Mihali Welcomes The Samples Frontman Sean Kelly In Colorado

Twiddle frontman Mihali Savoulidis and The Samples frontman Sean Kelly have much in common. Both sure know how to craft a tune and play a guitar and both met their bandmates in Vermont and built huge audiences in Colorado. The pair came together during Mihali’s recent visit to Colorado, where Sean Kelly sat-in for parts of both shows.

Kelly first emerged towards the end of Mihali’s Friday night show at Globe Hall in Denver after Savoulidis wrapped up a cover of “Grey Street” by Dave Matthews Band. Mihali introduced Sean as “his good friend” from “Connecticut/Vermontrado.” Sean took the stage and told the crowd, “I’d just like to say, it’s one of the pleasures of my life to be on stage with this young man this evening.” Kelly went on to say, “I’ve been in the back all night, absolutely blown away.” With that, the duo presented a gorgeous version of The Samples’ classic “Did You Ever Look So Nice.”

Sean handled lead vocals on “Did You Ever Look So Nice,” a song he wrote with original Samples keyboardist Al Laughlin for inclusion on The Samples’ iconic 1992 album No Room. Mihali filled breaks with solos, which garnered words of appreciation from Kelly. Savoulidis is no stranger to “Did You Ever Look So Nice,” as Twiddle has been performing the song since 2013 including a version led by Sean Kelly on March 15, 2013 in nearby Boulder. While Twiddle has only covered the tune three times since the start of 2015, Mihali has played it more frequently at his solo shows and with bassist Zdenek Gubb for their Gubbulidis project.

After the pair finished The Samples tune, Kelly told the crowd “This is the first song I ever learned when I was 16 years old and it’s an old Neil Young song.” Sean and Mihali then delivered a spot-on rendition of Young’s “Cowgirl In The Sand.” Once again Sean Kelly provided lead vocals and Mihali ripped impressive leads. Kelly stuck around for one more, asking Savoulidis “Can we play one of your tunes?” Friday’s collaboration then ended with the Twiddle fan-favorite “When It Rains, It Pours.” Kelly and Savoulidis reprised the situation one night later in Fort Collins, where Sean and Mihali teamed on Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Suite Judy Blue Eyes.”

JamBase reached out to Sean Kelly, who provided comment on the collaboration. “It was a blast to play with (Mihali). He’s a seriously incredible talent on so many levels. I found myself very perplexed at how professional he is and how he uses effects and loopers. It was a true pleasure having the opportunity to jam with him,” said Sean Kelly.

Mihali finishes his solo tour on Saturday night in Manchester, New Hampshire. Twiddle ends the year with a show in Washington, D.C. on the 29th followed by two nights in Albany.

Here’s a recording of the entire show thanks to Space Tapes:

Watch clips of the collaboration:

Setlist (Compiled by Fininnius S Fish)

Set: Carved Lines, Round Here, Blind & Mute, River Drift, Lost In The Cold, Fading State, Lightning Crashes, Juggernaut, Stubborn Smile, Grey Street, Did You Ever Look So Nice (w/ Sean Kelly), Cowgirl In The Sand (w/ Sean Kelly), When It Rains It Pours (w/ Sean Kelly), Visions Of Mohr, Over Land & Sea, Georgia’s Song (w/ Oliver Adams), Invisible Ink