The Samples

The Samples emerged in the early 1990s as one of the era's most successful road acts, thanks to their laid-back pop sound tinged with jazz influences. Following an unfortunate stint on a major label, the group shifted to self-releasing material and cultivated an audience via an organic, fan-driven network. Persistent live performances helped expand that following even further, while the studio remained equally active with three full-length projects tracked across 1992 and 1993. Their subsequent records—Autopilot in 1994, Outpost in 1996, and the live collection Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility in 1997—stayed rooted in the same folky blend reminiscent of Sting meeting the Grateful Dead, rendering the releases difficult to tell apart. Still, each contains several standout tracks that explain the band's enduring appeal as nationwide concert draws. Here and Somewhere Else arrived in 1998, with Sparta appearing in fall 2000. Return to Earth surfaced the next year, featuring a guest appearance by Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band on the song "Great Blue Ocean." The three-disc Anthology in Motion, Vol. 1 came out in 2002, succeeded by Seventeen in 2003—a spare live recording captured in front of an appreciative audience at Quinnipiac College in Connecticut. The band reentered the studio for Black & White in 2004 and Rehearsing for Life in 2005.