John The Savage

Music:

Member Since: 8/31/2007
Band Members:

Sounds Like:

“…a band throwing everything in all at once. Each part clicked and worked as a collective whole. It was as if an orchestra made an impromptu stop at this Bay View cellar to play for 20 or so people…Plenty of bands mix the different musical styles and ideas of their members to create their sound. With John the Savage, these differences aren’t assimilated to create something else; they’re celebrated…John the Savage doesn’t follow the typical formula for a guitar-bass-drum band. The members are experimental and inventive in pulling music out of anything they can get their hands on. They squeeze accordions, blow trumpets, pluck mandolins and shake maracas. They even rattle chains, beat on tambourines and scream through megaphones. If you just looked at their instruments, you’d think the members were part of a marching band…And then there are the backing vocals…Because of its vast musical arsenal, the band’s exact sound is hard to pinpoint. Instead of sticking to one feel or genre, the sound constantly shifts. At times, the band rolls out horn-infused songs that feel more Mexico City than Brew City. Other times the songs are growling and dirge-like. Or the band can shift to a tune that could easily be the theme song of an old spaghetti western…Describing John the Savage’s musical style sounds like a case of genre ADD, but the members don’t care. They’ve embraced the variations of their sound, creating a style can be described as being "very John the Savage…" -- MKE, Justin Shady

"The Milwaukee-based opening act John The Savage sounded like Tom Waits fronting an American version of The Pogues, a version still well in touch with its punk roots. The band was messy and drunken in all the right ways, crafting a sound that was unpredictable and gloriously noisy. Yet when things threatened to spiral out of control, the blaring trumpet of Michael Henderson provided the band with a much-needed sonic focal point. Local music fans take note: This is a band to keep your eye on." -- Michael Carriere, THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS

"[One] of Milwaukee’s most novel new bands...John The Savage, a Bay View band that wonderously emerged in time for this summer’s Bay View Bash, kicks up a lot of drunken racket with accordions, a trumpet and, occasionally, a megaphone." -- THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS

"Best of 2007 List" -- TASTES LIKE CHICKEN

"John the Savage is a relatively new six-piece band that defies easy categorization. Current and former members of El Oso, Spransy & Kolb, Dangeresque, Moonfire Funeral, and others, perform together with guitars, drums, upright bass, keyboards, trumpet, accordion, violin...if you like what you hear, go see their raucous live set..." -- WWW.WMSE.ORG / 91.7FM WMSE

"Being a fan of this band already, it’s very enticing for me to go over-the-top with this post. I’m tempted to use all the colorful metaphors in my arsenal to explain how their performance will make your naughty parts quiver as the band gingerly pleasures your respective ear-p*ssies. But instead, I’m gonna take the high road. I want to approach this in the most rational way possible. I’m not going to marry the sounds of two bands in an attempt to describe John The Savage’s style. It would only end up in me being wrong and quite possibly turning people off to a great band. So all I ask is that you check them out...If you’re a music-lover looking for something a little different, you’ll find it. If you’re an opportunist, bask in the fact that you were one of the first on the bandwagon. And if you’re a hater, here’s some new shit for you to hate on. It’s as simple as that." -- TASTES LIKE CHICKEN

"This six-piece has been around for only six months but they play as if they’ve been making music together for years. They are so, so good. Seriously. I mean, I know I’m not supposed to say "***" on here, but holy *** they’re good. They’re that good...So good!" -- Justin Shady, MKE Online Blog

Type of Label: None