Saliva reaches fans at summer festivals

Saliva's lead singer used to dislike being called a rock star. Now he's OK with it.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Life just gets better and better for Josey Scott.
His band Saliva, a hard rock quintet with rap and metal music influences, has watched several of its songs climb the music charts -- "Click, Click, Boom," "Rest in Pieces" and more. The band will release its fourth album, "Survival of the Sickest," on Aug. 17. Saliva will play some of the new songs when it performs Saturday night at the Mahoning Valley Rib Burn Off in Niles.
Now Scott, who is Saliva's lead singer, awaits his feature film debut. He says he'll appear in "Hustle and Flow," an upcoming film by director John Singleton ("Boyz N the Hood").
Scott also is a newlywed, marrying Kendra Lynnett Edney over Memorial Day weekend. The wedding was at Elvis Presley's Graceland, through the help of older members of a musicians' group (nicknamed Memphis Mafia) that is nurturing the next generation of talent. "They just threw us a hellacious wedding," Scott said, whose family knew Presley family members.
Scott also talked about the current tour, growing up in Memphis, Tenn., and the state of rock 'n' roll in a recent telephone interview.
Q. As far as being so accessible to fans -- by playing at rib burnoffs here and in Cleveland and headlining the Jagermeister tour, where people get a lot of music for their money -- is this your idea or is it good marketing by your management team?
A. It's a conscious decision on the band's behalf. We've always wanted to be accessible to fans ... I always want to be one of those rock bands that fans not only buy the ticket and see the show, but sort of like they get to come in and touch and feel.
Q. Now we all know your fans aren't getting that close to you.
A. We do try to go with the maximum access that can safely be allowed.
Q. Your Southern accent is prominent. What effect has your Southern roots had on your career?
A. For a long time I had to make my peace with it. I've embraced who I am and where I'm from ... It took me time to embrace my southern drawl.
I had a problem for a long time being called a rock star. I think the word subscribes to arrogance and self-centeredness and a politic of language that I really don't subscribe to. I've found now that I embrace that. Then all of its power goes away, all of the fear and intimidation. I think this year, with getting married and falling in love and being at my creative peak on this album, in my opinion, I think I've finally made peace with Joseph and Josey.
Q. So Joseph is your birth name?
A. Yes. That's something I'm saying this year. I don't mind my friends and press having a more detailed look at my life.
Q. What has been the influence of Southern music on your band?
A. Musically, I think Memphis is the sort of Liverpool of the United States. It's a melting pot of different styles. It's certainly a hotbed of rock 'n' roll and blues and R & amp;B. There's a huge hip hop scene here. When I was growing up, there was gospel, country and rockabilly. I think growing up in this town as a songwriter and performer has given me a no-holds-barred freedom to go anywhwere.
Q. One of your band's new singles is titled "Rock 'n' Roll Revolution." Is rock 'n' roll in a state of revolution (sudden change) or evolution (slower change)?
A. I think it's a little bit of both ... I think rock 'n' roll is in a state of 911. It's patiently waited on its savior. We went through a time in the '90s when rock was in gloom-and-doom grunge state. When I was growing up, rock 'n' roll looked good. Rock 'n' roll looked like sex. I think that Saliva is having a hand to bringing sex back to rock 'n' roll.
Q. Is there one song on your set list that makes each concert feel complete?
A. "Rest in Pieces" is a really special moment for me. I didn't write it myself. It was sort of one of our first forays into ballads. I get to just take a breath and sing.
shaulis@vindy.com