Les Savy Fav

Les Savy Fav are the craziest live spectacle ever. If there’s a pole or a tree or a building even, Tim Harrington (LSF’s singer) will try to climb it. I even saw them on a boat, and it was all we could do from keeping him climbing overboard.

Often half-clothed in some outrageous costume, with a microphone shoved in his mouth or down his pants, it would be too easy for LSF’s music to take a back seat to Tim’s antics. If only the music wasn’t so great. It commands as much attention as Mr Harrington.

Tim’s half-sung, half-screamed vocals on top of edgy, duelling guitars brings out the best in this art noise rock outfit. On tracks such as “Excess Energies” and “The Sweat Descends”, Tim sounds like a maniac in front of a band possessed, and it doesn’t take long for this grip to take hold of the audience.

Having formed out of design school in '95, these guys were the forerunners to post-hardcore bands like Mclusky and Fucked up. Indeed the Fucked Up frontman, Mr Damian, strikes a remarkable resemblance to Tim’s paunchy bear-like appearance. It’s just so wacky, you’ve got to experience it to believe it.

I drove several hours to another state for this show and it was completely worth it. They were just as tight musically and Tim was just as insane as when I used to see them 10+ years ago. I hope they'll consider a few more reunion shows! My friend saw them the next night in Brooklyn and said "every band should aspire to be as great as Les Savy Fav live" and I have to agree. Artists 25 years younger than these dudes can't keep up. I feel bad for anyone who missed out. LSF 4eva.