High Harmony

John Denver may have crooned the classic ode to Rocky Mountain highs, but it's the Samples who currently exude those idyllic notions in both music and mindset. Wielding an irrepressible blend of stoner sentiment, hippie idealism, and jam band finesse, this Colorado quintet has spent the past two decades crafting shimmering melodies that are infinitely evocative and blissfully serene, attracting a devoted following in the process. They may have derived their name from the grocery store food samples that provided sustenance during their leaner years, but it was their seamless melding of disparate influences -- principally Neil Young's wistful reflection and the Police's reggae rhythms -- that birthed their beguiling signature sound. That spirited mix of rock, reggae, and homespun folk finds focus in transcendent hymns that bind the lure of the heartland with the solitary ache of fervent desire. Accordingly, expect this rare South Florida appearance to navigate an even divide between revelry and reflection.

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• John Denver
• Neil Young

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The Samples perform at 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $12. Call 954-564-1074 or visit www.cultureroom.net.