The Saints – ’73-’78 – Live Nights In Venice Vol. 1 (In The Red) (13th Floor EP Review)
The Saints ’73–’78 is an initiative driven by Ed Kuepper, focusing on the first three albums and debuting in Australia in November 2024.
They hit Auckland’s PowerStation last month and have now released this live EP to the delight of fans. It captures a raucous night in their hometown of Brisbane and arrives just as their global tour kicks in.
After a triumphant night in Auckland (read Marty Duda’s 13th Floor review), they are currently touring the USA before heading to the UK, earning the massive reception they deserve. For many, The Saints weren’t just punk pioneers, they fired the first shot with (I’m) Stranded. Five decades later, Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1 feels less like nostalgia and more like a celebration.
The Saints ’73–’78 band is anchored by original members Ed Kuepper (guitar, sonic architect) and Ivor Hay (drums, rhythmic backbone), who spearhead the revival. They’re joined by Mark Arm of Mudhoney, injecting grit; Mick Harvey, multi-instrumentalist from The Birthday Party and Bad Seeds, adding sophistication; and Peter Oxley, bass stalwart from The Sunnyboys, laying down heavy riffs. Completing the eight-piece ensemble is a powerhouse brass section—Eamon Dilworth, Julian Wilson, and Mark Spencer. Despite the loss of key figure Chris Bailey in 2022, this isn’t a tribute act more like a supergroup.
From the opening blast of Nights in Venice, the EP detonates like a sonic grenade at a polite dinner party. Molten guitars collide with swaggering horns, and Mark Arm’s vocals snarl with feral intent. It’s chaotic yet precise—and utterly alive.
With just four tracks it condenses the concert experience into an exhilarating listen.
Nights in Venice – A storming opener, Kuepper’s riffs slice through the mix like shattered glass, while brass detonates in bursts of colour and Arm injects a Detroit like growl to the vocals.
No Time – Urgent and relentless, this track surges forward with muscular riffs and horn stabs that demand attention and lifts it above its original.
(I’m) Misunderstood – Metal like edges sharpen its punk grit, transforming an sometimes overlooked gem into a snarling beast that will still resonate with listeners today.
Know Your Product – Once an Aussie punk anthem, now a brass-driven juggernaut. The horns punch holes in the guitar squall, giving the track a swagger and confidence.
Having spoken to people who attended both the Brisbane and Auckland concerts, the consensus was that Mark Arm’s singing in the later parts of the Power Station gig was far more passionate and confident, lifting that night’s versions of Nights in Venice and Know Your Product into transcendent moments for the audience. Personally, the version here of No Time sounds stronger than Auckland, but Nights in Venice doesn’t feel anywhere near as anthemic.
Recorded by Derek Bovill during the second night of a three-night stand at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre in November 2024, mixed by Branko Cosic (4ZZZ) to retain raw energy, and mastered by Don Bartley for maximum impact on vinyl. Released on In The Red Records, it’s available as a limited-edition 12″ red vinyl and in digital formats. As a live recording, the mix balances energy with clarity, letting horns slice through guitar squall and capturing the moment. It’s not pristine production—but that’s the point: it’s about capturing the moment.
Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1 captures The Saints ’73–’78 in full flight. It’s not a museum exhibit; it proves their legacy is still loud, now brassy, and just as dangerous. This EP is a must-have for fans and a perfect memento for those few, lucky enough to witness the Power Station gig.
John Hastings
Live Nights in Venice Vol. 1is out now via In The Red Records
