spot on: The Savage Nomads
A band of which Artrocker says that they have released the best debut album from a British band this year, is always worth a mention. A band that gets a plug from the NME will always gain a few more fans and if the band members bother to clutter your facebook then you know there’s heart in it. They sound quite different to the 70s new-wave and 90s shoegaze bands that suddenly seem to pop out from every corner – no wonder they have been hailed as the saviours of contempory music by The Clash’s Mick Jones.
What’s the story behind the name of the band?
The Savage Nomads were a gang that dominated neighbourhoods in The Bronx, New York, in the late 70s. Unlike most gangs which made a point of racial restriction, The Savage Nomads were made up of African-Americans, Puerto-Ricans, Cubans etc. The point was to ‘protect’ the working class neighbourhood who ostensibly were treated with disdain by the police force regardless of race. What else really stood out to me were the ‘block parties’ that The Savage Nomads held for the whole community; these were street festivals where local musicians would play and poets would recite their verse over the beat of a drum (arguably the foundations of hip-hop).
The best records of all times in the whole wide world?
Prince -Sign of the Times // MF Doom – mmmm food // Nick Drake -Bryter Later // Modest Mouse – The Moon and Antarctica // The Clash – London Calling // Megadeth – Killing is my Business and Business is Good // Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea // Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey //
Scientist – Scientist Rids the World of Evil Vampires // Flying Lotus – Los Angeles // Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come // Kane West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I could do this all day
As a child who did you want to be like?
I wanted to be like Michael Corleone and Noodles from Once upon a Time in America. And Django. Bart Simpson.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection?
5ive. We will rock you. It’s a banger though. The b-side was awesome too. I listened to that and the slim shady LP back to back. They sync up seamlessly.
A book/song that changed us
I’d say we discovered Sonic Youth’s ‘Cross The Breeze’ at a good time. Everyone who reads Catcher In The Rye when they’re kids changes afterwards, I think. I started reading it again recently. So sick.
Our favourite place…
I suppose we have a soft spot for our label’s HQ, Alaska Studios in Waterloo. We made the our début album ‘Coloured Clutter’ there and had a pretty smashing time. Also until we play a bigger stage, Shepherds Bush Empire sticks out as a special memory. We played two nights there with Big Audio Dynamite on their comeback tour earlier this year. It’s an eye-opening experience playing on a stage that big with sound that good. We could certainly get used to it.
What influences would you say was present in your music?
This is always the hardest question because of the nature of our music. I really can’t answer it properly for all four members. The continuous theme in the music we all like is that it is bold, brave and turns an unexpected corner.
What process do you go through when you write your music?
I write lyrics very quickly normally, in one burst of energy you can get a lot out. We’ll jigsaw the music together later in rehearsals, Joe will get it going with a few riffs. He’s got an arsenal of great riffs.
Are you seeking fame or fortune, birds or something altogether different?
First and foremost we just wanna crack on and write songs and play them to as many people as possible. They sound best on a big stage. Anything that comes after is a bonus.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence?
I can’t answer this but a good pal once said, ‘The Clash meeting Adam and the Ants at a tea party hosted by Frank Zappa’. I don’t know if that’s wrong or right but I like it!
UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS:
December 1st – Lock 17, Camden
December 7th – Death 2 Disco at Notting Hill Arts Club
