Described as “Daft Punk meets Metallica with a bottle of gin” by Beatport, Ben Eberdt, Gray Smith and Mike Kelly otherwise known as the group SAVOY got their start as a jam band in Boulder, Colorado and are heading back to their home town for Rowdytown III this September.
Beatport’s description doesn’t come close to conveying their magnitude, although Daft Punk and Metallica are indeed legends, any name aligned with theirs may seem admirable. But SAVOY is beyond than this cookie cutter description; they’re gritty, they’re hard, they love lasers, soccer, giving their music away for free, and they’re genre-bending artists bringing an experience along with their unique music from huge festivals to small clubs stages. WRR had the pleasure of speaking with 1/3 of Savoy, Mike Kelly, touching on topics such as monumental inspirations, up coming tour beginning today, June 25, and their new EP!
Back to the beginnings: You guys got your start in Boulder, CO as a jam band, and today you have evolved into what Beatport describes as “Daft Punk meets Metallica with a bottle of gin,” but I’d like to even say you’re more than that! Can you guys name a few musical influences that inspired you back in your dorm days? What were you guys listening to back then?
“We have diverse musical backgrounds but the foundation is based off of classic rock. We all love Zeppelin, The Stones, and stuff like Paul Simon and Steely Dan. Most genres of music have something special and inspiring that we want to somehow work into the Savoy sound. Today in New York City we will see some underground techno show and a classical Indian performance in the same week.”
So according to Google: “define Savoy”, your name means a “cabbage of a hardy variety with densely wrinkled leaves.” Of course it’s also a region in France, among other things. Any fun story behind your name that are cabbage or non-cabbage related?
“Aside from being avid fans of the cabbage, our name is inspired by the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. In the beginning of the 20th century the Savoy ballroom was the hottest club in America and was a place where dance, music, and culture all met in a rebellious way. We strive to do something similar for the dance and music culture of our generation.”
You have headlined Red Rocks before, and absolutely everyone loves that venue. I read you guys use to dream of playing it; You must be so excited to head back there again! What are some of your other favorite venues you have been able to play?
“Yeah, Red Rocks is a special place. Even in high school we would listen to live shows from Red Rocks and just dreamed of one day being a fan there. It was a big part of our college experience too so to finally be on the other end was surreal. Red Rocks is hard to beat but the Gorge Amphitheater is a close second and Soldier Field felt pretty good. But playing smaller, intimate, venues such as Bowery Ballroom in New York or the Fox in Boulder always leads to crazy atmospheres. Kids just loose their shit in that kind of environment. It becomes a screaming, sweaty, sexual, dance party that the Savoy Ballroom would be proud of.”
You guys are known for your blending and bending of genres and really pushing boundaries. What are some of the genres currently inspiring you and your sound?
“The type of inspiration really depends on the day. Like today I only listened to
Bettye Swann. Gray has been listening to a lot of technical, melodic Drumstep and Ben’s probably listening to some French techno with a little Drake on the side.”Savoy – Self Predator
Your “MO LASERS MO PROBLEMS” tour kicks off this August. You’ve always had big production, something you guys are really known for. I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but any cool production things you’ll be bringing out that you want to tease us with?
“Lasers are still a big part of the show so we will add more lasers and no problems.We are currently designing and building a fully customized staging and lighting rig thatis going to be pretty stadium rock. Picture Freddie Mercury with a Moonraker laser gun riding one of those giants from Game of Thrones. That’s more or less the vibe.
I have been following you guys on Twitter, besides noticing your fans of soccer and love for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, I also read that you guys are almost done with your new E.P.! Any projected date for that? Anything you want to tell us about it?
“I’m actually watching the France vs. Equador game right now and will be in Bryant Park for USA vs. Germany. Despite the distractions the EP is coming together nicely. This EP sounds pretty dirty so far but has natural and musical moments. Every once in awhile there is an uplifting soul or 90’s vibe that emerges from the darkness and then we bring you right back to the madness. We like the ups and downs because it’s really hard to enjoy music that doesn’t have any dynamism to it. We are also featuring a new special guest on vocals that we are really excited about.”
Savoy has been all about giving your music away for free. Why is this important to you?
“It’s a shame when you make a collection of music that didn’t reach as many people as it could of because of a small fee. Distributing all of our music for free is a creative way to circumvent the shattered music industry while making our fans and us happy in the process. We aren’t opposed to working with labels because some of them are willing to use their credibility and connections in creative ways. It’s just like any relationship; you’ll know when you find the ‘one'”.
“Aftershock” with Big Gigantic is one of my favorite tracks. Any plans to collaborate again in the future? Any other artists or producers you’d love to work with and why?
“Big G and us have been talking about doing some stuff together. There are some cool ideas going around already but the good ones take a little time to develop.”
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Savoy’s word are inspiring, and trust us when we say their live performance is 10 time more inspiring than anything you’ve seen before. Be sure to catch their set at Rowdytown III this September 26th and 27th. If you’re a die-hard electronic music fan who’s a bit strapped for cash, we have the perfect opportunity for you. WRR and Rowdytown will be running a giveaway well into August giving 1 lucky fan a chance to win a pair of 2 day passes + an autographed T-shirt from Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken of Big Gigantic.
How it Works:
—> Click: 
or 
to enter.
—> Share, Like, and Tweet to gain extra entries.
—> The winner will be randomly selected on the final day on the contest
Pro-tip: after entering our PunchTab giveaway share the personalized link that PunchTab provides you with. Every time someone enters our contest using your link, you receive an extra entry!
Rowdytown Ticket Info:
Friday GA and VIP
Saturday GA and VIP
2-DAY GA and VIP
Connect with Savoy
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Photo Source: Savoy’s Facebook
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