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. ([article id="1458698"]Click here for photos from the show[/article].)

The set was evenly split between songs from last year's Every Six

Seconds and the newly-released Back Into Your System

(see [article id="1458511"]"Saliva Back With New Album, New Voice"[/article]). 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.