Savoy Motel's 'Crossword Puzzle' Is a Class in Cartoon Cool [Fresh Vid]

It's been fairly quiet on the Savoy Motel front over the past couple of years. You could be forgiven for thinking that the superlative funk-punks called it quits sometime after they opened for Kesha at the Ryman in 2017. However, the quartet underwent a significant lineup change and re-emerged late last year — guitarist Mimi Galbierz and drummer Jessica McFarland left, while keyboardist Christina Norwood and drummer Ryan Donoho joined up with founding members Jeffrey Novak and Dillon Watson. They've played a few gigs in town since, including Spewfest V in February.

Any big plans Savoy Motel had to get back on the scene have, of course, have been sidelined by the coronavirus. But that hasn't stopped the group from finishing up Love Your Face, a follow-up to their self-titled 2017 debut. Above, check out the animated music video for the first single, "Crossword Puzzle." As has been the group's trademark, the sound is immensely groovy, but it turns away from their previous pre-disco drum-machine vibe toward something a little more like FM mainstream pop from that era.

The animated music video, directed by Dylan Carver, also conveys a very mid-’70s feel. Highly stylized text and subtly psychedelic cartoon characters cruise by as the hazy narrative (that seems to be about trying hard, maybe too hard, to fit in) unfolds. Check it out above and visit Savoy Motel's Facebook or Instagram for all the deets on a special offer that involves 50 of the drawings that were used in the animation process.

Said drawings (made by Novak) have been set aside to give away to generous folks who make a donation of $20 or more to Drkmttr. The much-loved all-ages venue is unable to host shows right now, but they're undergoing a transition into a do-it-together community center, including space for community organizers and the Nashville Free Store. Drkmttr has also launched a Patreon page to help with expenses in this chaotic and economically challenging time.