Bigger, better things likely
for FW's Savvy

By ROGER KAYE
Star-Telegram Rock Music Writer

DALLAS - Fort Worth's Savvy made its major concert debut here Friday night and the quality of the band's performance indicated that there should be bigger and better things ahead for the local rockers in the future

    The six-man outfit, which was denied its opening slot at the Texxas Jam last month after running afoul of Eagles management, finally got a chance to show what it could do in a concert setting and the opportunity wasn't wasted.

Awarded opening honors on an all-Texas group show that also featured the Fabulous Thunderbirds and headliner Point Blank at the Wintergarden, Savvy put on an impressive performance that was loaded with plenty of showmanship and even more energy.

REVIEW

The Fort Worth group raced through an entertaining seven-tune, 35-minute set of all original music that featured I Wonder Why, the top track on Q-102's recent More Texas Crude album.

When The Lights Go Out At Midnight, which was introduced as a forthcoming single, was another highlight, as was Rock 'n 'Roll Kid.

Savvy has been together about eight years.   The group, which makes its home base at its self-named nightclub on East Lancaster, consists of guitarist-lead singer Ricky Gregg, drummer Rick Miller, guitarists Richard Mauch and Steve Jones, bassist Richard Jones and keyboardist Don Reeder. Gregg writes most of the band's material.

The Dallas-based Fabulous Thunderbirds followed Savvy and provided a change of pace with a blues-based 35 minute set, which included Slim Harpo's Scratch My Back among the 10 selections.

Then came more hard rock from Point Blank, a six-member group that also makes its home in the Metroplex. The band mixed older selections like Sad Song For A Free Man and Mean To Your Queenie with cuts from its new album, The Hard Way.

In explaining the album's title, guitarist and Fort Worth resident Rusty Burns said, "We play hard, party hard, travel hard and even relax hard. But we're confident in what we're doing and in our music. What we might lack in theory, we make up in emotion."

Although the crowd numbered only several hundred Friday, the fans gave Point Blank and enthusiastic welcome, prompting lead vocalist John O'Daniel to note, "I believe we personally know at least half the people here tonight."

O'Daniel handled the bulk of the vocals on tunes such as Turning Back, The Hard Way and Guessing Game while Burns assumed a rare shot at lead vocals on Rock 'n 'Roll Soldier.

"I kind of think of us as a cult band on the verge of really breaking out," guitarist Kim Davis said. "Our music and attitude on stage is infectious. We bring it to a frenzied pitch, but we're still real loose and fun at the same time."