By Hilary Saunders
Miamians can be a bit possessive. We like to claim things, and sometimes people, as our own when they give our city a better reputation, even if we’ve only adopted them.
Pastelitos and cafecitos? Ours now. Lebron James and Dwayne Wade brought home trophies, so they are obviously ours.
By this logic, then, Iron & Wine is a little bit ours, too.
Frontman and primary singer/songwriter Sam Beam laughs when I tell him that music fans down here like to associate his music with our town. He sounds a little surprised, and I’d like to hope a little honored. His brief, thoughtful responses reflect his storied demure personality and give glimpses into his beguiling sense of humor. “They definitely gave me my start, that’s for sure,” he says.
Beam, who chats from his new home in Durham, N.C., did in fact live in Miami from 2000-2005. He pursued a career in film down here, teaching at a branch of the national Art Institutes for-profit educational system that was originally called the International Fine Arts College (and is now known as the Miami International University of Art & Design). Word around campus was that Beam used to teach at the University of Miami, too, but he dispelled that pretty quickly. “No, that’s just a rumor. Don’t look to the Internet for actual truth!” he says.
And during that time — in 2002, to be specific — Beam released his first record, The Creek Drank the Cradle, under the nom de plume Iron & Wine. Some argue that it was that LP, a fine collection of rustic, acoustic tunes that gave rise to the now-pervasive movement of new-folkies playing guitars and singing songs evocative of old American traditions.
Two years later, Beam offered Our Endless Numbered Days, led by the simple fingerpicked beauty of “Naked As We Came.” The two-and-a-half-minute confrontation with a lover about death is disguised as lullaby, and it’s still one of the most universally beloved songs of Iron & Wine’s entire career.
After Our Endless Numbered Days secured Iron & Wine as an indie staple, Beam and his family moved outside of Austin, Texas. A native Southerner by way of the Bible Belt of South Carolina, Beam both speaks and sings with a lilting country drawl. His lyrics draw often upon these roots, evoking imagery of Southern landscapes and spiritual truths.
Even since his musical career has led him all over the world, Beam hasn’t forgotten the South Florida community. In the last decade, he’s grown from playing Revolution in Fort Lauderdale to The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach. And this weekend, Iron & Wine returns to Florida for a string of dates starting at the intimate Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, running through Tampa, Orlando, and up through Tallahassee.
This tour in particular is special, though. “This Florida run is all solo,” he says. So it’ll just be me and a guitar.”
Over the past few years, Iron & Wine has moved in a more expansive, experimental direction, as Beam has cited ’70s AM radio, pop, and jazz influences when discussing 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean and last year’s Ghost on Ghost. Translating those songs back to their original forms won’t be an issue, though. As Beam explains, “They all started as just simple songs with the melody and a couple chord changes, so they can all boil down to that much. It’s refreshing to play it a little differently every other night. You’ll definitely recognize them.”
He continues, “It’s different than playing with a band, because you don’t have to worry about people following you. You can switch songs up on a dime. I do a lot of requests when it’s solo.”
It seems like Iron & Wine’s constant is its evolution, as Beam mentions that he’s also been painting, collaborating and writing more in between these shorter acoustic tours, possibly even recording by this summer or fall. He says that most songs start on acoustic guitar, but he’s also been experimenting on the piano recently.
“I haven’t quite gotten to the point where I can play the piano on the stage, yet,” he admits, while also hinting, “Maybe someday I’ll rock it out like Elton John.”
In the meantime, Beam might just drive down to his old haunts in Miami while he’s in town. Usually tight schedules and corralling band members would prevent such excursions, but because Sunday’s gig is the opening night of the tour and he’s on his own, circumstances might provide just the right opportunity.
Beam takes a moment to reminisce about his favorite parts about living here: “I never had to take off my shorts,” he says with a chuckle. “It was great! I loved the water. I loved the immigrant culture. I loved the food. It didn’t feel like America; it felt like South America. It was fantastic.”
But if time permits, Beam might just try to blend into the diversity of our fair city. He pauses briefly.
“I’d go to South Beach and watch the freaks!” he deadpans. “I’m kidding! I would like to go in the water, though.”
IRON & WINE appears at The Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $30; visit http://www.cultureroom.net