How is it coming in as the new guy with a band that’s gone platinum with the older albums?
They like it. They like my style. The writing process wasn’t really hard. It was just about breaking out of the box and coming up with new concepts—just trying to not be stale. Like, let’s just shit out a Saliva record, ya know? They’d done that the past two records because they had to fulfill their contract with their label. And I don’t think that was fun. This was fun.
I mean, it could have been weird jumping into the studio with a band that’s been writing together for so long…
No, not at all. They were open to suggestions [laughs].
Saliva is one of those bands that has such a familiar sound within active rock, and the band that so many band are compared to. How are you breaking out of that old, familiar, Saliva sound?
The thing that people don’t realize is that Saliva’s had more success with mainstream than active rock. Active really was “Your Disease”, “Click Click Boom”, “Ladies and Gentleman”—that’s it. All the other singles were mainstream. At the end of the day, we aren’t trying to be like any other band. Dave, Wayne, and Paul—the original guys from the band—they’re Saliva. So whatever we write and play is going to have that sound. It’s just me, vocally, bringing a different dynamic.We’re not trying to re-create “Click Click Boom”.
I think a lot of bands chase that active rock thing and just want to be like…
Saliva?
No. I wouldn’t say that. I mean hey, whatever works for you.
So what are the next steps? Obviously more touring.
Yes. We’ve been out since February and we’re out until May 11th…Oh man, it’s so fucking long. We’re going to Abu Dhabi at the end of May, then coming back for a run with Eve to Adam supporting us. And then we’re going out with Puddle of Mudd and Like a Storm in July.
Are you guys doing any festivals?
We’re doing Lunatic Luau in Virginia Beach…
Any of the Danny Wimmer shows?
Uhh, I can’t say that…There are. But they’re later in the year.
Ohhhh. So Aftershock? [laughs]
I didn’t say it.
Catch Saliva on tour and pick up their latest album, Rise Up at Saliva.com.
