A Very Punky Christmas ain't your daddy's holiday concert, but will still bring warm fuzzies

An enigmatic presence is emerging from the shadows to bring some rip rockin’ good cheer to this holiday season. No, I’m not talking about Elf on the Shelf. Does he even have a band?

The mysteriously masked garage rockers Donna Savage are joining Andrew Sovine Trio for “A Very Punky Christmas” at The Park at Eastern Wharf as part of its December Riverfront Concert Series on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Donna Savage is a super-secret super group of sorts with many of its members anonymously cycling in and out of the line-up depending on the show.

“I’m trying to keep it inventive and fun,” said Donna Savage’s skull mask wearing front man and guitarist. “That’s kind of been the underlying theme. We’ve all been in other bands, and we know it can be a drag if somebody has higher expectations. It can kind of kill the vibe. That’s been the main thing—when I get short tempered or angry about somebody not learning the song properly, I’m like, ‘Hey, hang on a second. Are we having fun? Keep it fun.’.”

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The masked music marauders of garage rock

Donna Savage performs sporadically, but they are always reliably entertaining, with a raw, ramshackle, danceable sound beholden to '60s garage rock compilations and more modern punks like The Cramps. They have performed at two Savannah Stopovers and were one of the last bands to have performed at The Jinx before its closure.

Although Donna Savage boasts some of the best musicians from some of the best bands in Savannah, the members enjoy their masked anonymity, which relieves some of the pressure from the players and immediately captures the audience’s attention.

“People get it before we even start playing,” said the front man. “They go, ‘What the hell is happening,’ and they inch closer and pull out their phones, and then we launch into the set.”

There is a performance art element to every Donna Savage show. Not only do they wear matching black suits, ties, and skull masks (or dresses in one case), Donna Savage are often accompanied by Go-Go dancers. They also get into audience participation high jinks including handing out aluminum foil to make hats, wrapping fans up in toilet paper for a mummy contest, or getting audience members to attempt to eat a donut on a rope to win a cash prize or new car (no one has succeeded, yet).

“We’re always looking for something insane to do, to keep it dangerous,” said the front man.

'The real deal' Andrew Sovine joins the lineup

For their Punky Christmas show, Donna Savage expect to play a few holiday classics and wear some Christmas-themed clothing. They are also inviting back a particularly charismatic female singer from a popular local rock band to join on vocals (anonymously, of course), and are hoping to snag a baritone saxophone-playing friend for this special set.

It should also be noted that Donna Savage released their debut album this past Summer. Take It was recorded with Ty Thompson (Reverend Bro Diddly and the Hips, Black Hat, Holy Scare) at his Holy House Studio in Savannah and was mastered at Chase Park Transduction Studio in Athens.

Take It features nine spooky original songs and two covers, “Brother the Man,” by We the People, and “Go Away,” by obscure New Mexican band, The Plague.

“I used to play rock and roll in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and I met this gal, Rita D’Albert who was in The Pandoras, and she and I formed a band,” explained Donna Savage’s front man. “She turned me on to all these old compilations called things like ‘Teenage Shut Down’ that weren’t Rhino, but completely other compilations of garage bands. I unearthed all these great toe tapping songs and held on to them and taught them to other people as I moved from Los Angeles to here.”

Donna Savage were one of the first bands to perform at The Park at Eastern Wharf when it opened and are excited to be asked back. Donna Savage’s front man notes that they are always professional and “try to be hygienic and punctual.”

Andrew Sovine is a producer, writer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with artists such as Ashley McBryde, Ian Noe, and Jamie Wyatt. Since moving to Savannah and opening a studio, Sovine has collaborated with many local artists, and has been a boon for the Savannah music scene.

“Andrew Sovine is the real deal,” said Donna Savage’s front man. “There’s talent and then there is superior talent.”

Following Andrew Sovine Trio and Donna Savage is a Festivus Karaoke after-party at Thompson Savannah Holiday Bar on the second floor of the hotel. Food trucks from Bow Tie Barbeque and Latin Chicks! will be serving up food, and drinks will be available from Squirrel's Eastern Wharf and Bar by Fleeting.

The event is free and open to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. There is parking on the street, as well as the Eastern Wharf garage.

This isn’t your typical holiday concert, so get ready to rock out and exorcise some demons.

“We were all traumatized by Santa at some point in our lives, so we’re going to try to get some retribution,” said the Donna Savage front man.

If You Go >>

What: December Riverfront Concert Series: A Very Punky Christmas with Donna Savage and Andrew Sovine trio

When: 6-9 p.m., Dec. 7

Where: The Park at Eastern Wharf, 101 Port St.

Cost: Free

Info: theparkateasternwharf.com/

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Donna Savage, Andrew Sovine Trio headline Very Punky Christmas concert