A. Savage, Mali Velasquez - Tractor Tavern - 04.16.24 - Photos by Emmett Orgass
The first thing I notice at the A. Savage set is A. Savage himself. He stands squarely in the middle of the audience, with a slick canvas tote bag tossed over his left shoulder, watching Mali Velasquez (the opener) warble angelic folk tunes into the half-packed Tractor Tavern. He shakes an outstretched fan’s hand, and returns to listening. I’m not the only one that’s noticed his presence, I see other eyes ducking back and forth at his silhouette, perhaps wondering if that’s really him, and if so, how strange.
While the name A. Savage usually only radiates in esoteric circles of the post-punk-folk landscape, A. Savage’s voice is too iconic to ignore his ties to his more popular persona: the lead singer in Parquet Courts. While Parquet Courts’ music packs a driving punch of concrete energy and aggresive fervor, A. Savage achieves just about the opposite. His music rambles at the pace of a Sunday morning with no obligations. Calm, thoughtful, and intricate, it is an excellent soundtrack for making coffee, reading the newspaper, and watching the trees dance in the wind.
--Review by Emmett Orgass