Music / Interviews
Interview: Barrence Whitfield
The mighty Barrence Whitfield and the Savages return to Bristol for a date at the Tunnels Sunday, October 11 promoting their rather splendid new LP Under the Savage Sky – another barnstorming R&B feast – think James Brown fronting The Who circa 1963 / 64 for a quick reference point. We managed to get a quick few questions in before they embarked on the tour, have a read of their responses and score your tickets as soon as you can. Maximum R&B guaranteed.
Stax or Motown?
“Stax.”
Beatles or Stones?
“Stones.”
is needed now More than ever
Big Sunny Festivals or Small Sweaty Clubs?
“Small and sweaty.”
You’re back to the UK for more dates, how important is it to be successful here in the UK?
“It’s important to us. The UK is a place that has a real love of REAL music. We want to be successful in a place that has produced some great music that we love, same as the USA.”
When you see British dates on the schedule what do you most look forward to about returning?
“Playing the small sweaty pubs, buying records and seeing friends.”
…and when you see those dates, what do you look forward to least?
“The concert venues with the barriers/moats between us and the audience, and getting kicked out of the venues for disco at midnight!”
Do you feel any affinity with bands like Vintage Trouble, Alabama Shakes, St Paul & the Broken Bones and Sharon King & the Daptones, all of whom are mining the rich heritage of Soul and R&B?
“Not really, they are all fine bands but we hit it a very different way.”
You have a well earned reputation for fearsome live shows, are there any bands that make you feel you need to raise your game when you’re on the same bill?
“We just did an 11 date tour in the USA with The Sonics, they are still fearsome; it was a great honour playing the Filmore with The Sonics!”
What’s the best new music you’ve heard in the past few months – any up and coming bands that you’d like to mention?
“We just did a show with Mr Airplane Man in Boston, really great band! The real thing.”
Blokes of a certain age (and it’s nearly always blokes) spend ages fretting about the merits of vinyl, CD or digital – does it really matter?
“Not really, the music is most important, BUT….vinyl has captured our hearts and souls.”
Finally, what currently makes you most proud to be an American?
“Not the GOP that’s for sure, but the USA has a great musical and cultural heritage that we should spend more effort preserving.”
…and what makes you least proud of your country?
“The Tea Party.”
For more information visit, www.barrencewhitfieldsavages.com.
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