Savage Knights

What do you get when you mix The Melvins with Duke Ellington? Or Can with Eric Dolphy? Strange as they may seem, these questions are not jokes, because the answer is Raleigh’s Savage Knights.

At least on paper, this instrumental outfit might sound incomprehensibly complex, with its mix of various jazz schools, ’70s prog-rock, noise-sludge, and non-western music. Some jams reach to John Zorn snap ‘n’ skronk, while others meander down modern jazz side streets. Even with its rampant technicality, though, Savage Knights is coherent, approachable and a bit catchy.

“We've been accused of being prog, but it's prog for people who like their prog messy,” says guitarist and saxophonist “Crowmeat” Bob Pence. “It's never really about showing off chops, just about making the music engaging. It's really more of an instrumental rock 'n' roll band with catchy heads, strong heavy grooves and freaky solos.”

Pence and drummer Mike Isenberg—the two composers in this band—have been the only consistent members since Savage Knights’ 2006 inception. At first it was jazzier, with a sax section and all, but the outfit has since moved to a more guitar-driven mode. Pence still plays winds when it fits, and Isenberg moves to guitar or keys when there’s another drummer in the mix. Aside from the two composers, other members of Savage Knights come and go as they please. This apparent flux, mixed with the band’s consistently impressive musicianship, reveals Savage Knights as a band that could only form in a healthy music town. Where else would such a rotating cast of talented players not only exist but be willing to be on-again/ off-again members in such a technically taxing project? –Corbie Hill