*Please navigate our seating chart by either using the “+/-“ symbol in the lower left corner or right click and drag the chart to your liking.*
THE SAMPLES
Sean Kelly is best known for his high voice, unique guitar playing and songwriting (“Nature”, “Feel Us Shaking”, “Did You Ever Look So Nice”) rock, reggae and folk singer/songwriter. The front man for The Samples was born February 7, 1965 in Norwalk, Connecticut. The son of a WW2 veteran and a mom who worked construction to put food on the table, Kelly grew up in Vermont. While attending only one year of high school, he began playing guitar and composing his own songs. After moving to Colorado in 1987 to start a band, Kelly became a fixture on local club stages as the front man for The Samples, playing original songs with a variety of rock, reggae and folk. The Samples are currently recording their 20th album, Indian Summer, to be released later this year. Kelly’s songs have been featured in Perks of Being a Wallflower and more recently in television’s Younger and in ads for MSNBC’s midterm election coverage.
With their relaxed, slightly jazzy pop, The Samples were one of the most popular touring bands of the early ’90s. After a bad experience with a major label, the band began releasing their own records independently, building support through a grassroots network of fans. Through constant touring, the band blew up around the country and the world.
The Samples formed in early 1987, when Sean Kelly and Andy Sheldon moved to Boulder, Colorado, from Burlington, Vermont, where they had previously played guitar together. In Boulder they decided to start a band, with Andy taking up bass instead of his native guitar. The duo placed an ad for a drummer at the University of Colorado, and Jeep MacNichol answered. They were also joined by a second guitarist, Charles Hambleton. The name The Samples originated when the band was practically surviving off of free food samples at local King Soopers supermarkets.
Based in Boulder, the Samples played their first gig there on Easter Sunday, 1987, at local bar Tulagi. They played mainly covers, including songs by the Police, Bob Marley, and Neil Young, but quickly added originals to their repertoire. Al Laughlin saw the band playing at a frat party, and asked if they needed a keyboard player to round out the band. He was taken up on his offer and the Samples became a five-peice, gaining popularity and expanding their fan base and touring efforts.
After releasing a self-titled album on their own label in May, 1989 the band was signed by Arista Records. Due, however, to irreconcilable differences between the band and the label, The Samples left Arista after releasing only one album (a re-release of The Samples). Soon after leaving Arista, The Samples released Underwater People, a collection of live and studio tracks, on their own label and continued to tour.
The Samples signed with the newly formed label What Are Records? (W.A.R?) in April, 1992, and released No Room. They then hit the road for 18 months of touring. This tour included the band’s first annual headlining show at Red Rocks Amphitheater in September, 1992, an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in March 1993, and a feature slot in the H.O.R.D.E. festival tour. At the end of this exhaustive tour, The Samples returned to the studio, and the result was The Last Drag, released on W.A.R? in September, 1993. Touring as hard as ever, the band played to over 120,000 people from January to April, 1994, and performed in front of 50,000 when they highlighted Boston’s WBOS Earth Day Festival in April.
After relaxing over the summer of 1994, the band returned to the studio to record Autopilot, which was released in September, 1994 along with a documentary video, Ten Wheels. Autopilot, the last release in The Samples’ contract with W.A.R?, debuted at number one on Billboard’s National Heatseekers Chart. Late in the year, Sean recorded and released a solo album, Light House Rocket.
In early 1995, the band left W.A.R? and signed with MCA records. They also dropped long-time manager Ted Guggenheim in favor of Walt Beery, producer of The Samples and Autopilot. They spent a month in late 1995 in Los Angeles recording their sixth album, their first for MCA. The album, Outpost, was released in July, 1996. The band did not tour extensively between fall 1995 and mid-summer 1996, but Sean staged a solo tour in the Midwest. In this time the band also decided to change management again, this time hiring Rob Kos of Metropolitan Entertainment.
In late summer, 1996, the band hit the road to tour in support of Outpost, although they did so as a three-piece, while Al stayed in Colorado to clear up some personal and legal matters. Jeep and Andy also released solo albums during this time. Jeep’s With a Fist, and Science Fiction from Andy’s band Hazard, were both released on the W.A.R.? label. Al rejoined the band midway their fall tour with Jars of Clay, but the band left the bill after running into problems with Jars’ predominantly fundamentalist Christian fans. Shortly thereafter Ted Guggenheim was re-hired to manage the band.
During the winter and spring of 1997, the Samples relations with the “new regime” at MCA fell apart, and claims of breach of contract flew both ways as the record company tried to duck its obligation to pay for The Samples to record another album. During the spring tour it was announced that Jeep and Al would be leaving the band in order to pursue other musical interests. Their final shows with the band, in Boulder in May, also featured the return of ex-guitarist Charles Hambleton.
In July of 1997, The Samples debuted their new lineup, with the additions of Kenny James on drums, Alex Matson behind the keyboards and Rob Somers on acoustic guitar. The now five-piece Samples recorded at several of their first shows and rehearsals, tracks that would become the September 1997 release Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility, released as a one-record deal with W.A.R? Ted Guggenheim was re-fired as the Samples manager.
After successful fall and winter tours, the band returned to the studio during the spring of 1998 to record their next album, Here and Somewhere Else, which was released on W.A.R? in July of the same year. Shortly after the release of that album, Kenny James left the band in order to commit more time to his solo projects. His replacement was Sam Young, former drummer for the Winebottles.
In the summer of 1998 the band reunited with Kim Turner for management (former Manager and Tour Manager to The Police and Sting, as well as Producer of the 1989 Samples Sigma album). After a few short months working with Turner, the band changed management yet again, this time to longtime friend Ted Weinrib of T.N.T. Artist Management took over the job of both band management and tour management. The Samples continued to tour the United States, it was at this time that the now notorious feud with the bands longtime record label started. After spending a year as manager/ tour manager Ted Weinrib left the Samples.
Why is there a difference in price for available seats at The Music Room?
All seating at The Music Room is acquired with a first come, first served basis approach. The Music Room provides all patrons with a live musical experience above and beyond your average concert hall, and supporting this vision are the 4 tiers of available seats at The Music Room. With a nod to classic record sales certification, the 4 tiers are: Diamond, Double Platinum, Platinum, and Gold. Seats range in price based on several factors including artist availability and distance to the stage.
Do you have the same number of seats for each tier?
No. The Diamond tier of seats only has 12 seats available. These seats are 4 top rounds located right at the foot of the stage. You cannot get any closer to the artist than these 12 seats. These are considered premium seats and are usually purchased by the most ardent fans.
The Double Platinum sections features 4 top square tables and one special 2 top rectangle, and there are 14 seats available. Still very close to the stage, these seats provide an exceptional view and personal experience. Table no. 7 is a 2 top rectangle that sits just to the right of the stage and back approximately 6 feet. It is an extremely popular table.
The Platinum section of seats has a mixture of 4 top squares, two 3 high top rounds, and 9 drink rail seats that are bar height. The total number of seats in the Platinum section is 37. These are all excellent seats and reside in the main room. Depending on a viewer’s personal taste, a table, a high top, or a drink rail might be the right choice, but they are all fabulous and unobstructed.
Gold seating is available in the bar area and can be considered first come, first serve general admission. Most of the seats are unobstructed but depending how patrons sit at the bar or high tops, there might be a slight obstruction. Standing room is permitted in the Gold section. The sound is excellent and most Gold level tickets are purchased by patrons that want to be near the bar specifically or by patrons wanting to be further away from the stage by design. Please refer to our pictures to determine if this area is what you are looking for. There are only several seats available and mostly Standing Room.
*TICKET DISCLAIMER: The Music Room has a NO REFUND POLICY. In the event of a cancellation/reschedule, The Music Room will always honor the purchased ticket for the same seat and same artist at the original price. If a show is cancelled and not rebooked, ticket holder will be issued a credit towards any future show/event at The Music Room. Ticket holder assumes all risks, hazards, and dangers. Event subject to change. No ticket required for entry. Please bring I.D*