Sam Weber

Sam Weber’s expansive blend of driving rock, dream pop, and roots influences is a testament to fierce ambition. At 19, the singer songwriter and guitarist, along with his band River, has just released an epic debut album in Light Up to Burn Out [Landsend Studios]. The recording features 18 adventurous, linked songs infused with deep wit and wisdom that reach far beyond Weber’s years.

Hailing from the open skies and minds of Victoria, British Columbia, River is a group of multi-instrumentalists. Weber and fellow band members Marshall Wildman and Evan Hillier all share bass, drums, piano, and synth duties. Together, they’ve created music that manages to be both artful and addictive.

Q) Describe the concept behind Light Up to Burn Out.

A) It documents the bitterness and detachment that occurs when a band breaks up. River had a previous quartet lineup that was really tight, and then half the band quit, annihilating everything we had worked for to that point. We faced the challenge of restarting, and captured the journey on the album.

Q) Who are some of your key guitar influences?

A) When I was 12, I was into Joe Perry and Brad Whitford from Aerosmith. Next, I progressed into a lot of classic rock, like Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan, including his work with David Bowie. It’s a phenomenon of my generation to resent modern music. Until I was 15, I couldn’t relate to anything after 1989. I needed to hear a guitar solo in order to have the time of day for a song. At 16, I opened up to current music, including John Mayer—who has real guitar chops—and a cool, weird Canadian band called Metric and its guitarist Jimmy Shaw.

Q) What guitars did you play on the album?

A) I played a 2010 Gibson SG Classic with stock P-90 pickups. Most SG models don’t have P-90s, but they sounded pleasantly strange, which was the deciding factor. They have a sweet, natural kind of gain and crunch, even before you add gain with an amplifier. I also played a modified 2002 Fender Stratocaster with a set of Fender Fat ’50s pickups and a Fender Custom Shop tremolo system. In addition, I used a Telestyle guitar loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups that my dad and I built.

Q) Describe your signal chain.

A) The pedal I use most often is an Electro- Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb, which I use to create Daniel Lanois-style atmospheres. I also use an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for all the gain sounds beyond what’s naturally there on my SG, and a Z.Vex Box of Rock for really nice, present crunch and overdrive. For slapback delay, I rely on an Ibanez AD9.

Q) You favor heavy D’Addario sets with a .013- guage first string. Why?

A) I love the sheer physicality of heavier strings. You’re almost cheating with thinner gauges because you don’t have to work to get the notes—and I feel that if you don’t have to work, you’re not putting any emotion into your playing.

Q) What was your recording setup for the album?

A) I played through two amps: a vintage silverface Fender Super Reverb modified to blackface specs, and a Matchless Clubman 35 with a Yorkville 2x12 cabinet. I pointed a single Shure SM57 at both amps, and also used an Audio Technica AT2020 condenser mic to capture the thickness of the room ambience. From there, the mic signals went to an Apogee Duet converter and into Apple Logic Express. We set up the drums in the corner of my bedroom, and I hung some rugs on the wall to create an acoustically controlled environment. We ran the drums through a Mackie 16x8 analog mixer and a Zoom R16 recorder, so that we could use the R16’s converters to feed Logic. We fought with the sound quality every day, but our philosophy was that even though we didn’t have the greatest converters or preamps, we could play well and mess with mic placement. We paid attention to everything we did have control over to put together what we think is a quality release.

Q) You attended Berklee last year on a scholarship. What did you take away from that experience?

A) It’s so competitive. When you’re there, you could easily forget what music is about, which is making art, not one-upmanship. You could lose your mind trying to be as good as the next guy. What I learned is to completely ignore what everyone else is doing, maintain my own voice, and get on with things on my own terms. - Guitar Player Magazine

As the old adage goes, you can do anything you put your mind to. For Victoria, B.C. pop musician Sam Weber, that means approaching his current Canadian tour as though his life depended on it.

While some acts are content to hit the major Canadian cities, Weber is taking great care to include the country’s larger cities such as Montreal and Ottawa, in addition to seemingly far-flung places like Golden, B.C. and Ripples, N.B. during his 34-date tour.

Performing at Moncton’s Plan b Lounge on Wednesday, May 20, Weber says that he feels a certain affinity with Canada’s small towns.

“At this point in my career, touring is about making great connections with venues and people throughout the country,” he says from a Montreal tour stop. “We really like the idea of forming good relationships with people, which will, hopefully, allow us the opportunity to come back to places like Moncton in the future.

“I can appreciate bands wanting to stick to a tour route that has recognized city names on it, but realistically, I think a lot of touring acts will tell you that some of the best shows they have ever played happen in those smaller cities, towns and villages. That’s what a big part of my tour is about; reaching out to people in those smaller, off the beaten path places.”

At just 22 years old, Weber is a young musician with the makings of an old soul. Growing up, he saw his father playing piano and drums before he eventually enrolled in piano lessons himself.

After having music drop off his radar altogether for a number of years, Weber picked up the guitar, enrolling in private lessons before moving on to become a guitar teacher himself.

It was around the age of 15 and 16 that he began writing original material, some of which can be heard on his debut effort, Shadows In The Road. Released via Canadian indie label Cordova Bay Records, the album is a captivating snapshot in time of an artist finding his voice in music.

Weber says the bulk of Shadows In The Road was done at different studios throughout B.C., including a significant amount of material he recorded at home. Given the fact that years passed between the time that some of the songs were recorded and when they were eventually released, he insists his next studio effort will be taken from a more narrow timeline.

“Shadows In The Road is comprised of songs and recording sessions that cover such a wide berth of styles and players. I’ve probably got about four albums’ worth of material that is just waiting to be recorded, but for better or worse, I am already sick of some of those songs,” he laughs.

“I do want my next album to be more concise as well as more organic. I’m of the mindset that if something isn’t working after a few tries, maybe it isn’t working for a reason. I’m much more determined to make my next album a snapshot in time of what’s happening at that moment in my life, make it to the best of my abilities, and then move on. That will be the idealistic way my next album unfolds, because at the end of the day, I just want to put out a record that feels good.” - MusicNerd.ca

Thu, May 14 – The very talented Sam Weber is stops by to tell us all about his cross-Canada tour and to give us a sneak peek at his upcoming concert on Saturday. - Global News Halifax

Looking for some new music to add to your winter playlist? 22-year old guitarist Sam Weber might just be the perfect addition.

Based in Vancouver Island, Canada, Sam is currently releasing a video series entitled “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue” every Wednesday in December. Check out the first installation below, where he plays a wonderfully laid-back tune called “Don’t Hurt” on his vintage 1978 Guild Starfire IV. - Guild Guitars

SYDNEY — From one side of the country to the other, Sam Weber will be on stage Sunday at Governors Pub in Sydney.
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Following the release of his debut album last summer, Weber, of Victoria, B.C., is in the midst of his first national tour, which includes a stop at Governors Pub. It's his lone stop in Cape Breton.

Known for his effortless guitar playing and heartfelt songwriting,

Weber's album, "Shadows in the Road," is the culmination of years spent focused on touring and recording.

Weber's two-month tour includes 34 dates across Canada.

For more information on Weber, go to his website at samweber.me. - Cape Breton Post

We’ve previously told you about up-and-coming artist Sam Weber, and he’s certainly still on the up-and-up! Weber, along with his Guild acoustic, performed with his band (and a vintage Guild Starfire!) on The Morning News Halifax today to promote is cross-Canada tour. Check it out below (music starts at 3:32)! - Guild Guitars

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Sam Weber has ventured away from his home in Victoria, B.C., to make several stops across the country as part of his first national tour.

Weber is currently traveling back west and will be making a stop in Lloydminster along the way.

Regarding his first major tour, Weber says things have been going really well and that he has played a lot of good shows, not just in major markets like Toronto, but in smaller communities as well.

“The kind of connections we’ve made with people, it’s just kind of grown more and more, so it’s been more rewarding this time than any other subsequent tour,” he said.

During the tour, Weber is playing a lot of material from his debut full-length album Shadows in the Road, which was released last September. Because it is a very produced album with big productions, Weber says he will be reinterpreting many of the songs with his two band members. Weber says this can be even cooler sonically speaking, because you can hear everything that is going on a little better.

“It’s mostly just three guys being creative and playing their instruments,” Weber said.

Shadows in the Road is a compilation of songs Weber wrote between the ages of 15 and 20. He says he is glad it is finally available for people to hear, and is excited to move on to new things.

This past April, Weber and his manager directed the video for Right Hearted, the album’s second feature track. Shot in black and white, the video tries to capture what it looks like when Weber is working on a song, going to his friends’ houses, playing with them, and experimenting with ideas. The video is uploaded on Weber’s YouTube channel at http://bit.ly/1HhH3vh and is available via his website at http://www.samweber.me/.

“It’s a pretty organic interpretation of how a song comes together,” Weber said.

Directing more videos is something Weber would like to do in the future, but he also likes the idea of someone else taking his songs and interpreting them visually however they want, as he believes it can add a lot more to the video.

One of Weber’s biggest shows during the national tour was when he performed in Toronto for Canadian Music Week. Although he played at a small bar, he says it was a high-energy set that attracted a lot of people.

“We hadn’t played Toronto prior, so it was cool to do that,” Weber said.

Once this national tour is over Weber says he is planning to start recording songs again in either July or August for a possible new release next spring. Until then he has more tours planned for the fall and winter. Although he has a lot of work ahead, Weber says it is all fun and exciting.

Weber will be playing at The Root on Saturday, May 30. He will be sharing the stage with indie rock quartet Hawking, from Vancouver. Admission price for the evening is $10.

“We’re excited to play The Root again,” Weber said. “Last time we played we hosted the open mic. That’s a cool oasis in Lloyd, and it will be really awesome to play there. We’re really excited about it, the food’s really good, the beer is really good, and the people are really nice.” - Lloydminster Meridian Booster

The young Victoria-based musician appears intent to please audiences, most recently paying customers from one end of the country to the other taking in his current cross-Canada tour.

It’s just that Weber doesn’t place absolute stock in popularity gauged by racking up millions of social media approval indicators.

"It depends on how you value it,” Weber says. “The people who like our page that way and make that connection with us, those are the ones who are actually invested in what's going on.”

Indeed. He takes comfort in the fact those who pitch approval appear to genuinely to like him.

"We'll play a show and maybe we'll get a couple (of likes),” Weber said recently while on the Trans-Canada Highway just east of Montreal, headed for Halifax.

“Then we'll go and look at how it is and it was people we were talking to at the show, who came up and were really (engaged)."

His take on cyber stardom might seem odd for someone all of 22, an age when so many seem virtually consumed by everything virtual. Yes, Weber has an official website (http://www.samweber.me/) and a Facebook page. And he conducted his interview with The Sault Star via cellphone.

But it’s fair to say Weber is someone who takes joy in marching to his own tune.

He walked away from a Berklee College of Music full-time scholarship — he first landed a summer scholarship at the tony Boston school at 17 and undertook the program — as “his artistic instincts proved too restless,” says his website biography. He concedes in conversation costs were also a factor.

Weber’s favourite songwriter is not contemporary, but a Canadian legend old enough to be his mother. Grandmother, actually.

Blue was the “gateway” Joni Mitchell album that led to both an appreciation of the Saskatchewan-raised musical's full catalogue and helped spawn inspiration for Weber’s own compositions.

"She's an example of someone who is in touch with her songs,” Weber said. “Obviously, she has an amazing vocabulary. She's really well read. She just lives the song every time and that is the pinnacle of songwriting and expression."

His debut full-length album, Shadows in the Road, is described as the “culmination of years already spent focused on touring and recording,” which he has done with the likes of such Canadian notables as Sam Roberts and The Tragically Hip.

Packed with original compositions, Shadows is being introduced to Canadian audiences via the current tour, which touches most provinces and hits cities, towns and hamlets, large and small.

For Weber, size doesn't matter.

One interesting East Coast destination is Ripples, N.B., a small community near the village of Minto, but also relatively close to the affluent, artsy provincial capital, Fredericton.

"That's kind of exemplary of what we're striving to do on tour, is like play everywhere and do everything,” said Weber, touring as a three-piece act.

Big markets are "great," but many acts often overlook smaller venues; their loss, Weber argues.

"People there are often more grateful and more excited (to host a live act),” he said.

And taking his music on the road provides an opportunity not always apparently afforded on Victoria stages, Weber argues: the chance to not feel pressured to pepper set lists with covers.

"It's always a real treat to get out and play our stuff,” he added.

“People have been really receptive, some places more than others, obviously. But it's all been pretty good." - Sault Star

When Sam Weber steps into the most intimate performance venue in Victoria, the singer/guitarist worries just a little.

“You play, but people are literally sitting two feet from your face. It’s a bit shocking,” he said of Andy Briggs’ home venue.

Weber performs at Victoria House Concert B on Monday night in the living room filled with CDs and set lists from Canadian and Victoria bands.

“He’s dedicated his living room, that’s what his living room is. It’s a venue … just a really intimate, cosy one,” he said.

“I’m pretty mobile, so I worry about it.”

Weber has reluctantly adopted an attitude of just simply performing.

“I’m right here and I’m just going to do what I normally do when I’m not two feet from you,” he said. “But you can’t really do anything wrong ... Everyone’s really understanding and forgiving.”

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and guitarist made some big leaps to land the intimate Victoria gig, and some other large opportunities in recent years.

Weber earned a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. the summer he was 17. Though they offered him a scholarship, the 2011 Stelly’s secondary grad opted to return west.

“It wasn’t for me. I liked the program I did there but ultimately I just felt my time and resources were better spent here focusing on self-recording and being creative,” Weber said. “Since being back, I’ve built my studio business and developed those recording skills that I’ve utilized heavily to record not only myself, but other people.”

Weber’s intuition turned out well; in 2012 he toured with Jets Overhead.

“That on its own was worth it,” he said. “Adam saw me playing ... he asked me to come try out so to speak. We ended up getting along. We played a couple really cool shows with Sam Roberts, Tragically Hip, Current Swell, Stars – a lot of cool Canadian bands.”

Weber debuted his first full-length album Shadows in the Road this summer, a record filled with a “wide scope of tunes.”

“I recorded it over the course of 2010 and 2011. The songs I’d written were from when I was 16 up to when I put it out.”

Weber and Vancouver artist Luca Fogale kick off a short Island tour with the Fernwood house concert Monday night. They head to Nanaimo Dec. 11 at The Buzz Coffee House and Char’s Landing in Port Alberni the next night.

Weber also performs at Lucky Bar with Hawk and Steel on Jan. 11.

“I’ve been working on writing and recording every night until about 5 a.m. for this EP I’m planning to release in 2014. I’m still working out logistics,” he said. “That’s my main focus right now.”

--

Did you know?

In 2012, at age 19, Weber was one of the youngest people to ever be covered in a major Guitar Player magazine feature. - Victoria News

Victoria singer-songwriter Sam Weber has wowed the critics with his debut album, Shadows in the Road, which showcases his impressive guitar talents. With a show at Gastown’s Guilt and Co. Friday, Joe Leary spent 24 Seconds with the 20-year-old rising star.

24: Your reviews are absolutely glowing. How do you respond to the acclaim?

SW: I always respond graciously to acclaim. It feels good when people say positive things about me or my art and that inspires me to make better art. The trick is to not trust foreign perspectives too much and always let the way I feel about my music hold the controlling shares in what I'm doing.

24: What initially attracted you to music? Did you come from a musical family?

SW: Initially, I was attracted to how good it felt to play music, especially with other people. My brother and father are both multi-instrumentalists and superior musicians, so I guess it's something that's always been a part of my life. Playing with them all the time was really stimulating. It still is. The release I get from performing and writing exceeds that of any sport I've ever played.

24: What was the ‘it’ moment where you decided to follow a musical path?

SW: I can't say I've felt just one defining moment. Following a musical path has always felt right and as long as it does I have to keep doing it. I've experienced the catharsis that playing music gives me — to not experience that anymore would feel unnatural.

24: Your music has been described as being pretty ethereal. How would you describe yourself?

SW: The half joke I had with Jason Cook, who produced Shadows in the Road with me, was I want to sound like ‘rocky mountain desert vibes.’ Ethereal is a more succinct way of saying that, but there's definitely some truth in being surgically precise. My favourite music and art is really specific and points back to one feeling rather than trying to be too many things at the same time.

24: I hear a Dan Mangan influence in your solo work? Is that an apt comparison?

SW: To be totally honest, I hadn't listened to Dan Mangan's music until quite recently; probably out of fear that it was a very apt comparison. I think the similarities between us have more to do with the fact we share a lot of the same influences, rather than me being influenced by him directly. Either way, Dan Mangan is an incredible artist and I am always honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as him.

24: What challenges face a new, emerging solo artist these days?

SW: The prevalent challenge I observe that faces emerging solo artists these days is they don't yet know how to communicate their uniqueness to people. I struggle with this often. I think the music that does rise to the top of the pile is made by the people who have their ‘vibe’ on lockdown and can channel it into their tunes, that and hard work of course.

24: How do you engage with audiences in a live environment?

SW: It's all about the space! I try and play to the venue as much as I can. As a performer, it's my responsibility to try and captivate the room with my performance. Sometimes it's easy and everyone is very attentive. Sometimes you're playing in a restaurant or lounge setting and people are trying to eat, drink and converse. As a performer, it is your responsibility to fit into that environment. Sometimes that means I'll play more flashy electric guitar stuff and try to reel people in and earn their trust. I try to have fun with every performance.

24: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned about the music business thus far?

SW: In meeting many highly successful music industry people, I've deduced that the really nice people who make genuine relationships will always succeed. If you aren't going to be kind and gracious and helpful, your days in the music industry are numbered. Music is such a personal thing and that is definitely reflected in the nature of the music business. I find it really empowering that there's no real way to strong-arm your way to the top. You can't make people like you, but you can be likeable if you remember to be a good person. - 24 Hours Vancouver

The champions of girl power introduced guitar virtuoso Sam Weber to the world of catchy hooks, and he isn’t embarrassed to say so.

“Oh god. It is too much of a hook to leave alone, I understand. I’m not ashamed by it,” he laments over the first album he ever purchased, the Spice Girls. “It was definitely my first musical thing, I was really into it. It speaks to the catharsis I get from the music I listen to and write. I have a very pop-driven musical taste and Spice Girls was definitely an introduction to a lot of those pop hooks. I haven’t jammed Spice Girls in a very long time, and I haven’t seen Spice World for that matter I guess I am overdue for it.”

At 12-years-old Weber had just ditched the structured piano lessons that confined his personality to be known as the kid always carrying a guitar.

Fast-forward eight years and he is one of the youngest people to ever be covered in a Guitar Player magazine feature, attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston on a summer scholarship, toured as guitarist for Juno-nominated indie rock act Jets Overhead, opened for Tragically Hip and Sam Roberts and has released his first full-length debut album.

“I basically decided one day I wanted to try guitar and really buckled down with it and dedicated myself to learn blues guitar as my foundation. Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Mayer and the real wizards of that area who helped me define my own unique style,” said Weber. “I decided pretty quickly guitar was something I wanted to dedicate my time to. I would go to the grocery store with my mom and sit in the van with an electric guitar, which doesn’t really make any sense because it doesn’t make any sound, but I would sit and practice.”

Now the 20-year-old, who hails from Victoria, is touring with his release Shadows In The Road, making a stop in Penticton at Voodoo’s on Oct. 23.

Weber had a hand in mixing and producing, finalized most of it while at Berklee.

“I always want to have an artistic hold on what I am doing and hopefully make interesting music that people care about and I care about,” he said. “I think this record has a lot of potential and I want people to give it a shot and hear it.”

A powerful musician combining components of blues guitar with alt-pop sounds, Weber also has a strong grasp on performance and songwriting. But he doesn’t box himself in the singer-songwriter genre.

“When I think of that, it is chronological storyteller and I am definitely not that. My songwriting is about divulging more of a feeling than that. I would say I am more of a songwriter than performer though,” he said.

Shadows in The Road was released in August, but already Weber has about 50 songs on the back burner he is itching to spend more time on when he is done touring.

“I actually have a ton of voicemails on my iPhone. That is my version of scrawling, I pull over when I am driving and sing melodies into my phone. It’s kind of goofy. I don’t write at all with pen and paper. I’m not the glamorous Moleskine pencil and paper by candlelight kind of thing,” said Weber.

Evan Hillier, who played as a trio with Weber in a band called River, is touring with him currently on drums and percussion.

Catch them at Voodoo’s in Penticton on Oct. 23. Doors open at 5 p.m. - Penticton Western News

When it comes to being a musician, there are not many things that can beat the rush of playing live and connecting with fans in a genuine way.

This reality is not lost on Sam Weber or Luca Fogale, two young solo artists who will take the stage at Nanaimo's The Buzz Coffee House on Dec. 11.

After becoming fast friends this summer, touring together seemed like the next logical step.

"We get along so well, and there's always a lot of creative energy when we're together," said Weber. "This first tour will hopefully help us establish a foundation around the Island, and allow us to play bigger and better shows in the future."

Raised in Saanich, Weber is no stranger to life on the road. While his solo work has always been the focus of his creative energy, Weber spent several months touring as a guitarist with Juno nominated band, Jets Overhead.

Only 19 years old at the time, it gave him a taste of what might lie ahead in his own career, and has only furthered his conviction and motivation to make his own mark on Canada's diverse musical landscape.

Since 2011, Fogale has been hard at work crafting the songs that would help him gain B.C.-wide recognition as a Top 20 finalist in the 2013 Peak Performance Project - a Vancouverbased radio contest that hand picks 20 of the province's best musical talents to attend a weeklong music "boot camp" and compete for more than $200,000 in cash and prizes.

The nod he received in this contest was an indication Fogale had chosen the right path, having quit university in 2011 to focus on music full time.

"It can be hard telling your friends and family that you're quitting school to be a musician, but I know that this is where I am supposed to be, what I am supposed to be doing," Fogale said with a laugh.

Though Fogale did not secure a finish in the top five, the contest has already done a lot for his fledging music career.

He has recently begun production on his debut full-length album with legendary Vancouver producer, Chin Injeti, best known for his Grammy awardwinning work on Eminem's Recovery in 2010.

The contest also played a large role in bringing Weber and Fogale together as friends - Fogale participating as a Top 20 finalist, and Weber as a guitarist for Victoria-based artist, Dougal Bain McLean.

Their island tour will stop in Victoria, Port Alberni, and Nanaimo at The Buzz Coffee House.

"We're both very excited to play in Nanaimo for the first time," says Weber.

"I don't live too far away, but in reality, it's always hard finding good venues with a willingness and ability to support local and independent artists. Connecting with The Buzz has been so great. They've shown such a willingness to support our music. We can't wait for the show."

The Buzz is located at 1861 Dufferin Cres.Doors open at 7 p.m., and cover is $5. For additional information on Weber and Fogale and their music, visit www.samweber.me and www.lucafogale.com.

© Copyright 2013

- See more at: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/entertainment/young-solo-artists-team-up-for-tour-1.726115#sthash.WCkoheqx.dpuf - Nanaimo Daily News

http://youtu.be/GTRmf4SMYRk?t=16m26s - The Seen TV

http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/5964/Sam_Weber/ - BC Daily Buzz

Hailing from Victoria, B.C., 20-year-old Sam Weber has all the markings of a prodigy. At just 17, Weber was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. The school later gave Weber another scholarship for full-time studies, but he chose to come home to Canada instead. At 19, Weber was one of the youngest people to ever get a major feature in Guitar Player magazine.

This musical genius hasn’t just been raking in accolades and awards. Weber also toured with Jets Overhead, playing guitar for them while they stopped by numerous festivals. He also co-produced Chris Ho’s City of Dust. After that, he decided it was time for his own full-length debut, Shadows in the Road.

It’s easy to see how Weber fit in with Jets Overhead. “Right-Hearted” opens slowly with a high-note tune before a bouncy guitar riff jolts you into the song. Weber’s vocals and instrumentation toe a line between indie rock and country rhythms. “Something to Say” takes it slow, as Weber masterfully plucks away at the strings.

The first notes of “The Nerves” follow suit and tone with “Something to Say”. The slight effect on the first few vocals add to the sense of Weber’s journeying—a trip that picks up pace, energy, and meaning as the song progresses. “August” returns to the faint hints of country ballads heard in “Right-Hearted,” this time feeling influenced by folk music as much as indie and country. At the last turn, the song becomes edgier and packed with emotion.

There’s a sense of early morning to “Lonely,” along with a country twang. “Rolling” breaks out with—you guessed it—a rolling rock-country hybrid. The song nearly explodes after “Lonely,” though things sound infinitely folksier during the chorus. “Burn Out” transitions from these songs back into indie rock with the pseudo-romantic “We’re all just burnouts, baby/Won’t you burn out with me?”

“Don’t Hurt” marks a shift as Weber goes into a straight-up ballad. “Rolling (reprised)” strips the song down to Weber’s voice and a piano—really showing off Weber’s voice and range. Things end with “Love in the Age of Lust,” a chipper piano melody that moves out of “Rolling (reprised)” and ends the album on an uplifting nostalgic note.

That Weber had the success he did at 17 and 19 but waited until now to release his first full-length seems like a strange decision—except the wait has clearly paid off for him. Even as the album moves between genres and styles, Weber’s voice and vision unifies everything. There’s scarce a note out of place, and Weber increases satisfaction by letting his voice shine more and more in each song. It’s a rare moment when the wait truly is worth it.

Top Tracks: “The Nerves”; “Rolling (reprised)”

Rating: Hunting Call (Excellent) + *swoop* - Grayowl Point

Victoria’s Sam Weber is an up and coming songwriter who reminds me a lot of his Canadian peers Hayden and Royal Wood. If you thin you recognize the name, it might be from Jets Overhead, who he plays with, or maybe you’ve read Guitar Player magazine and seen his cover issue back in 2012. He’s been around the scene for a little, and his upcoming record Shadows in the Road - out August 9th – is a big step for his solo career. The single from the album is “Right Hearted,” which we feature below with a nice home-made style lyrical video. You can take a little listen & pre-order from Bandcamp here! - Vancouver Music Review

Sam Weber is having a CD release party on Friday at the Upstairs Cabaret. Show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at Ditch Records and ticketzone.com.

Soon after he graduated from high school, North Saanich musician Sam Weber was faced with a big decision.

Opportunity was knocking for Weber in the form of a partial scholarship to Berklee College of Music — and he needed to decide whether he was going to answer the door.

Weber, 20, had brushed shoulders with reps from the venerable Boston music school before. The summer after he finished Grade 11 at Stelly’s Secondary, Weber went to Los Angeles for a Berklee-endorsed summer songwriting program. Following its conclusion, he was awarded entry in a five-week session in the summer performance program the following year, this time at Berklee’s Boston campus.

He had just graduated from high school and was playing with the local group River at the time. Things were looking up, but Weber knew he would regret not going to Boston, at least for a cursory look.

His five weeks there were unlike anything he had seen. “It was a great experience, but it was very competitive,” Weber said. “If you didn’t lock in on what you wanted to do, and really focused on who you were as a person, you would start hating yourself really quick.”

Weber held his own. Following the five-week program, he was given a partial scholarship to attend Berklee in the fall. On the one hand, it was a huge opportunity. But playing alongside musicians from across the world, who were competing to be the best at their chosen craft, was inspiring and intimidating at the same time.

“If you didn’t figure out what made you significant as an artist, it was a rough go,” he said.

Weber had figured out who he was by that point. It took guts to say no. But that’s exactly what he did.

Back in Victoria, he resumed gigging with River when another career-making opportunity came his way. Though just 19 at the time, Weber was recruited to play guitar and keyboards on tour with local legends Jets Overhead. Right around the time he would have been hitting the books at Berklee, he was on stage with the Juno-nominated group and opening for established acts such as Stars and the Tragically Hip.

In some ways, he learned as much playing with Jets Overhead as he would have in Boston, Weber said.

“When I was doing stuff with Jets, it showed me what the industry is like from a professional level. I never had a rider before, or a green room. Those luxuries were super-interesting. Compared to everything else that I have ever done, or am doing now, it was a taste of the good life.”

Weber had earned his spot in the group, having played piano and guitar for nearly half his life at that point. His maturity is evident on his full-length debut, Shadows in the Road, which Weber and his band will celebrate Friday with a CD release concert at Upstairs Cabaret.

“I had a lot of opportunities to play a lot of music,” Weber said of his upbringing, which included regular jams with his friends and family. “That’s the key. If you’re playing a lot, you can progress quickly.”

Weber has always kept up to speed with current production techniques, and has added producer to his official list of credits in recent years. Weber produced City of Dust, the debut from local songwriter Chris Ho, and worked in tandem on Shadows in the Road with Jason Cook and Adam Sutherland, two experienced Victoria producers.

Though he is a multifaceted musician, Weber believes most in his abilities as a songwriter. His execution has earned him provincewide kudos — Weber is playing Thursday in Vancouver in the FOX Vancouver Seeds Showcase, a Vancouver radio station contest whose past winners include Nickelback and Matthew Good Band — but long-term success is dependent upon his ability to write.

“I am more that than anything else, because that’s what I’ve been at the longest. Whether or not that’s the most important thing, that is what I identify with.”

Where were you born and raised?

North Saanich.

What is your favourite thing about Victoria?

The local businesses.

What is your greatest accomplishment as a person and/or professional?

Recording, and staying involved with it. It’s really important, more and more these days, for artists to be fully involved in the production and engineering. At the end of the day, that’s what is going to make everything sound unique.

First album you purchased?

It’s a funny one. I want to lie and say something so much cooler, but it was Spice World by the Spice Girls.

Favourite album?

For sure Joni Mitchell’s Blue.

First concert you attended?

The Rolling Stones at B.C. Place.

Favourite concert you attended?

Father John Misty at Lucky Bar last year. It was insane. My favourite concert of all time, for sure.
- Victoria Times Colonist

Sam Weber believes music can make lives better.

The Stelly’s student has proven it gig after gig, and it has earned him the 2011 Hearts of the Community outstanding youth volunteer award.

“Volunteering is important obviously,” Weber said, comparing the simplicity of the statement to answering with “world peace” in a beauty pageant. “The gain is so much more rewarding … it gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation, and quantize it through helping others.”

For the past four years, Weber has been among the talented students adding his sound to musical fundraisers such as the Global Gala to raise funds for less fortunate students in Peru and Belize. The Grade 12 student has worked and performed the five-hour concert at Stelly’s to raise funds for Haiti, and is a regular in the coffee concerts at Stelly’s that raise funds for a variety of organizations including the local food bank, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Association and the BC Cancer Foundation.

“He always strives for his personal best and is extremely polite, well organized and conscientious. He is an exemplary role model for his peers,” said nominator Jan Heinrichs, music director at Stelly’s school. “It is without a doubt that he will continue to give back to his community as a singer/songwriter … He truly does have a heart of gold.”

This winter, Weber tackled a larger challenge, taking on the Community Christmas Concert at the Mary Winspear Centre.

“I wanted to volunteer, and it was an opportunity to perform at the Mary Winspear and help out in the community,” Weber said. “We really committed a lot of time bringing in the best talent.”

The talent shone through and that concert raised just shy of $5,000.

“The publicity is the best part,” said food bank administrator Bev Elder. “Any time our name is out there, people are all over it. Our donations go up whenever our name is in the paper.”

Weber is also featured on a Feed the Soul CD that also puts partial proceeds toward the local food bank.

“It’s the youth that realize about poverty these days,” Elder added. “It’s kids like Sam. He just gave like there was no tomorrow. Time is valuable, we think every hour somebody donates to us is just as good as money.”

Donating time is valuable to the giver as well, according to Weber.

“Volunteering teaches us that to give is to receive,” he said. “And [that] there are more important things in life than just our own well-being.” - Peninsula News Review