Saliva
02.01.2007
The Palladium Ballroom
Photography: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Inclement weather may have brought a surprisingly lethargic crowd to Palladium Ballroom, but it didn’t keep Saliva from putting on an electric and adrenaline filled show. Fresh off the release of their newest album, Blood Stained Love Story, Saliva rocked out to mostly new material. If you’ve listened to the new album, don’t let the slower, laid back feel of the studio versions fool you. Led by front man, Josey Scott, the band performs even ballad-like songs with an edge that can’t be recreated in a recording studio.

Crossfade opened for Saliva and had a surprisingly short set for a platinum selling band. “Cold,” from their self-titled major label debut in 2004, was the biggest crowd pleaser. My guess is that those who came to hear Crossfade came to hear this song. That’s not to knock the legitimacy of the band, but the wallflowers joined the crowd when Crossfade went into the opening riff. From the same album, they also played “So Far Away,” and “Colors.” I guess selling a million albums affords you the unfortunate pleasure of playing songs from that album even after you’ve released newer material.

The crowd sprang to life when Saliva went into the #1 single from their 2003 sophomore album Back Into Your System, “Always.” Even the grade school boys in the front row leaning against the barricade bobbed their heads and sang along word for word. The set list also included a song called “Broken Sunday” that incorporates the aggressive guitar riffs that Saliva is famous for. Easily the most radio friendly track off the new album, the song has mainstream rock appeal but isn’t a radical departure from the familiar sound that die hard Saliva fans are accustomed to.

For their encore, Saliva opened with “Rest in Pieces,” also from their sophomore album. The pounding bass line coupled with the overall tranquil feel of the song transitioned well into the testosterone pumped finale, “Ladies and Gentlemen.” This being their latest single, the fans came out to hear this song and Saliva did not disappoint.

The venue may have only been at 25 percent capacity but the energy in the building said otherwise. They could easily have reemerged for a second encore but the show ended with the crowd wanting more, which is exactly how it should be. Everyone shuffled out with the right amount of enthusiasm to go out and buy Blood Stained Love Story.”

Saliva





Crossfade