Pulling up the Roots

Turth & Salvage Co. pic

The Truth & Salvage Co. is a six piece band with four of the members handling lead vocals, as well as intersecting harmonies born to be together. The band came together in Los Angeles, transplants from Atlanta, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Tupelo and a couple of cities in Ohio. They are the product of late night jam sessions that led to a high profile Hollywood residency that brought them to the attention of Black Crowe Chris Robinson, who produced their self-titled debut. The bands roots came from across the United States but their songs are Southern California grown. The tones and textures have a carefree sound and reference musician enclaves such Beachwood and Topanga Canyons as well as the main travel route, the 101.

The Alternate Root (TAR): You guys came together in Hollywood?

Tim Jones (TJ): I was the Sundays booker at Hotel Cafe starting in February 2007. The main booker had been throwing shows my way, doing about one day a week. We started jamming late nights. Truth & Salvage Co. was the result when we realized we had something.

TAR: Those jam sessions became a residency?

TJ: We wound up doing a residency at Hotel Cafe.

TAR: You guys are no strangers to bands though as individuals.

TJ: We have all been in different bands throughout the years. I signed a deal when I was twenty-two and the record guy said to me "are you ready to be a star". At the time, I thought my self worth came from other people. You have to go through a lot to understand that your value comes from being a human being. We (the band) have all come to that place.

TAR: There is a joy about your songwriting, playing and performances. Is that due to found value, the time put in, more about getting it right with the band or all of the above?

TJ: We work really hard at making it easy. When you let go of the other stuff...business, success, chord changes, theory and just play music from your heart, it should be easy. Music is played out of either a pure joy or pure sadness.

TAR: Integrity comes up a lot in the song topics. Is that also a function of time put in?

TJ: I would think so. Everyone wants to be appreciated. We have put so much work into music and songwriting over the years; it is great to have them appreciated. At the end of the day, though, integrity is all you have. We have all had to come to terms with other people’s opinions and it is not how we judge our own worth.

Truth & Salvage 2

TAR: With four singers, and songwriters, the songs all still have the same feel.

TJ: All these guys feel a part of the same thing, regardless of who is doing what. The songs on the record for the most part were written before they recorded the album.

TAR: You songs have a 70's feel not because they are dated but because you guys take your influences in your own music.

TJ: Hopefully so, I have been listening to a lot of The Jayhawks albums, who sound like the Burrito Brothers before them. In the 1970’s, there was a huge boom for country and rock together and then a lot of alt country bands in the late 90's. The sound never goes away and is always there.

TAR: You guys have been doing a lot of opening slots.

TJ: We have been opening for The Black Crowes and will be going out with the Avett Brothers and Big head Todd and The Monsters. We opened for Govt. Mule and Steve Miller, who is great. We also played Stagecoach this year. Stagecoach is a more country and rock version of Coachella, in the same spot the following week. Completely different crowd and perfect for us.

TAR: Are opening, shorter sets tough?

TJ: Luckily, our record is forty three minutes long. We pack it into a tight amount of time BUT there is nothing better than taking your time. When we headline, we do some new songs, some old songs and some covers.

TAR: Are there headlining gigs in your future?

TJ: We are going to be doing a West Coast tour of wineries and breweries. Every year one band is picked to do this tour.

TAR: Sounds like a good match for you guys.

TJ: For us it is genius. There is a captive audience and they are the kind of people that enjoy what we do. The kind of person that enjoys life is out target audience.

To find out more about the Truth & Salvage Co., and learn about tour dates, check out the band’s website (truthandsalvageco.com).

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD of Truth & Salvage Co. - "Pure Mountain Angel"

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John Nemeth

John Nemeth pic

Prior to solo work, John Németh scored a feature position The Junior Watson Band in 2002 and Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets in 2005/2006. The Cascade Blues Association selected John Németh as a crowd favorite at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival in 2002, and the Washington Blues Society called him the show stealer at the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival in 2003. He is an ace vocalist and a fine harmonica player.

The Alternate Root (TAR): You started out in Boise, Idaho.

John Németh (JN): I first started performing at the Grubsteak saloon in Horseshoe Bend playing 60's rock and country when I was still in high school. I have played only the blues since I have been out of high school.

TAR: What got you into the blues?

JN: My friend, Tom Moore, gave me some mix tapes with BB King, Freddie King, Blind Lemon, Little Walter, Junior Wells. The songs and artists really took hold with me. Little Walter was a big influence, as was Ray Charles.

TAR: And you kept the bar gigging going after high school?

JN: I played a lot of college bars in Boise. Only played in what I would call a real blues bar once a year. I was working five or six nights a week.

TAR: Playing covers as well as originals.

JN: I was the first guy to play a lot of those songs in Boise. I didn't want to just play the hits so I dug up a lot of old numbers and started writing originals.

TAR: That lasted for a while?

JN: I did that for six years straight, before radio was bought up and back when club owners could still advertise. That is not the way to go now. After 9/11, radio changed, the club scene was less successful and I needed to go out on the road. Luckily, I have a great agency and it keeps us working. We have five to seven gigs a week, every week, when we are on the road.

TAR: Did you go out on the road as a solo act?

JN: I opened a show for Junior Watson and wound up doing some touring with him. I then decided to tour a little on my own. It was very difficult since I was not on a label. I moved to San Francisco in 2004 and signed on to Blind Pig Records.

TAR: Though you are a bluesman, your music could fit into a lot of different categories.

JN: We play for all audiences, depending on the town, the venue and the promotion we can get. One night we will play a blues bar, play a funk bar another night, then play a theatre. We play a lot in British Columbia and the northeastern parts of the U.S. We play festivals. We did the Monterey Jazz Festival. It rained a little bit this year, so the crowd was smaller.

TAR: The diversity of your sound helps get through the business and economy?

JN: Diversity in my music works well for the festivals. If I was playing traditional blues I doubt that I would be as successful. A lot of it has to do with not hearing the blues much on radio. No radio station is linked closely to traditional blues. Having different backgrounds and musical interests in the band makes us more versatile. There are a lot more soul influences in the music. The more traditional blues we do is more 60's Chicago. With our music being so diversified, we can swing different venues. We can appeal to an audience that knows nothing about the blues but they get the soul and funk in the band. I like being able to appeal to everybody.

TAR: You recently did a project with Elvin Bishop. How did that come about?

JN: I opened a show for Elvin. He was recording a CD with guest stars and asked me to be involved. I had a great time recording; it was an honor to be asked. I have been on Elvin’s last two albums.

For more about John Németh, go to his website (johnnemethblues.com)

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD of John Nemeth - "Name The Day"

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