A candid interview with
Thrillride's Sam Harmon
January 2021 Page 3
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Thrillride's Sam Harmon
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Recently, I enthusiastically joined THRILLRIDE as their bass player. Right of the bat, I realized there is something special here. The bond with my bandmates was quick, special and unique from my past band experiences. In the process, Ive had a chance to hang out and visit with Sam Harmon, our front-man. Most know Sam as that high-energy singer who is running around on and of stage belting out a crazy-wide variety of songs with a big smile on his face. What some may not know is Sams busi- ness and marketing talents. So I asked him if hed be cool with an interview. When Sam agreed to sit down to answer a few questions, things got fun, quick. So, lets start with a quick over- view: If you dont know of Sam Harmon, he has been in the NW music scene since the early 90s as a lead singer. His musical ride started when he was discovered by the late great James (Jim) Miller, of Blues Festival fame. Jim worked with Sam at an ad agency, where Sam was the Creative Director. After a night of Karaoke, Sams raw stage enthusiasm and energy caught Jims attention. Together, they created a country act called ALL NIGHT COWBOYS. The band's regional success happened quickly. Before he knew it, Sam was playing at nearly every fair, event and festival throughout the NW. His rise included opening for stars like Merle Haggard, John Michael Montgomery, Colin Raye and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He also performed for the troops in the Mid- dle East on a USO tour during the 1st Gulf War. Sams current band, THRILLRIDE has been a mainstay in the NW for over a decade, play- ing at many fairs, events, casinos, clubs and festivals. Something most folks didnt know is Sam has also been a con- stant presence in the NW adver- tising scene for over 25 years. He has designed and produced adver- tising for many of the NWs biggest events, including Waterfront Blues Festival, Bite Of Oregon, Washing- ton County Fair, Oregon Airshow, Portland Roadster Show and many more. (www.harmongraphics.net).
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He also creates all the marketing for our band THRILLRIDE (www. thrillrideband.com). For this interview, I wanted to get beyond Sam as the entertainer, and get to the man behind the curtain. What is your secret to making such a strong connection with the audience? "First of, thank you for saying that. I feel the connection, too. Second- ly,iIf I told you, I would have to kill you! But seriously, I genuinely care about the happiness of everyone who chose to be with Thrillride on any specific night. There are way too many great bands out there that they could of chosen, but for that night, they chose us. I never want them to regret their choice. I specifically love to go out and meet folks before, during and after the shows. Ive met some amazing people and have made some wonderful friendships from getting to know folks. Connecting with the audience on a personal level seems to make us all feel stimulated, validated, and safe to let loose and enjoy ourselves amongst friends. Combine that with being on stage with guys I honor as musicians and love as friends, and it's party on! What have you learned from your marketing experience and success that has helped your music success? "Just as in every advertising and marketing strategy for any event, product and/or service, if you truly want to fulfill the consumer's needs, you MUST step away from being the product and become the people who are wanting that product. In the context of music, you not only need to have a deep understanding of the real reasons people enjoy live music from a personal-need perspective, but you also have to know your role as a mu- sician/band in the entire experience." What are some the reasons peo- ple cant get enough live music? "When you really break it down, people simply want to escape to a place where the can be taken away for a few hours, to a place illed with the healing power of mu- sic and the STIMULUS and VAL- IDATION of being surrounded by friends and strangers alike. Ev- eryone Ive met and visited with at shows have issues they, or some- one they care about, are dealing with in their lives. Sometimes they are small, other times they can
be huge. The environment of live music usually doesn't heal any of the issues (well, dancing can help health issues), but it is an extreme- ly powerful distraction, just like common pain-killers or even drugs. For a few hours (if done right), we are all reinvigorated (even us musicians)our souls are given a much-needed break. We are given an opportunity to let loose and blow of steam. The energy of a lively crowd and a passionate band is priceless for the stimula- tion needed to feel alive again. Add to that the overall unpredictable craziness that can happen any second at any show, along with the awesome people-watching, and all driven by a kick-ass bandyou get a bunch Hell yeah!
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