NEW YORK — Every band claims to be indebted to its fans, but Saliva seem to bond with their listeners more than most. During Wednesday night's show at the World, singer Josey Scott made it clear that it's all about the kids, and reiterated his point no less than 10 times.
"We do this sh-- for you and for ourselves," shouted Scott after the band finished playing its single "Always," which is currently receiving strong airplay. "F--- the rest of 'em."
After experiencing Saliva live, it's easy to see why they're so enamored of their audiences. The group's no-frills brand of music is as populist as hard rock gets, and while the bandmembers know how to put on a show, they avoid acting like rock stars. Onstage, dressed in black T-shirts and black jeans, Scott looked like three-quarters of the crowd. (Click here for photos from the show.)
The set was evenly split between songs from last year's Every Six Seconds and the newly-released Back Into Your System (see "Saliva Back With New Album, New Voice"). Saliva began with "Click Click Boom," the second single from their major-label debut. The tune was followed by two more songs from that disc, "Superstar" and "After Me," which effectively satisfied the audience's cravings for stuff they knew before Saliva exposed them to a string of five new songs.
Without Def Leppard-esque background harmonies and slick production, the hip-hop-inflected "Raise Up," the anthemic "Back Into Your System" and the surging "Weight of the World" sounded rawer and more virulent than on album, making the band seem tougher and more blue collar. And with fewer rap passages, the songs had more of an old-school thug-rock vibe.
In addition to having the sound to shake stadiums, Saliva have the moves to keep the crowd visually stimulated. Scott strode back and forth, pumped the air with his fist and frequently clutched his sweaty, long locks as he sang. Lead guitarist Wayne Swinny, rhythm guitarist Chris D'Abaldo and bassist Dave Novotny repeatedly demonstrated how they've perfected the unison headbang.
At numerous points, Swinny stood still and played tasteful, hair-raising solos that complemented the band's songs without overpowering them, while D'Abaldo provided visual flair, whether standing spread-eagle or leaning over his guitar with his head down. Much of the time Novotny stood stiff and still, his sheepdog hair obscuring almost his entire face.
Most of the show was devoid of serious content, but Scott put on his political hat for a moment by prefacing "Pride" with a diatribe against al Qaeda.
"This song's a big fat f---in' middle finger to all the terrorism. ... We thought what better place to play this song than New York f---in' City." The clompin', stompin' rock-out was followed with chants of "USA, USA."
Saliva ended their regular set with "Musta Been Wrong," then praised the crowd one final time ("It's 'cuz of cool-ass crowds like you that we get to keep doing what we do") before exiting the stage. They returned a few minutes later for the new "Weight of the World," which Scott called the band's favorite track from the record. The set-closer was "Your Disease," the pugnacious number that first put Saliva on the mainstream map.
Opening band Audiovent rocked the crowd with a pounding but melody-saturated set. Though vocalist Jason Boyd is the brother of Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd and guitarist Benjamin Einziger the sibling of Incubus axeman Mike Einziger, Audiovent are their own energetic entity.
In concert, the band's love for classic hard rock and post-grunge shone through like a flashlight in a fog. Songs like "Energy," "Rain" and "Stalker" were delivered with the surge of Stone Temple Pilots, the groove of Led Zeppelin and the propulsion of Grand Funk Railroad.
Boyd, in a black tank top and brown corduroys, looked like a '70s stoner, and handled the stage with confidence, wriggling like Jim Morrison of the Doors and swinging the mic like Roger Daltrey of the Who.
Live, his voice is powerful and swollen with drama. Although it fit in well with his bandmates' sonic charge, it would be equally suitable for metal bands like Judas Priest or even Whitesnake.
Highlights of their set included the full-throttle "Sweet Frustration" and the more sedate "Beautiful Addiction," which see-sawed between emotive ballad and piledriving rocker.
For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.
