>>PREVIEW
SLED ISLAND FESTIVAL
Les Savy Fav
Saturday, June 30
MacEwan Ballroom (U of C)
On the heels of an outrageous show in Minehead, England at the All Tomorrow’s Parties (ATP) avant-garde music festival, Les Savy Fav bassist Syd Butler provided some insight into the band’s upcoming headlining performance at Sled Island.
"This will actually be our second time playing Calgary. We played there in the winter many years ago – we had a great time," explains Butler from the band’s home base in ultra-hip Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "We just finished the new record. No release date has been set (but) we will be playing some of the songs in Calgary. The fans have always been a part of our shows – we hope in Calgary (that) they represent.
"Every show they surprise us. I wonder what the people of Calgary will yell out? We hope something funny. We have some fanatical fans – there are many with LSF tattoos. I should start paying people $100 every time I see someone with one.
Les Savy Fav has been crafting records, building a dedicated fan base, and touring heavily since its inception at the Rhode Island School of Design 12 years ago. During their live show, Tim Harrington, hirsute lyricist and vocalist, has been known to command the audience’s attention by performing within the crowd – in some cases asking fans to hold his ankles as he dangles upside down over the guard-rail of a balcony. Les Savy Fav’s current sound draws from eclectic sources ranging from old dub and northern soul to late-’90s synth-punk like Brainiac.
"Our writing process has changed over the years. During our first record we practised all the time. People would come in with a riff, and we would explore it ’till the cows came home. Once (guitarist) Gibb (Slife) left – right before the recording of the Rome EP – we started to play around to create more space. This style seemed to fit us the best as we moved forward. On the newest record (due out in the fall) we asked our friend Andrew to help out. He was instrumental in helping us stay focused and helping us craft certain songs into songs rather than melodic jams."
In addition to playing with Les Savy Fav, Butler founded the popular and independent Frenchkiss Records. The label is home of many emerging bands that have been directly influenced by the sound pioneered by Les Savy Fav (Thunderbirds Are Now!, The Hold Steady, etc.).
Speaking to the breadth of Les Savy Fav’s impact on modern indie rock, Jetplane Landing, a band from the U.K., wrote a song called "Why Do They Never Play Les Savy Fav on the Radio?"
"I heard the song — I was happy to hear it and (was) flattered they thought of us. It’s always nice to be thought of. Regarding radio... Radio is a complicated issue. We never expect to be played as we don't write music for radio. If stations choose to expose Les Savy Fav to new listeners.... Fantastic." |
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