Savage Henry

Few local recordings are as skillfully played and cleanly produced as Savage Henry's self-titled debut. Too bad the CD lacks the spark of originality that separates capable discs from truly memorable ones. The quartet of Damon Guerrasio, Mike Rice, Stuart Miller and Ryan Morrow gig consistently; they're part of the...

By Michael Roberts

September 8, 2005

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Few local recordings are as skillfully played and cleanly produced as Savage Henry's self-titled debut. Too bad the CD lacks the spark of originality that separates capable discs from truly memorable ones.

The quartet of Damon Guerrasio, Mike Rice, Stuart Miller and Ryan Morrow gig consistently; they're part of the South Park Music Festival on September 8 and appear at the Soiled Dove on September 10. By taking advantage of onstage opportunities like these, they've developed a tight sound, with guitarist Miller's riffology standing out on cuts such as "Place in the Sunshine" and "Werewolves & Redheaded Devils." Trouble is, the sort of jammy college rock and modified ska and funk epitomized by "Alive & Kickin'" and "Mischievous" have been bar-scene staples for a decade-plus, and mere proficiency can't make such tunes seem fresh again.

Been there, done that well -- but done it, nonetheless.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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