Video Of The Week: Sam Roberts

For no apparent reason, I woke up this morning with this great song in my head. Sure, it's from 2002, but it feels like it's even older!

Sam Roberts is exactly what makes Montréal: he speaks three languages (French, English and Spanish), was born here from South African parents and has played music non-stop since his high school days (early 90s). His former band William, which later became Northstar, didn't amount to much, commercially, but it did spawn a future member of seminal band The Dears.

This song is from his debut EP (another MTL habit), which also spawned the #1 hit Brother Down, which I didn't like as much as this one, the rockier Don't Walk Away Eileen, a story that plays out like one I've lived before (except her name was Brenna). The video takes place in a typical Montréal apartment - definitely lived-in, probably run-down, a hockey game playing on TV in which the Habs are getting their asses kicked by the Philadelphia Flyers, and a family falling apart. Normal Tuesday fare, you know?