AMBITION BURNS IN A SAVAGE WAY
WHEN Derry’s Wood Burning Savages began recording their eagerly awaited debut album Stabilit, they set themselves a big target.
Livewire frontman Paul Connolly said: “We were very ambitious and wanted to make the best f***ing album a band from Northern Ireland has ever produced. Something worldbeating – a collection of timeless songs that people can call upon to lift their hearts.”
The Savages have built their reputation with electrifying live shows. Hailed as the best band to come out of Derry since the legendary Undertones, WBS made it to Glastonbury last summer and the new bands Introducing stage.
Paul said: “We were nervous, especially as Blondie were playing Heart Of Glass about 100 yards away from us. But the audience were amazing, singing along to choruses and really getting into it.”
Exciting, outspoken and in your face, WBS are everything a combative rock ’n’ roll band ought to be but invariably aren’t.
Paul added: “Bands are all leather jackets and grizzly haircuts but are often afraid of saying anything to alienate anyone. My frustration about the political workings of Northern Ireland is that agendas seek to keep people divided.”
Debut album stand-outs Freedom of Movement and Sisters of Mercy bring punk dynamism. The former tackles the repression of the Tory Government and Donald Trump, while the latter has the Catholic church in its sights.