Song: "Holiday Parade"
Artist: Samiam
Album: "Whatever's Got You Down"
Year: 2006
Place Of Origin: Berkeley, California
Years Active: 1988 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Holiday Parade" is yet another typical relationship on the brink song. The vocalist is sick of being her puppet on a string and being paraded around by her to make her look good. It seems as if she is blind to whatever his needs and wants are and is only looking to fulfill her own needs. It's a one-way relationship and her selfishness will be the end of it. The vocalist has had enough of it and has completely severed ties with this woman.
SAMIAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1990 - Samiam (New Red Archives)
1991 - Soar (New Red Archives)
1992 - Billy (New Red Archives)
1994 - Clumsy (Atlantic Records)
1997 - You Are Freaking Me Out (Ignition Records)
2000 - Astray (Hopeless Records)
2006 - Whatever's Got You Down (Hopeless Records)
2011 - Trips (Hopeless Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF SAMIAM:
Samiam formed out of the ashes of legendary Gilman St. punk act Isocracy. Jason Beebout, the lead singer of Isocracy, helped form Samiam back in 1988 as Isocracy disbanded. The band forged an early relationship with label New Red Archives who released their first three albums, 1990's "Samiam", 1991's "Soar" and 1992's "Billy". With the grunge explosion going on in Seattle and alternative rock music taking over radio stations and MTV, Samiam was quickly signed by major label Atlantic Records for the release of their fourth album, 1994's "Clumsy". The band shot a music video for the song "Capsized" off of that album that received fairly steady rotation on MTV at the time. The band's fifth release, 1997's "You Are Freaking Me Out" was the pinnacle for Samiam in my eyes. The single "She Found You" is arguably the band's most popular song. This is the album that made me fall in love with this band. In 2000, Samiam signed a deal with Hopeless Records, the label that they still work with to the present day. The band dropped three full length studio albums with Hopeless. 2000's "Astray", 2006's "Whatever's Got You Down" and 2011's "Trips". After the release of "Astray" there were rumors that Samiam had broken up but they never stopped touring. It just took six years between "Astray" and their next release which was the longest the band had ever waited between albums. The band's last official release was in 2012, a rarities compilation called "Complete Control Sessions". Also, in 2015 when the band was in Chicago to participate in the Riot Fest festival, they recorded a four song demo but it was never finished or released. Samiam is not quite as active as they were in the 90's, but you can still catch them doing tours. Samiam's sound can be classified as melodic punk rock. They are very much an underground band. They found a little success in the mid to late 90's but they never quite became a featured headlining band. When they did headline, it was usually at smaller clubs. To me, their success didn't matter. I'd say their albums from 1994's "Clumsy" right through to 2011's "Trips" are all solid albums. Samiam never disappoints me when they release new material. If you like bands like Hot Water Music, Face To Face, Lifetime, The Lawrence Arms or The Draft and you haven't heard Samiam, do yourself a favor and check them out. Really, really good band!!
TEN SAMIAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Full On
2. She Found You
3. Sunshine
4. Stepson
5. Here Comes Your Man (The Pixies cover)
6. Storm Clouds
7. 80 West
8. Slumbering
9. Don't Break Me
10. Underground
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