Red Sammy, a Baltimore band helmed by Adam Trice ’04, English, will release its fourth album, “These Poems with Kerosene,” next month with a show at the Windup Space. We asked Trice to talk a bit about life as a musician, and how his study of literature has influenced his work.
Q: Tell us some of the story behind your band…what type of music do you play? What influences you?
A: Red Sammy is a minor character in Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1955). Our music tends to be gritty, sparse, and deeply emotional. One music reviewer noted that our music attempts to connect with a listener’s mournful regions of the heart and soul. Musically, we fall closely within the Americana/Roots Rock genre. Influences include Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, The Pixies, Lou Reed, Alejandro Escovedo.
Q: Tell us a little about how your educational background fits in with what you do?
A: I earned my degree in English at UMBC and a M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing/Publishing from the University of Baltimore. Both degrees provided me with insight and resources to develop as a writer (both lyrically and poetically). Many of our songs have a strong emphasis on word content and poetic form.
Q: What’s your favorite song and why?
A: Our latest album titled “These Poems with Kerosene” (due out on February 17, 2013), combines music and the recorded poems of University of Baltimore poet and professor Steve Matanle. My favorite track from the album is titled, “Everything Must Go.”
Q: What’s it like collaborating with another poet?
A: Steve Matanle was one of my favorite professors during graduate school. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Matanle especially since his hard luck style of poetry blends very well with our music and lyrical content.
Q: Where would you like to see Red Sammy go from here?
A: From a songwriter’s perspective, I would like to continue to grow and collaborate with new musicians and poets. In the next few years I would like to have a stronger presence performing as part of academic readings and art performances. It’s much more interesting when collaborating across artistic mediums.
Learn more about Red Sammy and listen to music samples at their website.
