Savages at The Boston Arms - Review & Photos by Sonic Yoof

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

This is going to be novel, a straight rock gig by Savages! It’s only the second time I have seen the band playing in this format and I’m full of expectation. The previous couple of gigs being the rather brilliant broadcast gig at the Ministry of Sound when the band were on fire surrounded by the audience and then the sonic assault of the Savages/Bo Ningen collaboration that spawned the shared album “Words to the Blind”. There is no support band tonight, instead we get some tunes selected and broadcast by Johnny Hostile but no one really takes a lot of notice as we are here for the main act.

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

The lights dim and the stage looks like a reminder of the Birthday Party. Black figures enter and white light picks out the four members. Jehnny Beth starts singing with no backing and then the band come crashing in, Fay Milton beating hell out of her kit, Ayse Hassan’s thundering bass beat and then a wall of noise from guitarist Gemma Thompson. It’s some unholy symphony otherwise known as “I Need Something New” a new song from the forthcoming album “Adore Life” and more new tracks form the opening salvo. In fact they play eight songs from the soon to be released album and on this showing we have no fears of the second album syndrome so many bands suffer from after the triumph of the debut platter.

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

There are small influences of Siouxsie and Xmal Deutschland which flicker occasionally but the music is immense with new single “The Answer” already becoming a firm live favourite. Next is the first old song “Shut Up” which the entire crowd joins in with. “T.I.W.Y.G.” and “Sad Person” are more new songs and they just sound so powerful, then we get “Evil” but the gig is far from that. Jehnny has a charismatic stage presence and she has the audience eating out of her hand. “Do you want it louder?” she asks and the retort is an emphatic “yes, and faster too!”, the band oblige with another great song “Hit Me” then “Slowing Down the World”, Fay keeping a perfect beat to the guitar and thumping bass. “She Will” and “Adore”, which for me is the standout track on the new Album, are brutal and inspiring. 

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

Old favourites “Husbands” sounds every bit as intense as that first listen and the Band finish with a triumphant “Fuckers” which sums up exactly what the Savages are about with the refrain of “Don’t let the fuckers get you down”. It’s a fitting end to a quite brilliant night with a group who are on top form and who know where they are going. With the next London gig being at the spacious Roundhouse I can see no problem with Savages making that next jump up to bigger venues, which will be a shame in some ways, but will mean a bigger audience which on this showing tonight they thoroughly deserve. If you haven’t ordered the new album I suggest you do, it’s going to be a killer!

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

Thanks must go to Sara Jane who got me the ticket but missed tonight after coming to a whole host of Savages shows since they first started - Sonic Yoof.

Savages - Photo by Sonic Yoof

For more information on Savages please check out their official web-site and Facebook page. Thanks to Sonic Yoof, you can see more photos at the Retro Man Blog Facebook page here.