayin’.)

Got a couple more pictures below!! Check them out!! All pictures are taken by the insanely talented Jenn aka Garnet Gurl!!

So, what concerts have you seen of the guys lately?!? Send us your pics, video or your own personal fan encounter to shackofsoul@hotmail.com! We’d love to hear from you!!

Go see Bobby on tour!! Check for a date near you right here!

Go see Marcus on tour!! Check for a date near you right here!

Want to see Sam? Well, you’re gonna have to wait! Follow ShackofSoul on Twitter for alerts on new tour date announcements!

Pic by myria101

are there!

Apparently Donna was at Sam’s concert at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville and she writes an incredible record of her time:

Red and blue lights sparkle around the stage like the moons that weren’t outside tonight. Elizabeth and the Catapults are the first to perform. They’re quite good – folksy and rock’n’roll and I enjoy them. After 30 minutes or so, they tell the audience that Sam Bradley and the Men will perform next and that they’re great. I already know this. My new friends smile in anticipation. They trust what I tell them.

Mark Kerry on drums wearing his signature eyeglasses, Jeff Riedlinger on bass wearing a dark v-neck sweater, and Dave Meszaros in a white t-shirt on lead guitar, gather on stage and set up their equipment. And, then Sam comes out with his guitar. Wearing a grey, red and white striped woolen shirt that’s as soft as a baby blanket, he smiles, takes center stage and begins playing. Sam’s personality is pure sunshine. He is a troubadour of the anodyne. His lyrics and voice are soothing, relieving the pain in one’s heart. He sings some of the fans’ favorites like Too Far Gone, Wide Open, Sea Blue, Whiskey and a wonderful new jazzy blues song written by Mark Kerry, his percussionist.

As Sam sings Wide Open, I am immediately transported into my other worlds – ancient worlds – where I am wandering through medieval lands. I gather my long skirts around my ankles and run through dark passageways made of stone until I burst out of a tunnel’s end into a crisp, beautiful twilight. He stands there, tall, blonde and gallant. I fall into his wide open arms and breathe a sigh. “It is good to see you again, my love,” I whisper to him.

Sam’s voice comes back to me in song. My new friends lean over and in my ear tell me they love Sam. “I know,” I say quietly. Sam’s voice is smooth as ice and as melodic as a meditation. After each song, the audience screams and woo-hoos. Sam giggles, smiles and exudes a happiness that not many performers ever express. He talks to the audience between songs, thanking his band mates, thanking Nashville. He thanks Justin Nozuka, the “next” performer for the opportunity to be on the road with him. Sam says he loves Nashville and in fact, has moved to Nashville and the audience claps and yells for him again. Sam makes the crowd feel as though he’s your friend and they embrace him as a neighbor in Nashville. But, it’s not just Nashvillians at this event. People have driven from the north and south to hear Sam Bradley and his band.

Sam’s intelligence permeates his songs. His wisdom shines through his personality as he dances with his guitar and looks into the souls of his audience. His band mates smile and never once falter in their support of Sam.

Read the whole article here. Seriously, you do not want to miss it!

Pic Courtesy of Katie Howerton

With less then 3 days till Sam’s big EP release, he is dropping all kinds of good news on us from every direction via Twitter!

For my Canadian friends, two, yes TWO new shows for you. Sam will be at the Metro Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia on September 24 at 8 p.m. The show will be all ages and is part of the Rifflandia Music Festival. Check out Rifflandia’s site for more information and how to purchase tickets. It looks to me like the show is only available as part of the festival package for $60. But if you are into music, that is a pretty good deal considering all the shows you’ll get in addition to Sam!

The very next day, September 25, Sam will be in Vancouver at the Venue. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. There is no information that I can find about WHERE to buy tickets, as the show is not up on the Venue’s website yet, but I will keep an eye out for it and post it when it’s available!

Updated!

Order your tickets online!

More Sam news and such after the jump!

Sam (or most likely his people) are working hard on Sam’s new website as well. It will be http://www.sambradley.com/ and it is still a work in progress. But for those of you who need to get Sam’s EP on Saturday (which is ALL of you), you should go ahead and just bookmark the site. I know I did!

There is also a new review of Sam’s Secret Show from the Examiner! It’s a really well written and very descriptive review (which you know how I LOVE description). Here is just a little excerpt that I enjoyed most:

Sam started the show out with the song “Come On In” and you could see that he was happy and “at home” on the stage. In between every song, Sam pulls in his audience with some heartfelt words and stories, but the true testament was in his vocal and stage performance.

Sam most definitely feeds off of his audience throughout his entire show, and his audience feeds off of him. It is a relationship that many singers will never get to experience, but somehow Sam seems to have mastered it, and tonight he seems to have brought this skill to a new level. With Sam, you have always been able to feel the emotions of a song, both lyrically and physically, you can tell exactly what emotions he was feeling when he wrote the song, but, there was more to it tonight. Whether it was because he has found that magic that allows him to connect so much with his audience or something else, the power of his performance was simply amazing.

The “love” songs he sings emit feelings of love that only exist in dreams. It is obvious that he has put his heart and soul into these songs, and the effect that he creates when singing them, causes ripples of possibilities and hope to run through the air.

*sigh* This is why you must see Sam live if you’ve never had the chance. You just “get it” so much more! Here is the rest of the article.

And, if you feel the need to really connect with Sam (and who doesn’t!), he shared with us his song of the day: My Body is a Cage by Arcade Fire. It’s pretty deep.

Still here? Good. We will have another big announcement from our blog later today regarding Sam and his upcoming birthday/EP release! Be sure that you are following me (Amber) and LiLi on Twitter so you won’t miss out on it! Trust me, it’s gonna be good!

Here is just a little taste of the article. Mmmmm, delicious!

The clock ticked on. Waitresses served mozzarella sticks and chicken quesadillas to hungry fans. Guys wandered through the chairs with beers in hand and some slipped outside for a smoke. Finally, around 8:00 p.m., Bobby came out of the dressing room and made his way through the throngs of fans to the stage. Wearing a white button-down shirt and blue-jeans, he pushed his hair off his face, picked up his new Gibson J200 guitar and started playing. That guitar was a star in itself; its tone was the richest, most vibrant sound I’ve heard in a long time. So luxurious was the tone, I wanted to drink it in and let it seep into my soul. Even Bobby admitted it was his “love” and that he slept with it at night. I can understand why. I could have listened to Bobby playing that beautiful guitar all night long.

With his brown hair sweeping long over his eyes, Bobby began singing. The crowd seemed a bit subdued for a while, clapping politely after each song. Maybe they were digesting all those mozzarella sticks and quesadillas or maybe they were just mesmerized by Bobby’s soulful, raspy voice.

To compare him to Bob Dylan is a cliché; however, he has the soul of a master like Bob Dylan and a slight eccentricity as well. Bobby seems sweet, almost shy. He has the smile of a mischievous teenage boy and big brown eyes of a wise old man. His songs belie the fact that he’s only 22 years old. His songs are the songs of an old soul who has experienced heartache, loneliness and love. If one believes in reincarnation, then it’s safe to assume Bobby is an old soul who has been around many lifetimes before. If one doesn’t believe in reincarnation, then one can assume he’s just a wise old soul in a young body. No matter what one believes, his songs evoke a loneliness that stirs deep in the heart, splitting the heart wide open where it’s possible to fall in and drown in that sadness.

As the night wore on, Bobby became more comfortable and began joking with the crowd. Someone had thrown something that looked like a furry hat onto the stage and Bobby picked it up, saying, “There’s no way I’m going to wear that.” I’m not sure what the “furry” thing was, but he threw it back out into the crowd. I don’t blame him. It was freaky.

Read the full article right here!

Photo by Kerri Maniscalco

Looks like Marcus has earned himself another fan with the Examiner.com’s New York Folk Arts Examiner, Kerri Maniscalco. She wrote a great review of his concert and I think summed up his stage presence really well.

He packed such a solid punch with his performance that the crowd looked on in silent awe for a good portion of the show. He is unlike any other musician on stage. Witty and entertaining, he regaled the crowd with excerpts of what occurred on his current tour of the United States. Foster’s voice is a powerful force that leaves you breathless for a minute while you take in the pounding intensity of his finger picking style of guitar playing. While strumming his acoustic guitar soulfully he also hits the side of the instrument like a drum, sending chills through the crowd of eager onlookers. It’s a unique accompaniment, adding dimension to his music.

Definitely a good read, which you can catch in full right here! And much love and thanks to ADeweese for pointing this story out to me.