Samuel St. Samuel stands like a Kodiak bear covered in tattoos like the type of bad-news stereotype in an 80s action film. Standing up against the counter at Mag Bar -where he works part time- He seems like the type of old school Old Louisvillian you might want to cross the street to avoid, until you talk to him.
On the night we met in Old Louisville, criss-crossing the streets from Mag Bar to late night bodega and back, Samuel took the time to politely speak to anyone who ambled our way; there wasn't a single soul that night who wasn't given the same curtesy as anyone else. He was the same pleasant teddy bear I met years ago on the corner of 2nd and Magnolia under the bright red neon bar lights; when a mutual friend was getting bounced out of the bar amid threats and fists and a revolver. Samuel kept calm and leaned up against a brick wall, lit a cigarette and said "We chose this life, you and I. We didn't have to be here. A couple years ago I had a good paying job and gave it up to be right here."
And choose he did. For the last 8 years St. Samuel has been playing his special brand of cow punk filled with anger and vengeance wrapped up in drugs, and soaked in bourbon. There are two sides to St. Samuel, as the rough and grumble acoustic side, such as the brand new track he recorded just for us here:
And the wild and raucous side backed by his band Call Me Bronco, who just released a full length, Beating A Dead Bronco, on Rusty Knuckles Records in August. It could be easy to pigeonhole Call Me Bronco as tattooed pretty boys playing 'bad boy' for fashion appeal, but St. Samuel and company come by it honestly. During the filming of their latest music video, 4 a.m., there was a strict "No Cuts' rule, banning club patches on set.
Despite choosing this path instead of another, the rough and tumble nature of this culture weighs on him. Call Me Bronco is slated to record a new album this year, and the first album idea was scrapped due to the pain attached. "I doubt the average pastel wearing American has to deal with death as much as us." Speaking about the large amount of friends in this culture who die prematurely. "It's easier to not have to deal with it and move on, but then another one comes along and hits you in the face. And it's constant and you know it'll happen again. And the worst part is, it gets easier every time."
Despite not facing the brutal nature of the drug and booze Old Louisville punk scene head on, the new album is still filled with suicide, overdoses, and pain.
Call Me Bronco plays the 6th annual Groundhog Day Fest Friday, February 2nd, at Mag Bar with On The Bang, and GRLwood. Keeping with the theme of Bill Murray's Groundhog Day, the bands play the same set 3 times in a row, creating the same show 3 times... in a row. (9 sets total).
Call Me Bronco plays the 6th annual Groundhog Day Fest Friday, February 2nd, at Mag Bar with On The Bang, and GRLwood. Keeping with the theme of Bill Murray's Groundhog Day, the bands play the same set 3 times in a row, creating the same show 3 times... in a row. (9 sets total).
Call Me Bronco plays the 6th annual Groundhog Day Fest Friday, February 2nd, at Mag Bar with On The Bang, and GRLwood. Keeping with the theme of Bill Murray's Groundhog Day, the bands play the same set 3 times in a row, creating the same show 3 times... in a row. (9 sets total).
Event info here.
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