Live Review - The Savanah Leigh Band

LIVE at the Media Club
Vancouver, BC
Nov 27th, 2008

I was invited down to the Media Club on Nov 27th to check out The Savannah Leigh Band. I got a compilation CD from my buddy Seth at DMA Discs, which included one of Savannah’s tracks. On a whim, I decided to show up early and interview the band. Hopefully I could learn what these cats are about, and what place roots-rock has in the ever-changing technological music industry.

Sitting down with ¾ of the band, I began asking the tough questions: Why do you do it? Where does your inspiration come from? What are you doing to get your music out there? What I got was a very genuine conversation about what music means to these folks. This is music about everyday life, relationships and the way the world turns. The band actually had a great sense of humor, which you wouldn’t necessarily associate with melancholy music. Will it work? We’ll see!


My interview with the band was aired today on CJSF 90.1 FM (SFU’s Campus Radio) today.
Click Here to listen to it on Arts Indy Crossroads, which airs every Monday at 3PM on CJSF 90.1 or www.cjsf.ca


Now on to the show. The crowd had Vancouver disease again, keeping their distance from the stage. It didn’t phase the band though, as they marched into their set.

Front-woman Savannah has a powerful voice hidden within her tiny frame. I was pretty pleased with her country-ish control and timing. She and guitarist/bgv Diego Zaragoza compliment each other perfectly, creating warm, folky harmonies that meld into one.

The band is pretty kickin’. Bassist Adam Jones was plucking his upright just perfectly and drummer Brendan Krieg was very dynamic. On “Music Is His Mistress” – a true boot-stomper, Brendan’s bass drum was driving the song like a trucker drives his big rig. Always steady, both hands on the wheel.





One complaint with the show was the sound level of Diego’s guitar. True, he is a gifted player, but as the set went on, I noticed him creeping up his volume, and eventually he was flirting with drowning out Savannah’s voice. Being his last show before a 6-month trip to Australia, I guess he wanted a chance to rock out one last time. As I said, he’s gifted with the strings, but I’m pretty sure the name of the group is The Savannah Leigh Band. Diego would get his chance later, as this gig doubled as his solo CD Release Party.

To bring things down, a bit, Savannah shooed her drummer and guitarist offstage and turned out a solo-acoustic number with bassist Adam Jones. The crowd chatter was distracting, since in fact, this is a night club and they serve booze. I think Savannah’s acoustic numbers would be better served in a coffee shop or songwriter’s circle, where everyone is tuned in to the music. She has some nice material and a pretty voice, but I can’t say the crowd was paying full attention. I felt like I was in a gold rush-era saloon, with rowdy patrons getting drunk, and a stunning, solitary songstress in the corner pouring her heart out.

Just like that, the band returned to the stage and kicked out a few more roots-rockers before calling it a night. As I strolled home through Yaletown and the West End, I found myself humming 2 songs.

The acoustic, locomotive-like number “Killing Time” is remnant of The Corn Sisters.

“Music Is His Mistress” is just a stomp-it-out, clap-it-out kicker with some machine-gun guitar licks and that hard-driving bass drum.

I hope the departure of lead-guitarist Diego won’t affect the progression of this group. They suggested finding a stand-in, but I think it will be tough to fill that void. We’ll see what happens at the next live show!


Check out The Savannah Leigh Band January 16th at The Railway Club, as part of the Team Winston Showcase. Also performing are: Winston, Nat Jay, & Wanting.


For more of The Savannah Leigh Band, visit www.savannahleighband.com