“Life is a gift. I went through a lot of bitterness- a lot of anger. But those things are toxic. Gratitude for what remains is more helpful than resentment for what was lost.” Sam Baker
I’ve mentioned this before but one of the many benefits of working out of London so much recently is that I’ve been able to schedule in some gigs for acts that aren’t heading to the East Midlands when they tour.
I have a nagging certainty that I might have once been hastily ejected from Camden Dingwalls. I can no longer recall my crime but I almost certainly will have felt aggrieved and victimised as a result. Huffing and puffing, bursting vessels in my head, I will have argued the toss about my heavy-handed treatment at the hands of over-efficient security jobsworths. Goodness, I was unpleasant back then.
I seriously hope that the security personnel haven’t marked my card for life because I’m quite looking forward to seeing Sam Baker on November 10th, a couple of Mondays from now. Sam’s a relatively new addition to my list of must-see acts. It’s difficult not to be drawn into the sparse musical narratives that he creates. Here is a live performer who makes every word count, every guitar note resonate and every space between sound vital. His is quite a story.
A Peruvian train bombing almost killed Baker in 1986. Others on the train weren’t quite so lucky and you can only imagine the psychological and physical distress this must have caused. Baker turned inward, to relearn the use of his body and brain.
This video shows what incredible progress he’s made.
I hope they let me into the venue…
sonicbreakfast 