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.
 

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"