Posts Tagged ‘ SAVAK ’

SAVAK: December 1, 2023 Tubby’s

February 1, 2024
By

I’m appreciating more and more that the bands I love who I would regularly see in Brooklyn have made Tubby’s a regular spot. It’s like Union Pool north and you just might spot someone you recognize. We saw SAVAK there last year with Chris Brokaw and again in December with New Wet Kojak. This time the band showed up augmented with a second drummer, SAVAK-regular Matt Schulz joined by Jeff Gensterblum set up in the center of the Tubby’s floor. The two pounded away for a really unique set. The more drummers the better I always say!

This set features a few songs I hadn’t heard live from SAVAK, like “Oddsmaker” off their last album Human Error/Human Delight which I was glad to finally hear. No new songs in the set but SAVAK do have a new album out soon: Flavors of Paradise, which can be preordered over at Bandcamp.

If the regular Union Pool is still you’re spot, you have a couple upcoming chances to catch SAVAK. The first is a free show on February 20th with J. Robbins of Jawbox fame. You couldn’t possibly go wrong there. Claim your free ticket here. Next up, on March 7th, SAVAK will play a record release show for Flavors Of Paradise. Grab those tickets here.

I recorded this from our usual spot at Tubby’s. Will provided a perfectly-mixed board feed and Sohrab Habibion sweetened things up with his mastering. The sound is killer. Enjoy!

Stream and Download at the Live Music Archive

SAVAK
2023-12-01
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Will) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [40:10]
01. Sick of War
02. No Blues No Jazz
03. Reaction
04. I Don't Want To Be Defended
05. This Currency Exchanged
06. What is Compassion?
07. Dead Dick
08. Christo's Peers
09. Oddsmaker
10. How Many Duchesses
11. Trashing the Ghost
12. Cold Ocean 

Sohrab Habibion - vocals, guitar
Michael Jaworski - vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter - bass
Matt Schulz - drums
Jeff Gensterblum - drums

SAVAK: April 8, 2022 Tubby’s (Kingston, NY)

April 12, 2022
By

SAVAK released their last LP, Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth, on April 10, 2020. To say that was a weird time would be an understatement. I vividly recall exploring my former neighborhoods of Ditmas Park and Midwood, frequently soundtracked by that new LP in those early days.

Now it’s two years later and… here we are. SAVAK’s latest record, Human Error / Human Delight arrives on Friday and I even got to see them play live for the first time in probably three years. Too long! But like those early days, SAVAK’s set from last Friday is a much needed salve. There’s nothing quite like live music and SAVAK’s energy is infectious as ever. This was my first chance to hear some of the new songs, like the standout album-opener “No Blues No Jazz,” “Dealers,” “Cold Ocean,” and a riotous, closing “Set Apart.” SAVAK steer full-throttle towards delight!

SAVAK have a few upcoming dates around NYC, including one at The P.I.T. on May 12, plus opening slots for Jawbox (!) in July and June of 44 (!!) in October, both at Le Poisson Rouge.

I recorded this set with the mics clamped to the soundboard booth, combined with a board feed from FOH Will. I mixed those down and then Sohrab provided some additional mastering. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Stream the complete show:

nyctaper · SAVAK – Live at Tubby's 2022

SAVAK
2022-04-08
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Will) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [40:15]

  1. Early Western Traders
  2. Vis-a-Vis
  3. How Many Duchesses
  4. Dealers
  5. I Don’t Want To Be Defended
  6. Cold Ocean
  7. No Blues No Jazz
  8. Door Deals & Debt
  9. They Are Not Like Us
  10. Set Apart

Buy Human Error / Human Delight via Bandcamp
• • Connect with the band at their Website and on Facebook

SAVAK: April 20, 2018 The Bell House

May 10, 2018
By

There really isn’t a lot of good, original indie rock coming out these days. Sorry to be the bearer of that bad news. But lucky for all, SAVAK aren’t good, they’re great. No, really: I dug Best of Luck in Future Endeavors for sure, but on their second record, the recently-released Cut-Ups, the band has really taken it up a notch or four (or at least enough to warrant all my hyperbole). Cut-Ups features some songs we’ve been listening to on the live circuit for a while now, like “Sick of War,” “They Are Bones,” and “I Don’t Want to be Defended.” But the SAVAK-ery  doesn’t stop there: the band’s got two even-more-recent 7″s up on Bandcamp that in my opinion represent their best material yet. I’ve made a formal request that the band integrate these new tracks into their live sets so we’ll see what we can make happen there. In the meantime, if you need even more newness, this set from last month at the Bell House features the so-new-no-one’s-heard-it-yet “Door Deals” that will have you asking about LP number three.

I recorded this from dead center, with the MBHO’s in DIN stereo configuration, combined with board feed from the Bell House FOH Travis. Geoff Sanoff provided the mastering. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

SAVAK
2018-04-20
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Mastered by Geoff Sanoff

Soundboard (engineer: Travis) + MBHO MBP603/KA200N (DIN, FOB, DFC) > Roland R-26 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, balance, mixdown) > Mastering > Audacity 2.0.5 (fades, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [35:31]
01. Alive in Shadows
02. Christo’s Peers
03. Natural Light
04. I Don’t Want to Be Defended
05. This Currency Exchanged
06. They Are Bones
07. Loma Prieta
08. Drop the Pieces
09. Sick of War
10. Early Western Traders
11. Door Deals

Buy all things SAVAK via their Bandcamp page
• • Connect with the band at their Website and on Facebook

SAVAK: June 11, 2016 Union Pool (Unblinking Ear Northside Showcase)

July 19, 2016
By

SAVAK

Local favorites SAVAK just released their excellent first LP, Best of Luck in Future Endeavors. We had seen a preview back in January and thankfully Unblinking Ear brought them back to Union Pool for their Northside showcase. This afternoon set literally picks up where the album leaves off with a few new songs like “They Are Bones,” “I Don’t Want To Be Defended,” “Loma Prieta,” and “Sick of War.” Like in January, Greg Vegas joins in on saxophone for a few numbers and I’m honestly surprised we didn’t hear cries of “more saxophone!” from the crowd. No further dates currently scheduled for SAVAK, but I’m sure we’ll likely see them again soon promoting this record that will justifiably end up on some 2016 best-of lists.

I recorded this set from our usual location at Union Pool, the room mics combined with a board feed from FOH Kevin. I mixed those down and then Sohrab provided some additional mastering. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Stream the complete show:

SAVAK
2016-06-11
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by Eric PH
Additional mastering by Sohrab Habibion

Soundboard (engineer: Kevin) + AKG C480B/CK61 > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, balance, compression, mixdown, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [33:01]
01. Alive in Shadows
02. Drop the Piece
03. Reaction
04. They Are Bones
05. Knock Don’t Run
06. I Don’t Want To Be Defended
07. Loma Prieta
08. This Currency Exchanged
09. Sick of War
10. Early Western Traders

Buy Best of Luck in Future Endeavors via Comedy Minus One
• • Connect with the band at their Website and on Facebook

SAVAK: January 22, 2016 Union Pool

February 17, 2016
By

SAVAK

It was sad news last year when Obits announced their dissolution. Fortunately we were there for their second-to-last NYC performance, at Brooklyn Night Bazaar back in November 2014. It goes without saying that Obits will be missed. However, Obits alums Sohrab Habibion (also ex-Edsel) and Greg Simpson weren’t quiet for very long. Only a month after that announcement, Habibion and Simpson debuted their new band, SAVAK, having recruited a veritable who’s-who of nineties and aughts indie rock: Michael Jaworski (The Cops, Virgin Islands); James Canty (The Make-Up, Nation of Ulysses); and Matt Schulz (Enon, Holy Fuck); plus Greg Vegas (Hat City Intuitive, Monsterland) guesting on saxophone. SAVAK recently completed the recording of Best of Luck in Future Endeavors, which will be released on Comedy Minus One in late May. I conned my way into a sneak preview of the mastered album—why else tape shows if not for the graft?—and I assure you, this one’s a keeper.

In anticipation of the upcoming record, we made it out for a snowy evening with SAVAK at Union Pool where we were treated to a performance of much of the Best of Luck in Future Endeavors, plus a cover of MDC’s “I Remember.” If I were to make comparisons I’d feel pretty confident making the obvious one to Sohrab Habibion’s classic nineties band Edsel. Additionally, SAVAK channels I.R.S.-era R.E.M., especially on the standout track “Reaction.” The rest of the set will have you shaking in your desk chair in no time, so let this tide you over until the album release.

SAVAK’s next scheduled show is at the Bell House on May 11, with Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkeybirds. Tickets are on sale.

I recorded this set from our usual location at Union Pool, the room mics combined with a board feed from FOH Robert. I mixed those down and then Sohrab provided some additional mastering. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Stream the complete show:

SAVAK
2016-01-22
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by Eric PH
Mastered by Sohrab Habibion

Soundboard (engineer: Robert) + AKG C480B/CK61 > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, balance, compression, mixdown, normalize, fades) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Mastering > Audacity 2.0.5 (downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [37:27]
01. Split Decision
02. Alive in Shadows
03. They Are Bones
04. Reaction
05. This Currency Exchanged
06. Elapsed Remaining
07. Drop the Pieces
08. Sick of War
09. Early Western Traders
10. Call It a Night
11. I Remember [MDC]

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