It was great to see Sam Piper playing at the Cavern tonight in Exeter in his new musical incarnation. Formerly of fine local band Electric Skies - who have dissolved as good bands do where there is so much competition and members have full-time day jobs, but good to see these band members there in support tonight - Sam now fronts a simple core of bass, drums and occasional keyboard, showcasing his own songwriting and excellent guitar skills.
He kicked off with Bright Lights, Big City - a confident choice as this is essentially a solo piece where the songcraft matters, a measured and mature melody that builds in its slow repetition and doesn't rely on the brasher pace one might expect of an opener. Absolute confidence. The rest of the set presented more familiar but distinct territory, indierock - for want of a better term - with Sam and band rocking more, but the songs emerging from thoughtful origins rather than simple formulae, like the one prompted by a dream of being alone on a boat off the Cornish coast, or the memorable tune of Cold Is The Road which has a great version here that you must check out: http://soundcloud.com/sp1987. I wish I had caught Sam's acoustic set at the Phoenix yesterday.
The last two songs - I didn't get the names - foregrounded Sam's guitar playing, the penultimate a kind of bluesballad riff, and the latter climaxing in a wall of sound. With my rock'n'guitar proclivities I'd naturally like to see more of this with Sam ripping up some raunchier riffs, but I think he's cleverer than that and I look forward to this intelligent and creative songsmith honing his craft and getting more and more recognition for the integrity of his musical passions as well as the fine playing.
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