Rock N Roll Experience - SALIVA 3/8/07

SALIVA

March 8, 2007

Recher Theatre

Towson, Maryland

Enter into the mix a rock/rap hybrid that also blends southern & classic rock influences to create a unique sound that's spawned several top 10 singles, gotten the band on MTV, radio, & in the process they made themselves rockstars...I am talking about the Josie Scott fronted band SALIVA! Saliva put out a new cd entitled "Blood Soaked Love Story" & they are currently out on tour, playing live shows, in support of this new release, & a few days before the show I got word that it was totally sold out, here in Maryland, so I couldn't wait to see what type of crowd was going to be there to see the band!

The crowd was actually a mix of young & old...more on the older side, & it was kinda the middle of the road, I mean there was no metal heads there, no gritty biker types, no southern rock freaks..it was just alot of normal people there to see a very blue collar, working mans band! I will note though that newest band member, Jonathan really adds another element to the band & he brings a very Marilyn Manson/Nikki Sixx type vibe to the band, but more on that in a minute!

Ok, so local favorites LENNEX opened the show & they are managed by Saliva's drummer, & then LIGION came on...if you ever see this band, their one guitar player reminds me of Gilby Clarke & check out their drummer! Crossfade were 3rd on the bill & got the crowd really ready to rock with Saliva, & then at about 11 PM, all hell broke loose when Saliva took the stage!

Josie Scott ccame out in a Saliva/punk style dress jacket & AC/DC shirt, with freshly cropped hair & eye make-up & his southern draw was all over his vocals that went from rappy to rock very effortlessly, & I can't help but say that the bands new guitarist Jonathan just brought "it" to their live show! He was sporting fishnet armwarmers, a silver teeth grill, he spit beer on the crowd, himself, he was tossing guitar pics out left & right, he was interacting with the fans, & he was clearly the "thing" to watch during their live show!

The bands set was mostly newer songs off the new record, but it was the singles like "Ladies & Gentlemen", "Click Click Boom" & the closer "Your Disease" that brought the house down! Interesting sidenote too, during "F*ck Y'all", there's a breakdown where Josie did a Tears for Fears cover (Shout) & a Police cover & I was told that from night to night he changes the covers, so that's kinda fun to watch! I had the opportunity to do a pre-show interview with Saliva members, Jonathan (guitar) & Dave (bass) & I have to set this up by saying that this was one of the most fun interviews I could ever ask for....lots of joking, lots of fun, & you really had to be there to understand what I mean..these guys are so nice & down to earth..no rock star ego's, no attitudes, & they like to have fun!

Rock N Roll Experience: Who are some of your musical influences?

Dave: Pretty much anybody & everybody I've ever liked, but mainly like Pink Floyd & Tool & stuff like that for me & anything kinda along that vibe, more of the concept or the progrssive kinda deal & pretty much anything Maynard (Keenan from Tool) does is golden

Jonathan: I like Motley Crue..I like Pantera too

Rock N Roll Experience: What's your favorite Motley Crue record?

Jonathan: Dr. Feelgood

Rock N Roll Experience: "You like Dr. Feelgood Better than Too Fast For Love?" Dave: "Too Fast For Love" for me!

Jonathan: Well, I was 12 when it came out, so..."Shout at the Devil" is probably a better record, but Dr. Feelgood was my first, & my Dad said, "I don't want Motley Crue in the house." so I went out, bought it & stuck it under my bed & now they are my favorite band! Rock N Roll Experience: When you're on the road, how do you keep your sanity?

Jonathan: We don't sometimes...sometimes it gets kinda rough

Dave: We have alot of humor, basically

Jonathan: & Zanex! ha ha. Actually, when we stop to go somewhere, we all go our seperate ways like waterbugs...like at the hotel, you may or may not here from the band on your day off..if we don't have to see each other, we probably won't & that's not because we don't want to, it's just because I see them so much.

Dave: I like some private moments

Jonathan: Yeah, I bet you like some private moments..you'll pull yourself up & (begins motioning like he's masterbating) ha ha..that's off the record, but on the record, I do it! ha ha

Dave: We play alot of Playstation games too...that's good times Rock N Roll Experience: Who is the girl on the front of the Every Six Seconds cd?

Dave: That was just some model..I have no idea...we weren't there for the photo shoot thing that she did...we get that question alot on the website & I never know exactly what to tell people ha ha

Rock N Roll Experience: I read online that Joise loves cookies..is that true?

Jonathan: I can answer that...YES!

Dave: More so, Ben & Jerry's Ice cream..any kind of sweets

Jonathan: Yeah,..any chocolate, any kind of sugar I think is what he goes for, but yeah, he did eat a whole box of chipsahoy one day, so ha ha..& Oreo's..2 boxes of Oreo's. Rock N Roll Experience: What's been the best & worst parts of being in Saliva for you?

Dave: I think the best was going out with Aerosmith & KISS & that was kinda a highlight for the career to see Steven Tyler over by the monitor board during our set & banging his head & stuff

Jonathan: I think the worst was just being broke.

Dave: Yeah..the downtime we had when Josie was doing his acting kinda hurt us financially & it was kinda hard to keep on Rock N Roll Experience: I always loved the "Survival of the Sickest" record, why didn't it do well?

Jonathan: It was more rock & kinda hanging out with your dang-gone stuff &... Dave: We were pissed off at some things during that time & it all showed on that record & it was an angry record

Rock N Roll Experience: Being from Tennessee, are you guys big Elvis fans or are you sick of him ?

Dave: I was never a real big fan...I think he was a great performer & stuff, but I'm not real big on his music

Jonathan: I am, I think just by proxy, I mean you're inundated with Elvis shit, so you kinda..ok, I get it ha ha..Josie's a big Elvis fan & we all like him, but I wouldn't say he's a major influence.

Dave: He's maybe the greatest performer ever

Jonathan: & biggest drug addict also! ha ha

Rock N Roll Experience: "Did you foresee Saliva being around 10 years?"

Dave: Well, we hoped! We tried to make our best career out of it, but sometimes it gets hard to hang in there

Rock N Roll Experience: "Do you always close with the same song every night?"

Jonathan: We used to! ha ha

Dave: Lately, we just kinda discuss, Hey..what are we gonna do right now? It keeps it interesting

Jonathan: Usually it's "Your Disease" but last night it was "Ladies & Gentleman" Rock N Roll Experience: "Is the song "Ladies & Gentleman" all about Saliva & your vibe?"

Dave: Yeah, it is kinda about jus the shows that we play every night &

Jonathan: It is pretty much about living a rock show

Dave: The vibe that we try to create

Jonathan: The good time, come & get it vibe

Rock N Roll Experience: "Is there anything else that I havn't asked you that you'd like to add?"

Jonathan : We'd like to thank our fans fr buying the record..if you havn't already bought it, please buy it

Dave: Eve if your downloading it..thanks for listening!

Jonathan: We can't stop it, so congratulations on your download I'd like to thank Dave & Jon for setting down with me & taking the time to do this interview, & they actually told me that they will be touring the USA again when this leg of their tour ends & the 2nd leg will see them on the road co-headlining with Buckcherry & they were an absolute joy to interview! make sure you check out Saliva when they play your neck of the woods..they are a killer live act you've gotta see to believe!