Sam Tayloe of Time Sawyer | Bridging Past & Future with Indie-Folk Rock

Q & A with Sam Tayloe

Greazy Keyz : Hey there, what’s going on there, rBeatz fam. Welcome back to another segment of Local Music Somewhere with Greazy Keyz here with a very special guest today, my man, Sam Taylor of the band Time Sawyer. “Sam on Sunday” here with us in the studio to talk about his music and what’s coming up. How’s it going Sam? Welcome to the studio. 

Sam : Great, Greazy. Thanks for having me on, man. 

Absolutely. well you got quite a history as far as I’m concerned with the music scene in Charlotte for the past several years. So give us a little bit of background. Where you came up, how you got things started with your band and some of your inspirations as a upcoming musician when you were younger.

Yeah. thanks man I appreciate that. Started coming to school here in 2009. My good buddy, you know, Houston Norris, played banjo in Time for quite a long time.

Yes, Houston’s amazing. 

Yeah, he really is. We miss him. He’s a large part of the sound and also being able to really help on the business side of the band as we moved through. But started kind of jamming with him. We lived together and wanted to both play. I took some guitar lessons in sixth grade, but then hadn’t played again until my freshman year of school, which would have been college, the year before. 

Wow. 

From some heartbreak, as we all do, and other reasons, I started seeing that it was a fun way to express or be creative in ways that I hadn’t really done before. That kind of started the band. He had started playing banjo at the same time, which is even cooler than the guitar. I have no background on this and to jump in that really interesting instrument and kind of find a way to really work the left and the right hand. He’s been a huge part of starting those things. We had a lot of fun, I think ten years, he was in the band for ten years. 

I was going to say, it felt like at least ten years. 

Yeah, yeah. And he’s now gone back to school, he’s doing some cool engineering stuff, and we’ve still kept up, we stayed hung out together on July 4th. But he was a big part of me starting, and I think we both kind of felt that fuel for each other to kind of push what we were doing. The band started kind of right out of the gate, then with some other guys we went to school with, and it’s kind of transformed and moved as we all do, as we kind of make it through. 

It really has. 

Got a great core group that’s been with me for like six or seven years, a different guitar player that I’ve known for a while now that’s a full -time member of the band. And the four piece keeps chugging along. The pandemic kind of started a whole ‘nother music thing for me.

It did. 

And doing a live stream that turned into some live shows now, that all of our buddies get together and luckily you’ll come do it with me some. 

No, that’s right 

Yeah, it’s been a lot of fun. I’m glad to be a part of our music community in the last 10 to 12, 13 years because I do think it is not from my doing, but there’s been a really a neater pull to be a little closer together and have people call each other and have something more of that community vibe than I thought we might have had right when I moved to town. 

So taking it back to when you and Houston started the band, 12, 13 years ago, you guys have put out quite an impressive amount of music. How many albums do you guys have out?

At this point, maybe seven might be what’s about to come out. I battle this like I think a lot of people do. I find the very first record we put out was about as green as it can be. From, you know, our first studio experiences, I think our second release, you might’ve come to Chris’s studio and put some– 

So that was only the second one, right? Oh, wow, ’cause that just didn’t seem that far away. 

I know, it’s funny when you put it in those contexts of thinking about those moments. It feels like it was a couple weeks ago. 

It really does, yeah. 

I can remember looking through Chris’ recording both and seeing you against that. I guess it was at Hammond, he had it. 

It was at Hammond B3. 

Right against the wall, yeah. 

And we’re talking about Chris Gargess and Old House Studios. 

Man, what a fellow. 

Missing him very much. 

Missing him dearly. 

But yeah, so that was a great experience for me to be in there and to be a small part of the band at the time. And I still enjoy listening to those tracks. And then hearing you guys, the band has evolved to where it was like something you and Houston was sort of the core of, that now you are sort of the leader of, with a great group of guys around you. 

Thank you, man. 

But yeah, so then COVID hit, which rocked all of our worlds, but you made the most of it. So tell us a little bit about what kind of came from that era. 

Yeah, we found, I’m not sure if it was even necessity, I think I was, with the band at that time, being five members, Houston included. It was really trying to keep making any kind of cash we could to try and help us all out and kind of have some money in our pockets. But also, it didn’t take very long to feel that creative element and really enjoying that. This is making me not focus so much on, you know, being stuck at the house or not knowing what may come next with our business or just with life in general. It was called a Sam on Sunday at the time, every Sunday night, the Evening Muse actually was our first, I’ll give them credit for starting the whole thing actually. 

Really? 

They asked, they said we’re doing a live stream, they asked Dane Page, another local fellow, and I believe George Banda was on it. I could be wrong with that, but it was a fundraiser for the Muse, playing maybe five or six songs, and it’s now on Dane’s page. Go check it out. I did that first little 30 -minute live stream in my guest bathroom, which is where it started became kind of a little bit of humor, because probably for the first the whole first season of the show I was in that small guest bathroom. I sat on a road case amp and we just played. It was great. 

Yeah, bathroom acoustics are amazing. 

Yeah, it really was. It was a great setup, but yeah, it kind of spawned this Sam on Sunday. I think we did, I don’t know how many weeks in a row, but it was quite a few and we ended season one and started as we transitioned a little out. We had a small moment during that COVID period where it was like, oh, I think we’re a little bit more in the clear, there was some more opening. And then I think in that period, we came back with still, distant shows, but the band was able to come down, and Neighborhood Theater was nice enough to let us, every other week, we did a show live with them. John Brady, great sound man, came and ran it with us each time, and really grateful for Greg at the theater for letting us do that. Oddly enough, being digital was still a very nice community feel. We had a group chat that kind of ran through the show and had a lot of people that would come each week. I think in the back of my head, always wanted to have something. Once we can all get out here and get back to some quote -unquote normal living, I’d love to have these be live and have a lot of rotating band, have different features, really have music and community as kind of the point of the show. Honestly exceeded what I thought it could. Well, I don’t know if it’s exceeded it because I have pretty lofty expectations all the time, but it’s definitely up there. I worry too much about just playing or the business or what people may think about those things. I need to work on my own. But that was another reason to want to do this. Something fun that is just getting together with your friends, that is creating this music kind of on the spot and being able to let it be something outside of what you call your business, Time Sawyer. If something goes wrong, it’s fine. It is more fun forward. And it’s fun as we were talking, walking in that it’s the spontaneity of it. Really creates these moments that aren’t recreatable. They are one night only, they are things you see and whether it be the musicians working together and creating this or whether it be something the audience really becomes a part of, it’s really become a really heartwarming thing for me, I really enjoy it. 

Well, as being a small part of it, it has been a fantastic addition to the community and it’s so amazing to see something and COVID, obviously brought the worst and the best out of a lot of folks and how you were able to sort of take what was catastrophic and to turn it into a small little thing that has now grown here almost four years later. So if anyone’s unaware, Sam on Sunday are these live music gatherings we curate these incredible regional local artists and and have like sort of like a core band, but then we’ll have featured artists throughout the night who may play solo or maybe some of the band will back up. And in many venues, like you have the Evening Muse coming up.

And Petra’s has been a great help. We do a lot of Petra’s. 

Neighbor Theater some. And it’s true, like every time that I’ve participated, it’s just more and more people are drawn to the music and different artists are collaborating that people probably wouldn’t generally see together.

Yeah, totally. 

And like you said, it’s a one night only sort of experience, you know. The next time, Sam on Sunday is gonna be completely different. So I think that’s just been a really incredible addition to the Charlotte music scene. 

Man, thank you. 

How often do you have ’em? 

This is my secondary fun thing. There is really no plan. It’s when we have the ability to do it. Normally my good buddy Justin Clyde Williams has become my wingman. 

He’s the man. 

He’s my brother, love him to death. 

I tell you what and what a player too and singer. 

Yeah, talk about in the moment. Yeah about somebody that’ll tell you what’s on his mind and that’s really what I think that the core of the show is trying to get people to really understand. That’s the beauty of anything we’re doing is not trying to play like somebody else, but what you can show uniquely of yourself is what we’re all looking for, or what’s gonna make anybody different. It’s something that really shows through in ways that it’s hard to describe sometimes. I think we’re always saying, if I was as good as this guy, or if I could play like this gal, or whatever the setup is, and it really is whatever your flavor that’s coming through in that, is really what’s gonna set you apart, which is neat. 

Ringing in your own voice. 

I want to add that this music scene as a whole, we’re really trying, it is definitely patron forward, but we want the music scene to be involved. Eight dollar tickets for every show if you’re a local musician or artist, or if you want to travel from wherever you live. 

Amazing. 

It’s eight dollars every single show, and want to make sure that that’s, again,

more of a community hang than it is anything. And it’s been neat, really has grown a lot to show some reverence for the music. People are normally pretty quiet. It’s kind of listening room as we do this thing. And then we like to talk about what’s coming up for everybody and really highlight some original music.

And now you’re able to kind of take it on the road some right, getting out of Charlotte with it. So what you got coming up? 

This Saturday we feel awful lucky and kind of the folks in Hickory at the Hum,

a sweet little amphitheater, has asked us to do a SOS on the road. 

Fantastic. 

And it’s gonna be a little different ’cause we’re within restraints. There’s like 15 or 20 people that come out to these and just do something and play. Yeah, so this is gonna be a little more compact. It’s kind of a SOS all-stars, playing some songs we’ve done in the past and highlighting some of the folks on stage there but all the folks playing are in that greater Charlotte scene, so it’s cool 

And then the next one in Charlotte is Thursday, July 18th, correct? 

That’s right. Coming up next week. It will be at the Evening Muse. You’re playing. 

I’ll be there all night. 

We’ve got a really great lineup. As you were saying, we have kind of a core band that we move through a greater group of folks, but it’s always fun. That’s kind of another hidden gem, I think, that makes it really run well. The folks care about making it great. No one shows up and it’s like oh I didn’t really practice for this or I didn’t do my homework to what we talked about we were gonna try and do and that really shows again this just tight -knit feeling that I think is coming from these shows that feel good.

And you know again we kind of owe it all to you for curating such a great group, Sam it’s fantastic. 

I appreciate it. It’s selfish because I’m doing it for fun.

Well I’m selfish for me too, ’cause anytime I get the call, I’m like, yes! 

Yeah, you’re too busy, I’m glad. It’s been a little too long since the last one, so I’m glad this one worked out just perfect.

Thrilled to be a part of it. So along with the band and the Sam on Sunday, you also have a great festival. You host and sort of curate every season called the Reevestock. Can you tell us a little bit about that? 

Yeah, maybe I’ll start with a bombshell. This is gonna be the last year of the festival as we know it. 

No!

We’re gonna move the location. That’s a good thing. So cool. It’s all give and take. Not in a way of trying to sell it to folks, but if you hadn’t been there or if you have been you know the place it is right now. Yeah, really special. 

It really is. 

In the amphitheater in Elkin, North Carolina, and it really is magical. So this will be the last year, this will be our 13th year. And Lucky 13 as we had moving it, we will still be doing a concept, a festival, let’s leave it at that. I’m not trying to say something I have to take back at some point, but the beauty of it is it’s growing, which is kind of what’s forcing the change. So we’ve got some good input from our town in Elkin, that’s where I’m from. And so we’re all working together to make something bigger and better than we’ve had, but again there’s something special about this first iteration that will be changed. So this is the last year of that Reevestock and it’s gonna be October the 11th and 12th. It kicks off at the Reeves Theatre in downtown Elkin with a great kickoff show and then we’ll have the full day festival at this hidden amphitheater, but you can find all that at Reevestock.com. We’re going to announce our lineup, I believe, next week, so y ‘all need to be a good time to follow some social stuff if you’re interested in kind of joining us this year. 

And so Reevestock started, I said 13 years ago, as a way to raise funds for the Reeves Theatre in Elkin, is that correct? 

Yeah. And five or six years after that, two families ended up buying that and have done an amazing job. They’ve been open now for, I think this is the eighth year. Still crazy to think about time moving so fast but yeah it’s been great to have something that has raised more awareness than even capital. We were trying to raise funds but that was such a monumentous group, I was hoping we could just bring some fun music. To say, here’s what you could be doing all the time if we got this place open. And again, I’m not sure we did that necessarily, but luckily it was purchased and opened and now we get to have this kind of full circle moment of having shows in the Reeves. For the last couple of years, we’ve been doing some scholarships for our local high schools.

Oh, fantastic. 

It’s still a benefit festival and a lot of great people participate and the lineup all these years. I would say I love them all the time, but this one this year is kind of a reunion and goodbye to it all is special. It’s a good one. 

Well, so listen up. So if you’re looking to check out a really awesome festival, obviously at the last location, last time is gonna be at the special location in Elkin and be sure to get some tickets to Reeve Stock ’cause it is a fantastic experience. Absolutely. 

The Falllift set with you last year was really special. 

Well, thank you. 

It’s great to kick it all off. Y ‘all sounded so good. 

Yeah, talking about Micah Cottingham and Stephen Hall of the band Falllift,

and I think actually they’re playing tonight at the Neighborhood Theater, opening up for another great band, but they were guests in our show a couple of weeks back, and yeah, I’m very fortunate to get to play with them, and much like the playing with Sam, it’s the connection there musically with those folks is just on another level, so it’s really cool to be part of. 

We’ve got a great community. 

It really is. 

It’s always fun to make sure that people know that. We love what this is doing here in Charlotte. 

Absolutely, again, you’re a huge part of it, Sam, so thanks for everything. We’ve got about 10 more minutes left here. Anything else you’d like to bring up to the conversation or talk about?

Man, I’m not good on the spot like that. 

Ah, jam it. 

We got some music, yeah, we’re playing tonight if folks are watching this live. We’re playing at the Greenway in Fort Mill. Okay, I think that’s a free show. It’s beautiful. Yeah, maybe $5 parking is the only expense, but yeah, beautiful space. We’ll be there this evening if you find yourself close. Yeah, full band. We’d love to see you at the Charlotte one. If you want to drive to Hickory, then come and join us and otherwise I’ll play this song for you, I suppose. 

But you guys have a lot of like a lot of stuff on the road too. 

TimeSawyer.com We’re busy, we just got back from the Northeast had a really great run. Shout out to the folks upstate New York. We love being up there and we’re now gonna stay busy through the end of the year. We’ve got a lot of festivals, a lot of stuff moving around. So yeah. 

Love that. And so we’re going to play a song here a little bit. A new single, right? Tell us about your single coming out. 

I’m glad you said that. We have a single coming out tomorrow. I’m not going to play that one. I’m going to play one that’s already out so you can go listen to it. Decide if you want to hear this next one tomorrow. We’ve got a new project that we’ll have out or a new album out September the 6th, I believe. 

Fantastic, full -length album? 

Yeah, well, it’s probably, it’s in the middle of an EP to full eight, seven tunes. 

Okay. 

We like this middle ground. (laughing) And it’s, I guess we’ll get all that stuff announced. We haven’t really talked about too much of that yet, but it’s September 6th, I believe, will be the release show here, and we’ll also have a vinyl release there. We got some singles, like I said, this one, Noah Got Nothing’s already out and I’ll play that one for you here and the rest of them, we’re coming down the pipe. 

I love that. So are when it comes to songwriting. Are you the core songwriter?

Yeah, Nick Lawrence, who plays in our band now. Yeah, he’s a great player and a great writer. He wrote a song that we’re gonna put out on this project as well, just brought it to the band and we kind of worked it up together. Kind of found out we could add to what he’s already brought. The single that comes out tomorrow, he helped me finish and kind of put some cool bows on it, if you will. I needed some help there lyrically. 

See again, that’s really cool you to, you know, open yourself up to that, collaborating with members of the band and songwriting and stuff like that. So when it comes to like, to your personal approach to songwriting, I mean, do you like, it seems like a lot of your songs tell stories. Do you like just to write songs from your own perspective of things, or do you like to write, you know, or more non -fiction? What’s your approach to that? 

I’ll probably try and find something in the middle. It’s weird how, actually listen, I’m a big fan of the Armchair Expert podcast on Spotify, and Avett Brothers, funny enough, were a guest recently, and their music probably, that 10 to 13 years ago, were a huge catalyst in me wanting to play and being able to emote and have some feeling put into what you’re writing and something that has some depth to it. Or you just know it’s real, I guess, for lack of a better terminology. I think sometimes I’m trying to find a middle ground of telling a story in a sense that might let me speak through that. I’m not writing necessarily songs FOR folks. I’m writing them for myself, but at the same time, I’m trying to think about an audience taking this in and what’s the best way that this might be digested. I’m not necessarily saying I’m correct in what I’m trying to put across, but I do want you to take a look at how you think about things. Like I said, I’m doing it for myself first, but as I’m pushing that out into the world, I’m hoping that folks will— I find that, especially with our last record and this one too, I’m on this track of really wanting folks to realize we’re a lot more the same than we’re different. And the different parts can be the positive parts that is that individuality we talk about. I find myself more and more trying to find different situations to say roughly the same thing. There’s so much of this that we try and pull each other apart and we probably should start looking a little deeper and find out that all the things that make us different is unique and the things that we all long for or want or need are the same a lot of the same. I know that’s easier said than done but I think that’s my ultimate goal these days is to try and connect with somebody and let them think about how to make their life the best they can. Again, I’m saying that for me first but yeah. I’m always saying with these SOS shows I want to connect with folks. I want us all to realize we got some good stuff to do out there. 

That’s right.

Got to maybe center ourselves a little differently. 

Center yourselves differently. I love that Sam. It’s really cool. Thanks, man. I love it. So within that, you know songwriting and stuff so obviously Avett Brothers influence, Jim Croce I know is a big influence. So who are some of your other like major songwriting influencers before 

Right now, I would say, Croce’s up there and just leave the mustache out of it. JJ Kale’s up there. 

Stunning, oh yes. 

Always one of my favorites. That’s a weird SOS staple. If you come to an SOS show, it’s either a Croce or a Kale song, so sometimes you’ll get rid of it. 

That’s why I brought him up. And I love it. They’re a lot of fun to play. 

They, I think, talking about why I like them is they’re not trying to impress you musically, but they’re trying to give you a feeling more than they’re trying to give you, look at this amazing solo. I guess I’m speaking more for JJ Kale, as he’s always saying, I’ve got something emotive to pass on to you more than that you gotta hear exactly what I’m saying, I want you to feel it. And I think that’s something special for him. Petty is the one up there, I really can’t ever remove him, he’s one of my very favorites. And I kind of juggle the rest, I guess. But those three always kind of stay at the very top,

yeah. 

That’s very cool. Well, Sam, thank you so much for coming in and talking with us today about your music. We’re gonna take a quick break here with a word from our friends and sponsors, and we’re gonna hear some live exclusive music from Sam Taylor of Time Sawyer. 

*break*

Welcome back this is Greazy Keyz at rBeatz. We got my man Sam Taylor from Time’s Sawyer, you’re gonna play us a tune

This song is called Noah Got Nothing. 

*song*

Thank you for playing, brother. Take care. 

Appreciate you.