As trotted out since across numerous gigs and two albums, 2007’s self-titled debut and 2009’s Dog Hang Low, Trice and a shifting cast of musicians explore what the band’s web site dubs “graveyard country rock,” an atavistic sound that borrows from the croon and ache of country, the plainspoken austerity of folk, and a touch of the clanking Americana of mid-period Tom Waits, all highlighted by Trice’s front-and-center lyrics and gravelly voice. New album A Cheaper Kind of Love Song expands the project’s horizon’s a bit with a fuller, harder-driving band sound. Meanwhile the lyrical themes evoke The Road—not the Cormac McCarthy novel, though maybe that’s in there somewhere too, but themes of travel, departure, even escape, as well as the nearly mandatory rock ’n’ roll road song, “Rock Star,” except Red Sammy’s version involves “[driving] five hours to camp in a junkyard. Baltimore City Paper (2011)
Red Sammy’s Adam Trice played a handful of these songs solo at The Windup Space in April, with just an acoustic guitar and a hushed desperation that infused every line. With his band, Trice retains that compelling quality but also brightens the sound with a fine-tuned mix of twangy guitar, brushed and beaten drums, and a smattering of atmospheric keyboards. The sparse, sparkling instrumentation softens Trice’s raspy-to-rough vocals to the point where listeners will gladly follow him down darkened roads to the trailer parks and junkyards populating his songs. Baltimore Magazine (2011)
A Cheaper Kind of Love Song‘s country/folk has one very noticeable distinguishing feature: a gravelly, broken, Tom Waits-ian voice leading the way… the voice is the band; other than the sung notes, the songs are very nice, unimpeachable country/folk tunes… for those taking things on a case-by-case basis, it’s less simple. You can’t count the whole album as a simple “take it or leave it” endeavor, as the band has an upbeat side and a mellow side. “Come Back Home” turns Trice’s rasp into a roar that gives the shambling tune power; “It Ain’t You (Carolina Road Anthem)” doesn’t electrify the song in the same way as the previous, but it certainly fits in authentically. The slower work, which is most of the other six songs on the album, leans on the contrast between Trice’s low, gruff croak and the smooth, folky instrumental performances. Trice summons a surprising amount of pathos on the downtrodden “Baltimore,” making it a standout on the album. “Cactus Flower” is less empathetic, but still memorable. A Cheaper Kind of Love Song is divisive, but a recognition that Tom Waits has been rocking his shtick for over 40 years proves that there’s an audience for sounds like these. If you’re in the market, this is an album you’ll want to pick up. Adventurous types are also recommended to check it out. Independent Clauses (Music Review)
Although Trice sometimes performs solo, as a live band, Red Sammy comes in many forms and fashions, often in a full rock-band formation or with small groups of musicians. Consistent with other albums, Trice’s voice resembles a young Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen, his hoarse croak effectively channeling the mournful regions of the heart and soul. Urbanite Magazine
“Life is a song for Red Sammy and it’s beggin’ to be played, even in its troubles.”Camping Trailer” (a bit bumpkin sounding, I know) believe it or not, is about fleeing life, taking a little spare love. Between the song’s two verses, it’s hard to tell if Trice is heading home or leaving it, yet strangely that seems to be the point. He’s constantly in motion, as unbound as the steel slide proceeding the verses. Nonetheless, he “finds a happiness in failure,” and she sits beside him as he drives in that unbounded state. It’s a clever metaphor. No matter what’s up in the air, love is always near to him. Meanwhile, “Rockstar” tells the woeful aspirations of making music for a living: living on the road out of cars, off of bar food, and playing songs for the wounded. The questionably satirical lines in the song strip down the typical rockstar lifestyle and humble it, and consequentially, allude to a deeper, stranger, even darker enjoyment in performing music.I find my favorite songs on the album, however, to be the more tame ones…A Cheaper Kind of Love Song: what could be cheaper than the strife we are given? We can run from it (and do run from it), but as long as we love, we can’t avoid it. The glory of love is in it’s strife and our desire and ability to overcome it. That may or may not be what Trice had in mind when he wrote the album, but that’s what I’m reminded of when I listen to it. Life sucks and love is hard, but every step is a service well worth it. It reminds you that you are alive,” Shaking like a Mountain
Baltimore boy Adam Trice indulges the whiskey-soaked side of his personality with his “graveyard country” band Red Sammy. These songs feature Trice’s raspy growl, sloppy slide guitar and some of the more arresting songs I’ve heard in quite a while.These pieces don’t so much prickle the ears as inhabit the brain. Trice uses his music to bring out the flavor of his vocals, and the rest of Red Sammy seems wired in to the intensely loose groove. This sort of music has to sound offhand, even if it isn’t. Trice certainly put in his work on the writing side, but he and the band play like I imagine they would on stage. There are flubs galore, but they’re like blue notes: They flavor the stew.And what a tasty dish! A lot of folks overthink their approach to Americana and such. Red Sammy simply plays the songs. And damned if that isn’t exactly the right way to go. Aiding and Abetting
As the title suggests, is the collection plate, a perspective on the best worst state in which one can be: love. The continuous sound of the pieces is very southern-rock, often with an exposed position of bass and drums. But unlike, say, the current Kings Of Leon Red Sammy remain very traditional and the sound does not lead into popular listening habits. This can be conservative, even retrogressive find, but the craftsmanship is little to blame musicians. In “Camping Trailer” skilfully caress acoustic and slide guitar, similar to the following “Cactus Flower”. “Rock Star” could almost be described as psychedelic country, “Come Back Home” is a surprisingly indie rock. Overall, “A Cheaper Kind of Love Song” was nothing more for cool indie-Tronics handset, but who Ryan Adams, the old Kings of Leon and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club “Howl” might even give this album a chance. (Soundmag Review, German Translation to English)
There is a sub-genre of folk music called Loner Stoner Folk. Baltimore’s Red Sammy takes Appalachian, folk, and blues, and heads off in this direction while bringing it down some more. This may be wyrdfolk, although that is not to imply there is anything other worldly dominating here. This is grounded music and locks into a steady controlled pace with a basic rhythm section allowing guitars to maneuver about in their driving and sometimes snaky foreboding manner. The key is the slide guitar which pushes and pulls in a gentle, mystical motion. The vocals veer a bit too much in the Tom Waits direction for my taste (as I am mixed on Waits), but after a couple of songs, they begin to fit the music more comfortably. It also depends on the song. Fans of 16 Horsepower and Peter Walker will want to listen to this along with anyone interested in darker folk songs such as you may hear from Stone Breath or even Michael Chapman at times. There is a lot to listen to in these eight songs. I am sure I will know a lot more after several further listens. DC Rock Blog
Red Sammy’s Adam Trice crafts shambling roots rock on a foundation of hushed melancholia. Although his gravelly voice suggests a Dylan influence, his slow-burn delivery points to something more measured. The lyrics don’t tumble out so much as they escape, buoyed by Katie Feild’s excellent harmony vocals, Josh Weiss’s guitar and banjo, and Theron Melchior’s musical saw. John Lewis, Baltimore Magazine, 2009
“Don’t be afraid to try something new…Red Sammy is brilliant,” Ricardo Baca, Denver Post, 2009
“Singer/songwriter Adam Trice and his crew create finely honed, melancholy roots rock. Trice’s raspy baritone rides herd on quiet, ambling country rock, creating the perfect dusky atmosphere for the brooding tunes…tracks like “Songbird,” “Turn Away” and “Lord Don’t Break My Back” keep the mood both tuneful and mournful. If the band had appeared during the heyday of No Depression, it would have deservedly been a minor star. As it stands, Red Sammy certainly deserves attention on the strength of the music found here.” The Big Takeover
Cool, soft, understated pop with subtle haunting qualities. Red Sammy was created by singer/songwriter Adam Trice who has a voice that sounds not unlike a very young Leonard Cohen…we can almost guarantee that after hearing “(Shine) Like An Empty Prison” and “Postmark My Apologies” they will be resonating in your head for months and/or years to come. Other favorites include “Songbird” and “Lord Don’t Break My Back.” Good stuff, solid. (Rating: 5) Babysue.com
Trice husks and growls over melodic and brooding, intense and hypnotic backing from his band mates, in which Josh Weiss’s electric guitar stands out as it chimes out the melody. Trice tells tales of everyday darkness and despair while sounding like a man who gargles gravel in pints of bourbon. Nonetheless he does offer hope of at least some sort of tomorrow, even if it’s not necessarily a better one or an easy one to get to.
The band turns it up from time to time, as on “Lord Don’t Break My Back” but in general it’s all quietly intense stuff with a real raw power to the performances, and in Trice the band have a major songwriter who bears comparison with Malcolm Holcombe or Nick Cave. Not for the fainthearted perhaps but connoisseurs of the night should acquire forthwith.” Americana UK
