Howdy musical automaton enthusiasts!
After wrapping up our last live show of the year in Bakersfield, California this past weekend, the band sees 2016 come to a close. We had a thoroughly enjoyable year full of concerts, conventions, music videos, and even a new album release. Our fans have truly humbled us this year, and we love seeing familiar faces, meeting new fans at our shows, and of course are always thankful for the love and support sent to us through email, fan mail, and our social streams!
Now that our last show for the year is over, we feel the time is right to make a very big announcement for 2017.
Samuel Luke, who plays the beloved mustachioed robot “Hatchworth,” is departing the band to pursue his own artistic endeavors. Sam approached the band a while ago about wanting to focus on his own personal art projects, but he wanted to stay on as a member until a suitable replacement for him could be found.
Sam joined the band in 2011 as a drummer to work with the band as they performed at the San Diego Zoo from 2011 to 2012; after which he became a lead robot performer after Jon Sprague’s departure in 2012. It’s been a fantastic ride with Sam and we’ve accomplished much together in the last six years.
It has taken quite a lot of time, but Isabella Bennett (Rabbit), David Bennett (The Spine), and Samuel Luke (Hatchworth) have found a replacement and have been training him for his debut.
Please welcome Mr. Bryan Barbarin and his robot character “Zero” to Steam Powered Giraffe!
Bryan is a friend of the Bennetts from their college days, well versed in musical theater, mime, acting, and a plethora of other talents. He even has his own band called ‘The Routine’ that he sings lead vocals in (http://www.theroutineband.com/#theroutine).
Isabella, David, and Bryan had an improv troupe in college together, performed in college theater productions, and did a touring children’s show under the direction of Jerry Hager (Kazoo the Mime of Seaport Village fame). Now Bryan joins the Bennetts on stage as the robot Zero, alongside ballet dancers/Walter Workers Chelsea and Camille Penyak, and the band’s sound engineer Steve Negrete.
Sam’s departure is bittersweet for the band and many fans. No one can replace what he brought to the act with his character Hatchworth, but of course we wish him well in his artistic endeavors! There is an excitement in the air having a new performer on stage, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with Bryan, Zero, and the next iteration of the act as we continue into the new year.
However, we have a special holiday present for you to hint at things to come, and to wrap up 2016: A brand new song and music video featuring the newest member of Steam Powered Giraffe, Bryan Barbarin as Zero the robot!
It’s our cover of the song “A Marshmallow World,” and it’s just in time for the winter holidays. The music video features Zero, The Spine, Rabbit, and the Walter Workers Chelsea and Camille.
Along with the music video, we have a brand new episode our podcast “The Bennettarium” scheduled this week that features David (The Spine), Isabella (Rabbit), Sam (Hatchworth), and Bryan (Zero)! That’s right! All of the robots together for one special podcast! We will be recording and livestreaming this episode of the podcast to Engineer-eteers this Tuesday (December 20th) at 3:00pm PST. https://steampoweredgiraffe.com/engineers
The podcast episode will go live that evening for everyone else to listen to for free after the stream. We hope you’ll tune in to send Sam off and welcome Bryan on board!
We would also like to take this time to announce Zero’s first live performance with Steam Powered Giraffe!
Saturday February 18th 2017 at the The Center Theater at The California Center for the Arts in Escondido, California: http://artcenter.org/event/steam-powered-giraffe
We’ve got plenty of shows lined up after that around the United States (and abroad perhaps? Fingers crossed), and we can’t wait to share the new act with you all!
With all of that said, we’d like to leave you with some parting words from Sam.
Please be sure to follow him for his future endeavors, and support the music projects he puts out!
“2016 has been a tough year for the entertainment industry and now to top it all off Hatchworth is leaving Steam Powered Giraffe. This is one way of looking at it however I assure you it’s going to only increase the amount of art and music in 2017 for you. I’m leaving the group so I can focus solely on my own personal goals. I’ve learned a lot from my time with Steam Powered Giraffe (an informal college education if you will) and it all takes a lot of time and energy. Of course it’s going to be risky for me but that risk is only on me. The risk is even greater for a character-centric act to replace a well-liked (hopefully) character, but all of us at Steam Powered Giraffe really feel that you’re going to like Bryan and Zero. So look at it this way: SPG’s family is growing. We’ve got a new member of the family and baby Sam has graduated big boy school and is off to smash his art and his music into your eyes and ears. Thanks for having me and until next time.” -Samuel Luke (Hatchworth)
Keep up to date with what Sam’s up to next on his twitter (http://www.twitter.com/samhears)
You can also check out his personal music on bandcamp (http://samhears.bandcamp.com)
And of course, you can watch him make art and play video games on twitch! (http://www.twitch.tv/samhears)
Cheers Sam! And thanks for a great six years!
