Saints, The

"It’s inevitable that some people will have reservations on a Chris Bailey-less live Saints record. Word on the street is the shows for this incarnation of the Saints have been outstanding. The story checks out listening to Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1. So, what do we have here? Original Saints lead guitarist/founder Ed Kuepper, original Saints drummer Ivor Hay, Mark Arm (Mudhoney) on vocals, Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys) on bass and Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, Bad Seeds) on guitar. That’s a heavy lineup.

"As I write, The Saints have been on tour in the States, performing their classic first three albums from the Kuepper and Hay era (Kuepper left The Saints in 1979, Hay would float in and out throughout the 1980s). Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1 pulls two tracks from (I’m) Stranded (“Nights in Venice” and “No Time”) and two from Eternally Yours (“[I’m] Misunderstood” and “Know Your Product”). The band is smoking and Mark Arm more than makes the grade on vocals. “Know Your Product” is the highlight for me, if only because the brass/sax section of Julien Wilson (tenor sax), Eamon Dilworth (trumpet) and Mark Spencer (baritone sax) is outstanding. It’s a high-quality live recording; the red-vinyl 12” spins at 45 RPMs. Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1 is definitely worth the price of admission." -Ryan Leach