Savoy Motel and Black Mountain

Paul Hudson — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 15:01:13 +0000

Tonight I put on my flares, tank top, grew my hair long and headed back to the 1970s for two different bands both equally influences by the 1970s.

First up was Savoy Motel at Rough Trade East. On first listen, I wasn’t sure if I liked their album. It was a little bit too funky but live, sounded great. They’re a tight and talented band playing with a real quality

Quickly heading up to the Dome for the second 70s inspired band, the excellent Black Mountain. They’re a band steeped in 70s bands like Pink Floyd and Zeppelin. They’re a really good live band. Tight and talented.

Black Mountain at Rough Trade

Paul Hudson — Mon, 02 May 2016 14:44:10 +0000

I do like Rough Trade gigs. They’re a good deal. Album and gig for the price of the album. It’s a good way of taking a chance on a new band. In Black Mountain’s case, I’d heard one of their songs on the radio and thought I’d pick up the album, the gig was a bonus.

Black Mountain are a band out of time. They are stuck in the 70s. They clearly grew up on a diet of Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. With heavy riffs and a glorious MOOG. I listened wondering why there aren’t more bands doing the same. Their sound was gloriously rich and warm. None of this plinky plonky keyboard sounds we’ve been putting up with since the 80s. Their guitars were meaty without being veering off into heavy rock. They’re an analogue band in digital age and sounding all the better for it.

On first hearing I thought thought they were ‘Zeppelin’ rather than Floyd. But live, with with the keyboards playing a much heavier role. They sounded much more Floyd. Either way. You can’t complain.

Black Mountain – Down At The Front

Savoy Motel and Black Mountain

Black Mountain at Rough Trade