Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages is music for old souls — for those who remember when rock musicians played real instruments. When players recorded their parts at the same time in one room. When a band’s material could be recreated in a club. When you tested the limits of stereo speakers because you needed to hear this funky band LOUD!
This music is also made by old souls. The group’s most recognizable name is Robby Krieger, the Doors’ guitarist. You knew that. Having such a heralded background gives Krieger the music license to do as he pleases, and he has chosen to put together a quartet of equal parts. While Krieger’s Gibson is prominent on these 10 selections, the set never comes across like a guitarist with a backing trio. I’ll say it again – this sounds like a band.
“Shark Skin Suit” is the first song on Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, and with its opening cascade of notes from Ed Roth’s Hammond B3, the template is set. Kevin “Brandino” Brandon’s electric bass drops in next. Krieger soon makes his entrance, playing a muscular, slightly distorted guitar line. It’s in your face and stays there. The grit of Krieger’s Gibson is punctuated by the drums of Franklin Vanderbilt.
Krieger shares solo space and musical interplay with the other lead instrumentalist, Ed Roth. In addition to the Hammond, Roth plays the Wurlitzer electric piano, a Fender Rhodes, and an acoustic piano. Old school stuff. Synthesizers are heard at times, but the emphasis is on these older keyboards, often sounding like welcome friends returning from a distant era. The audio itself is outstanding, and the mix is great.
Speaking of old school, I’ll show my prejudice by praising Brandino’s use of a four-string bass. It fits what this band is doing. The Grammy-winning Brandino sometimes plays a six and even a seven-string bass, but here he successfully delivers what is needed for these tunes with his four-string.
This music doesn’t try to hide its lineage – the liner notes even name check the Ohio Players. I’ll add a couple of my own: the shifting tempos of “Math Problem” is reminiscent of the groove on Stevie Wonder’s “Contusion.” Maybe this shouldn’t be a surprise since drummer Franklin Vanderbilt previously worked with Wonder. Some of Steely Dan’s more inventive instrumental breaks also came to mind while listening to this Soul Savages set.
As much as I praise the old school elements of this music, it’s not a nostalgia trip. Robby Krieger seems to have long ago become comfortable with his Doors legacy. He is not trying to relive that past achievement here. These are new tunes, and Krieger’s guitar work rarely elicits memories of his former band. One clear example of this is “Samosas and Kingfishers,” a number based on a Ravi Shankar piece featuring Krieger on electric sitar.
If there were any doubts about Robby Krieger’s musical development, it is dispelled in the credits section of the LP’s accompanying booklet. He thanks a variety of people for teaching him that “there are other types of music that are just as fun to play as rock and roll.” As one of Krieger’s guitar colleagues once sang, “Keep on growing”!
The booklet also has a photograph of a set list. It’s partially obscured, but some things are clear. First, these guys can read music – a shout out to diminished scales and suspended chords! The songs played at this gig are also intriguing. There are several numbers from Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, but also included are Jeff Beck’s “Freeway Jam,” on which this band must kill, and “Little Red Rooster,” an old blues tune memorably updated by the Rolling Stones in 1964. I would especially love to hear Robby’s slide guitar on that.
In fact, I suggest this current Soul Savages release be followed by a live set. The sooner the better!
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