Recordings from Live Performance, 1981-1983

Recording information: Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (03/29/1983); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (03/29/1983); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (03/29/1983); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (03/29/1983); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (03/29/1983); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (03/29/1983); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (03/29/1983); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (03/29/1983); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (03/30/1983); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (03/30/1983); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (03/30/1983); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (03/30/1983); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (03/30/1983); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (03/30/1983); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (03/30/1983); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (03/30/1983); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (05/1982); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (05/1982); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (05/1982); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (05/1982); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (05/1982); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (05/1982); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (05/1982); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (05/1982); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (05/31/1981); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (05/31/1981); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (05/31/1981); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (05/31/1981); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (05/31/1981); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (05/31/1981); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (05/31/1981); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (05/31/1981); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (08/03/1982); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (08/03/1982); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (08/03/1982); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (08/03/1982); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (08/03/1982); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (08/03/1982); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (08/03/1982); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (08/03/1982); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (10/17/1981); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (10/17/1981); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (10/17/1981); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (10/17/1981); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (10/17/1981); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (10/17/1981); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (10/17/1981); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (10/17/1981); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (12/30/1981); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (12/30/1981); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (12/30/1981); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (12/30/1981); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (12/30/1981); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (12/30/1981); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (12/30/1981); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (12/30/1981); Al's Bar, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1983); Anticlub, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1983); Brave Dog, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1983); Grandia Room, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1983); Ground Zero, Seattle, WA (1982-1983); Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, AZ (1982-1983); Sumus Theatre, Portland, OR (1982-1983); Whisky-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA (1982-1983).
Photographer: Edward Batt.
Savage Republic were probably more diligent about enshrining their live performances for posterity than they needed to be; there's almost as much live material available as there is from the studio. This set of two ten-inch records contain 14 tracks from the early days, including versions of songs from Tragic Figures, and some numbers that were never recorded in the studio. It tends toward the noisy side of their early evolution, so those who prefer the Ceremonial era will probably want to pass, although glimmers of surf-psychedelia can be found in "Exodus" and "Snakedance." The packaging, as usual, is damned impressive, with copious documentation and a five-color letterpress folder to enclose the vinyl. ~ Richie Unterberger