Sam Vicari's Open Approach Is A Winning One

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 2, 2010 3:20PM

If you have no idea who Sam Vicari is don't feel bad because until recently neither did we until he sent us his debut, Keep Careful. We listen to everything that's sent to us -- trust us when we say this job does have its hazards and tribulations -- but every once in a while we come across an unexpected and undiscovered gem we can't wait to share with anyone who will listen.

Keep Careful kicks out ten songs in under 30 minutes and there's not a wasted second on the disc. Adolescent anthems kick along briskly, pushed along by chiming and chunky guitars ad snapping then crashing drums. Many of his songs begin with quiet intros before exploding into exuberant finishes, and while this trick could have become stultifying, Vicari has such an openness in his delivery that we never grow tired of it. The paths he follows are familiar but he has a way of pushing his voice into such sunny heights that the resulting glare blurs the distinction between the familiar mechanisms to reveal something so honest and persuasive you fall under its thrall.

Vicari writes the types of songs every high-schooler and every grown-up can relate to. His themes are universal, his delivery is simple, and his commitment is complete.

Sam Vicari plays tonight, April 2, at Ronnys, 2101 N California, 8 p.m., 21+