South Bay Sweethearts: The Savoys

I had been looking forward to seeing The Savoys for quite awhile, since their guitarist George and I had been in a band together for many years. I was eager to see what he had moved on to and was not disappointed! Backing George Garcia's gutsy guitar sound was Mike Petrus on drums and Moises Arteaga on bass, who both created a solid driving rhythm section, just what is needed to round out Georgie's wall of sound. They had everyone up and dancing last November at The Redwood Bar and Grill for Asia Muka Afternoon Action along with The Katellas, Mike Willamson, The Nuclears and Johnny Travis Jr.

The following interview sheds a bit more light on this rock and roll trio from Long Beach. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. So sit back and enjoy taking a peek a these sweethearts from the south, along with this two song video I captured that night.

Julie Green

February 13, 2016

JULIE GREEN: When did The Savoys form?

GEORGE GARCIA: Shawn Munoz told me that he was jamming with a drummer in Bellflower off the 91/605 area but did not know where. He told me that his name was Mike Petrus and the band was The Put Ons. This was in the mid 2000's and shortly after was introduced to Mike and the rest was history.

MIKE PETRUS: Back in 2007’ish, George and I met through a mutual friend, original Savoys bass player and now new current member of the band, Shawn Munoz. We sort of started by playing some riffs and ideas and it hasn’t stopped.

JG: Why The Savoys? Where does the name come from?

GG: The Savoys was my idea. I was sitting in my backyard cleaning the engine of my 1957 Plymouth Savoy. We could not think of a name so I took a chance and brought it up to the guys and they all liked it, so we went with it.

MP: The Savoys was George’s idea. Something to do with cars. I don’t know. George came up with the name. He’s the car enthusiast. I just wanted to jam and make music, put something out there and play live.

JG: What instrument do you play and why did you choose the particular band?

GG: I play guitar and sing the main vocals. I chose the Joe Pass Epiphone hollow body guitar for The Savoys. It offers many styles depending on who plays it. I wanted the sound that Malcolm Young and Brian Setzer offer both live and on recordings . 

Anyone who plays them will see that you have to make a real effort to control them. They feedback like crazy and are hard to play because of their size. For me it is a perfect match for what I do. In the right setting, you can hold a note in feedback form and make them sing forever. That and I just love the way they look on stage and off. Still produced and are dirt cheap to own. I love it so much I'd put my name on it, wink, wink, Epiphone.

George Garcia

MP: I play the drums and sing in the band. I play live with Tama drums and record with Premier drums. No particular reason why I picked those two brands. One sounds better than the other live and vice versa for recording.

MOISES ARTEAGA: I play a Fender P bass. It's a classic what can I say. The weight, the feel of the neck. It's just perfectly made.   

JG:.What is your discography?

GG: We have a video on Youtube “Irresponsible”. A song on Radio Beat comp., some shirts and currently working on a new single for our next video.

JG: What other bands have you been in?

GG: The Verdicts, The Checkers, 53rd & 3rds, Mondo Jimmy And The Border Bros, The Young Tomorrows, The Nervous Shakedowns, Clay FIgures, Generic Response , Crank Williams.

Moises Arteaga

MP: The main bands were, The Scarecrows, Big Black Sun, The Put Ons and now the Savoys. Didn’t list side projects cuz there’s too many to list.

MA: A few here and there over the years: Discontent, Foxy, Black Market Radio, and Green Machines. 

JG: How have those bands influenced the sound of The Savoys? 

GG: I have done many styles of music. Crank Williams brings out all the country, Verdicts brings out the rockabilly, Checkers brings out all the Ramones punk. Every band has left a mark in my playing style. It has been a great learning experience for me.

MP: I guess you can say the past bands & projects I personally played in, Influenced what I bring into The Savoys. Again, I played with a large list of great artists in the past. Each experience you’ll hear in my playing and what I contribute in the band.

Mike Petrus

MA: Great question, I don't think the bands I've been in directly influenced our sound. To me it was more about expanding musical taste and getting back in touch with our roots. 

JG: When it comes to crafting songs, is this something you work on together or do you each bring something to the table and then work on it as a group?

GG: I generally write all the music and some of the melody for vocals. Mike erases what I bring in and makes it a million times better than I would have crafted it. We sit with guitars and hammer out all the chords, words and create that magic.

MP: Most of the songs either George or I will bring an idea to the table, then we build off that. George can come up with lots of different arrangements to an idea, which blows my mind. I have trouble putting two or three sections together then here comes George with 25 different ideas and arrangements to an idea. Once an arrangement comes to fruition, I usually come up with a vocal melody then we work on lead vocals and back-ups.

MA: We work on things together, but someone always brings in a solid framework to work off of to what later comes a complete song. Each member contributes for example a harmony, structure/arrangements, and other dynamics. We work so well together in that way things just come together fairly easily. 

JG: As a three piece, do you find it easier or harder to create a wall of sound?

GG: Well I have always liked 3 piece bands.  With a 3-piece band you have to really play full and leave open spaces in the songs. I like the songs to breath, depends on the band and style. In the Checkers I play like Johnny Ramone. All the chords are full and solid, Julie is the melody maker and she is the rider on the surfboard, we were her wave to surf on. 

MP: I think it’s easier and much more fun. With a three piece, you don’t have to worry so much about stepping on each other or being drowned out. It’s more about filling holes in the songs and making it big and full sounding – you get to breathe more.

MA: Definitely harder and challenging but in a good way. There are elements that we particularly have to be mindful of when we put songs together. For example back up vocals, lead vocals, guitar leads etc... We each have multiple jobs. I think that’s what makes it fun to play in a power trio. It's not easy to get that wall of sound. 

JG: If you could open for anyone, who would it be?

GG: Hmmm well for me right this minute would be The Rolling Stones and AC/DC.  Two of my favorite bands of all time and would be honored to share the same stage as my heros Angus and Keith.

MP: That’s a great question. Personally, I miss playing the BIG shows. Clubs are fun and personal but I love the big sounds in a big venue. Having said that, it would be Foo Fighters, Artic Monkeys, The Hives, The Subways, Spacehog, Supergrass … Just to name a few small club bands.

MA: This is a tough one, part of me says the MC5 and the other The Ramones. Funny I know... at the end of the day I’d say The Ramones. I opened up for Dee Dee Ramone just before he passed and it was such a rock moment to have met him. They are and he was a large influence of mine. Would be really cool to see the gang together again. 

JG: Has the band been on tour? Where did you go? 

GG: WE play local only, I am a father of 2 brand new babies and work full time plus full time in college.

MP: No major tours but we have played in Vegas, San Diego. We would love to do some mini tours – open a few shows for some national acts here on the west coast. That would be ideal.

MA: I wouldn't consider it a tour no. We just go on weekend warrior road trips. Vegas, San Diego places fairly close by. It's hard to hold a full time career and rock.

JG: What has been the craziest show you've played yet and why?

GG: No crazy shows but usually have a handful of people buying us drinks and talking about the band and why we don't play more often.

MP: There hasn’t been any real crazy shows for us, but the fun ones were at The Prospector in Long Beach, The Redwood in LA, the Double-down Saloon in Vegas. These were memorable shows where once we are done playing, we have a few people come up to us and tell us how our music and shows make them feel. It’s an incredible feeling to hear these positive things. It drives me to keep going and do what I love doing.

MA: In The Savoys they've all been pretty mellow and fun. Nothing really out of the norm.

JG: Can you chug an entire beer in one go?

GG: Does a bear shit in the woods? Yes haha

MP: I used to be able to with Jim Beam.

MA: Absolutely!! 

JG: What local bands do you enjoy playing with?

GG: I will say that every single band that we played with big or small, local or out of state has been incredible. The best show to remember would have been opening up for The Dogs in Long Beach.

MP: All of the ones we played with have been great. Everyone has been humble and enjoy sharing the bill. The comradery between all of us is special. No head trips so far ….We all seem to support one another.

MA: Three Two Ones when they were around, Transistor, Black Mambas, Barrio Tiger to name a few. 

JG:  Where do you see The Savoys in the next few years?

GG: Hopefully for me would be on a small weekend tour up to S.F. or Vegas with a new record and a couple of new Youtube videos.

MP: Still doing what we love doing. Creating rock music and playing to people

who like our music.

MA: Putting out a few records and just doing our thing. Playing shows here on the west coast, pacific north west.