― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 30 November 2002 07:29 (10 years ago) Permalink
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 30 November 2002 07:34 (10 years ago) Permalink
"trudge" is a pretty solid EP moves away from the shit-slinging lyrics of the first LP and towards the sound they would pursue for a while: desert soundscapes created with gritty, almost surf-like guitars, eastern scales, and a morricone western soundtrack quality. the reissue also contains the instrumental version of "ceremonial," which has kind of a 4AD vibe at times and is a little dull considering it was recorded with male and female vocals (mobilization is selling CDRs of the vocal version).
"jamahiriya" is a little more aggressive and the songwriting is stronger, though the weird (male?) somewhat high-pitched vocals might get on some people's nerves. it's also back to verging on pretense a la the 1st album, and includes a cover of alternative TV's "viva la rock and roll."
there are also plenty of related projects (nisi period, 17 pygmies, autumnfair, scenic, brad laner's stuff) that i know next to nothing about.
helpful:http://allmusic.com/ has some useful infohttp://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=savage_republichttp://www.mobilization.com/ has some sound clips
― your null fame (yournullfame), Saturday, 30 November 2002 08:04 (10 years ago) Permalink
Your Null Fame sums up the basics, but doesn't mention the last studio release, Customs, which was done with traditional Greek instruments in that country when all their equipment was impounded while trying to tour -- there's a box set through Mobilization that has pretty much everything they did in studio, while there are also a couple of live discs plus some random live tape and vinyl as well. Scenic is Bruce Licher's band and after some okay releases they've suddenly turned fantastic with The Acid Gospel Experience, it just came out. Autumnfair's stuff has been rereleased on disc via Mobilization -- dank 4AD postpunk, like early Cocteaus or early Xymox, say, with some great guitar. Brad Laner in Medicine = lord save us. Brad Laner with Electric Company and Amnesia = pretty damn godlike. BL with Fourwaycross = don't know.
Anyway, Chris Barrus to thread!
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 30 November 2002 16:31 (10 years ago) Permalink
― Andy K (Andy K), Saturday, 30 November 2002 16:51 (10 years ago) Permalink
I second Ned's rave of The Acid Gospel Experience, which came free in the mail from the Emigre font house. Scenic's Acquatica was also superb.
I still haven't seen the Savage Republic box.
― Curt (cgould), Saturday, 30 November 2002 16:56 (10 years ago) Permalink
Friend Chelsea, I believe, was the one who came up with the description of them as "Joy Division grown up in the LA desert" -- I think that works! There's definitely metal bashing, though, yus.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 30 November 2002 17:02 (10 years ago) Permalink
― Andy K (Andy K), Saturday, 30 November 2002 17:02 (10 years ago) Permalink
― bob zemko (bob), Saturday, 30 November 2002 17:14 (10 years ago) Permalink
SR gets thrown into the industrial category because they bashed around on flaming oil drums and played a desert generator show with Neubaten back in the day, but I've always found more of a Joy Division sound to them. As if instead of Manchester and Iggy Pop, JD were from L.A. and listened to the Ventures.
I never got to see SR back in the day, but the reunion shows this month were head and shoulders above the live recordings I've heard. Er, wow!
And yeah, that new Scenic album is up on my top 5 of the year.
― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Saturday, 30 November 2002 18:22 (10 years ago) Permalink
Savage Republic was a unique band and I am going ahead to search out another record in the future.
― earlnash, Thursday, 18 March 2004 22:47 (9 years ago) Permalink
― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:25 (9 years ago) Permalink
― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:28 (9 years ago) Permalink
― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:30 (9 years ago) Permalink
― udu wudu (udu wudu), Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:33 (9 years ago) Permalink
Just remembered a White Glove Test record I had. Now THAT was atrocious.
― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 18 March 2004 23:38 (9 years ago) Permalink
Compliment or not? ;-) I like the one album I have.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 00:18 (9 years ago) Permalink
* Thur Nov. 10 - Portland, Oregon 2Gyrlz Presents: at Tonic Lounge 3100 NE Sandy Blvd NEARLY SOLD OUT! $7 adv / $10 door 21+ Tix in stores now! o Green NoiseRrecords at 2615 SE Clinton St o Scary Monster music at 2407 NE Alberta St Tickets: email: 2gyrlz 'at' 2gyrlz.org * Fri Nov. 11 - (TBA) ALL AGES * Sat Nov. 12 - Davis, California at the DAM House $5 donation - ALL AGES 503 E. St, Davis, CA with GANG WIZARD (L.A.), the PLANET THE (Portland), and the KING COBRA (Oly) * Sun Nov. 13 - Oakland, CA at the Golden Bull with BLACK ICE and BOYSKOUT
New CD EP 2006 release
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 18:26 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 18:29 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 19:31 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 22:06 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Brad Laner (Brad Laner), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 22:23 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 22:38 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 22:41 (7 years ago) Permalink
You didn't get the memo? ;-)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 23:52 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Brad Laner (Brad Laner), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 00:42 (7 years ago) Permalink
Savage Republic will play my living room!
Saturday, November 12 @ DAM House, 503 E Street in Davis, CA w/Gang Wizard & Anni Rossi (LA) (& me), The Planet The (PDX), & The King Cobra (Oly) plus followed by PIZZA PANEL DISCUSSION
feat. pies shipped in dry ice from Chicago & NYC & brought from Bay Area, Davis, and Sacto 6:30 doors/7:00 music (SHARP!)/10:30 pizza & discussion
The most outspoken pizza critics here are invited to bring their favorite pizza and be on the panel. You need to tell me...
(a) I'm coming (b) I'm bringing a pizza from ______.
I will be supplying these Davis pizzas: * Symposium's Greek pizza * Village Bakery kiln-baked fancy veggie pie Plus, Sacto pizzas... * Zelda's deepdish * Luigi's * Giovanni's * El Primo Taqueria y Pizzeria 30-inch Mexican pizza
I'm so stoked that Savage Republic would agree to play in my house. It's just crazy to even think about it. They were my very first live show back in 1987. They were the first record I bought at Amoeba. I've been a fan of this band since I was about 12. These guys are pretty legendary, having provided one of the West Coast's best answers to "No New York" with their "Tragic Figures" LP, and having been around the world a couple times and packing a soccer stadium in Greece on the strength of Greek fanfare over their "O, Adonis" single.
I never expected them to agree to add to this show, but then it happened. They played three Davis house-shows between 1984-1989, and they said they remember them as some of their best and favorite live shows.
We can't do DAM House shows very frequently, so we try to make every one of them special. But this one will be made extra special, and that's why the unnecessary ridiculousness of the lavish pizza party must be included.
We strongly suggest a $5 donation.
Beer to mild buzz will be provided, but you should bring your own if you wanna get crocked or make others so crocked. Please stop shy of puking at my house!
History of DAM House... http://www.daviswiki.org/Dam_Haus
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 November 2005 21:59 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Bimble The Nimble, Jumped Over A Thimble! (Bimble...), Sunday, 13 November 2005 04:35 (7 years ago) Permalink
New Savage Republic album coming in November on Neurot.
new tracks on myspace:
listening to the music reference points: Pil, Mogwai, Wire, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Dif Juz, Television
Savage Republic http://www.myspace.com/savagerepublic
http://tinyurl.com/2yhmwx
New SR press release for "1938"
Los Angeles art-punk pioneers Savage Republic have come roaring out of osbcurity with "1938", their first full-length album of new material in 18 years, hot on the heels of this spring's powerful "Siam" EP, both on Neurot Records. The new album will be available in November, 2007.......................
― djmartian, Friday, 6 July 2007 22:44 (5 years ago) Permalink
Goddamnit why I can't I see these shows:
---
LANTERNA with special guest: SCENIC guitarist BRUCE LICHER, formerly of SAVAGE REPUBLIC
Friday, 10th August 2007 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor Street - Champaign IL 10pm 5 $5.00
Sunday, 12th August 2007 Millenium Park - South Promenade Stage Chicago IL 1pm 5 FREE
Henry Frayne guitar, backing trcks Nick Macri bass Eric Gebow drums Bruce Licher unison-tuned guitar
Scenic (and former Savage Republic) guitarist Bruce Licher will be joining Illinois-based instrumental group Lanterna for two live performances on August 10th and 12th, 2007. Licher and Lanterna guitarist & songwriter Henry Frayne have collaborated previously, with Licher adding fresh melodies to accompany Frayne's music at several performances in Arizona during 2003 and 2004. These 2007 performances will feature a full-band version of Lanterna with Henry Frayne on guitar, Nick Macri on bass (from the Chicago-based group The Zincs), longtime Lanterna collaborator Eric Gebow on drums, and Bruce Licher on unison-tuned guitar and effects. This will be a rare opportunity for fans of evocative instrumental music to see these musicians create their unique sounds in a live setting.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 16 July 2007 17:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
I've never heard these guys before but this new album is pretty great. It's like 70 minutes long and there are shit tons of dub bits and big rolling martial drums and desert rock guitars and and and. There's a quote on a sticker on the front from "Scott Kelly (Neurosis)" (if you have to put what he does in brackets maybe he isn't famous enough to have a quote on a sticker) which is sorta funny (quite possibly actually commissioned by him?) but this does not detract from the overall Thing.
― DJ Mencap, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 13:48 (5 years ago) Permalink
Have to hear this. 'Tragic Figures' predates early Sonic Youth and sounds quite a bit like them to my ears.
Saw them in Glasgow way back. Great show, seemed like great guys.
― Soukesian, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 19:09 (5 years ago) Permalink
What I love about Tragic Figures is how it's this tribal american version of Joy Division.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 19:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
just bumping to say I've been playing "The Birds of Pork" a lot off of "Customs" because it is GREAT. Also it kinda sounds a lot like "Robot Factory" by Swell Maps but with amazing harmonies. Good good good music.
― Chinavision (altair nouveau), Monday, 6 July 2009 05:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
Savage Republic are playing this Saturday at the Hemlock in SF, and I am opening. Come if you're in town.
― akm, Thursday, 16 September 2010 18:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
We are going to try and make this.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Thursday, 16 September 2010 18:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
don't forget the lavish LTM retrospective
http://home.planet.nl/~frankbri/ltm2557.html
― the groin transfer (electricsound), Friday, 17 September 2010 00:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Would b there if I could!
― Nano McPhee (admrl), Friday, 17 September 2010 00:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
The new Savage Republic record (Varvakios) is up on Spotify and sounds very good. Think there's a ltd vinyl version too.
― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Monday, 10 September 2012 13:15 (8 months ago) Permalink
http://open.spotify.com/album/4fB7WB6N1GPJSX78HgV3SM
Is Bruce Licher on this?
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Monday, 10 September 2012 13:24 (8 months ago) Permalink
^ a good question
― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Monday, 10 September 2012 13:33 (8 months ago) Permalink
Wonder when Brad Laner last posted here?
― aerosmith suck because their corporate rock that sucks (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 10 September 2012 14:03 (8 months ago) Permalink
I think Bruce separated from the rest of SR quite a while back & now lives in Arizona. Not heard anything new on the Scenic front since the Acid Gospel Experience but am hoping he's still making music.
I wrote this 10 years ago with a lot of band input through the Procession yahoo grouphttp://www.mobilization.com/artists/savagerepublic/press/press_clips/perfect%20sounds%20Savage%20Republic%20oct%2030%202002.htm
& several SR live sets have turned up on Dime since then, doubt if any of them are still up, but might be worth a look.
― Stevolende, Monday, 10 September 2012 14:44 (8 months ago) Permalink
Bruce Licher did artwork for SR as recently as Siam (2007), but as far as I'm aware worked musically in Scenic (1993-2003, Incident at Cima (1995) especially recommended for fans of Western desert instrumental rock) and solo (there's a 2006 CDr Exploratorium I haven't heard).
― A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down (Sanpaku), Monday, 10 September 2012 16:04 (8 months ago) Permalink
Scenic are great but I prefer Acquatica to Incident at Cima.
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Monday, 10 September 2012 16:41 (8 months ago) Permalink
no bruce isn't on this. he did do the artwork for the vinyl though. this album was recorded in greece as an experiment; SR are still working on a longer, full in-the-studio album.
― akm, Monday, 10 September 2012 18:01 (8 months ago) Permalink