July 2022 Live Schedule

July 2022 Live Schedule - Samm Bennett and friends

Hello friends, Samm Bennett here, inviting you to come out and hear some LIVE music.
It's about time, don'tcha think? Here's the info:

SAT 7/16 : Samm Bennett / Akaihirume DUO at Bar Isshee, Sendagi

Rhythm Focus Improv Night info

This will be the July installment of my monthly series "Rhythm Focus Improv Night" at Bar Isshee in Sendagi. My guest this month is the utterly unique vocalist Akaihirume, who simply must be heard. Or perhaps "experienced" is a better word. I had the pleasure and good fortune of working with her on one occasion before, when we were both a part of an evening organized by the great Makigami Koichi, as part of his ongoing series of concerts in Sengawa, Tokyo. I was blown away by the power and completely unpretentious quality of her vocal stylings. Perhaps the *purest* vocal expression I've ever heard live, in the same room. She is really quite amazing.

For full info on this event plus the entire series, please check the dedicated Rhythm Focus Improv Night at the Polarity site HERE

SAT 7/23 : King Cake Baby at Moon Stomp, Kōenji

Moon Stomp website

Google map to Moonstomp

King Cake Baby info

The Baby is BACK! We like Moon Stomp cause it's in Kōenji and we like Kōenji, but most of all because they have an acoustic PIANO. An upright, with all 88 keys relatively intact! So, you hear the music like it oughtta be heard, you dig? Cause piano is at the heart and soul of so much great New Orleans-style rhythm & blues: Professor Longhair, Huey "Piano" Smith, Fats Domino, Dr John... and, yeah, that's the music we play. Even when we do our originals, that New Orleans flavor is there. Yup, that's King Cake Baby. So come hear us, by all means! Yours truly, Samm Bennett, on the drums and vocal, Matt Gillan on piano and backing vocal, and Hisa Nakase on bass and backing vocal. It's always a mighty fine time when KCB brings those joyful noises.

¥2,000 yen entry + 1 drink
Open 19:00 - Start 19:30

SUN 7/24 : PLASTIC YARD GOOSE (trio version) at Grapefruit Moon, Sangenjaya

The FIRST official gig for my new band, PLASTIC YARD GOOSE will be as part of a 3-band lineup, in the 4th installment of "Moon Report".

As concerns PLASTIC YARD GOOSE, it will not have a fixed lineup, but will feature rotating members as schedules allow and as the situation demands. We will perform my original songs plus cover tunes, depending on the mood and the moment. I will be playing one or another of my instruments, such as 1-string guitar, 3-string guitar, percussion, electronics, etc (and of course vocal).

For this first outing, I will be joined by drummer extraordinaire Numa Naoya, whom I've worked with in past years in groups such as the Smoke Benders, Swamp Root Jimmies, and the Smoky Dose. He is absolutely one of the finest rhythmists in this big ol' Tokyo town, and I've always been mightily impressed with his keen sense of musical direction, his solid skills and ready flexibility. Rounding out the trio will be the soulful and always-inventive violinist/vocalist Ohta Keisuke. Very much looking forward to working with him again, after many years. Last I played with him was in Umezu Kazutoki's "Shin-Okubo Gentlemen" band, several years back. Onward and upward!

NOTE: REVISED SCHEDULE:

18:00 open / 18:30 start
18:30-19:15 PLASTIC YARD GOOSE
19:30-20:15 白倉新之助と祭囃子
20:30-22:30 BAR TIME

Grapefruit Moon website

Google map to Grapefruit Moon

FRI 7/29 : Samm Bennett's FAMILY DOLLAR at Hikari no Uma, Ōkubo

Samm Bennett & Numa Naoya

This version of FAMILY DOLLAR will be a duo, with members yours truly and drummer extraordinaire Numa Naoya, whom I've worked with in past years in groups such as the Smoke Benders, Swamp Root Jimmies, and the Smoky Dose. He is absolutely one of the finest rhythmists in this big ol' Tokyo town, and I've always been mightily impressed with his keen sense of musical direction, his solid skills and ready flexibility.