Sam Bigelow

"I needed to have my heart ripped out to hear what my real voice sounded like. The songs I wrote for this album tell an honest story. I can remember sobbing into the piano as I wrote some of these songs. Other songs gave me strength. To me, heartbreak is the fastest route to honest songwriting, to honest soul singing."

Singer-songwriter Sam Bigelow’s voice and piano conjure up the souls of forefathers like Ray Charles and Otis Spann while at the same time pays homage to modern-day influences like Elton John and Martin Sexton. As local music critic Chad Berndtson put it, “Bigelow’s sound will appeal immediately to devotees of piano rock, be it Little Richard or Ben Folds. But on the spectrum of slick old-time stride piano and newer ironic geek key-pounding, Bigelow is a graduate of the old school.”

His second album, The Foundry, due for release in May 2007, will be his first recording with Cambridge’s Hi-N-Dry Records (Dennis Brennan, Mark Sandman). With guitarist Anand Nayak producing and the gifted Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies) mixing, The Foundry draws on a wealth of Boston talent including Rose Polenzani, Dennis Brennan, Morphine alumni and Twinemen Dana Colley and Billy Conway, as well as many others.

Sam Bigelow has been building momentum in the Northeast music scene for the last several years including sold out shows at the Middle East, performances at legendary venues such as the Living Room in New York and the Paradise Rock Club, and has shared bills with Little Feat, Alexi Murdoch, Robbie Kreiger, and Dick Dale.

Bigelow’s current group began to take shape when he reconnected with long-time friend and bassist Kimon Kirk (Session Americana, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble). Drummer Ed Arnold has been with the group since August 2005, and Anand Nayak began playing shows with the trio once recording sessions for The Foundry started. Long-time friend, Nayak, believes, “the last year has been huge for Sam. He's made a quantum leap in his artistry. Combine that with his ability to win over audiences and to gather amazing musicians around him, and you have Sam suddenly poised to make waves in Boston and beyond."

Quotes:
"His forthright delivery reminds of Billy Joel. Or is it just that lonesome piano tickling?" -Linda Laban, Globe Correspondent "Sam nimbly navigates and strides the keys. He's a dynamic vocalist as well and drives the party into gear one moment and brings it down to a whisper for a parted lover. this is solid pianistic rock/blues songwriting from an up-and-comer." -Dan Leary, The Noise "Bigelow devotees already know he's a great musician; this mix of soulful reflections and jovial anthems shows a well-developed songwriter too.' -Sarah Corrigan, Boston Magazine