SALMON

Rearing its head from the depths of Northern California’s South Bay Area music waters, Salmon has been creating quite a stink on the local (San Jose/San Francisco) scene over the last couple of years. Hailing from Gilroy, CA, a community most famous for being the "Garlic Capitol of the World", it’s SALMON that has quickly become one of the city’s most potent exports.Already banned from playing their small hometown, Salmon’s growing popularity, and unruly die hard fans have forced the band into larger venues more suitable for the band’s monster jams and swirling mosh pits.The foursome, which manages to smoothly incorporate musical styles that range from contemporary hip-hop and funk to hard rock and metal on their new album "Paco, drop the chicken!", certainly doesn’t swim against amongst an established school of hard-core bands. Adding raps to funk-metal grinds, Salmon perhaps faces an upstream swim when asked to describe their music, but, as with their namesake, it probably just makes them stronger.Vocalist Lawrence Martinez heads the bunch with unfailing energy, crankin g out every song with the spastic energy of a five year on two bottles of Jolt and guarana, along with bandmates Aaron Goodwin (guitar), Tom Walker (bass), and Pat Ruiz (drums).After a couple of years of playing sold out concerts with the likes of Korn, 311, Deftones, Sublime, No Doubt, Incubus, Fishbone and festivals shows like the Van’s Warped Tour, Snow-Core, Snow-Bored, and Kamp KOME, Salmon has developed quite a following. While Salmon did get in a short tour before Red Ant’s financial problems kicked in, their nation wide following has its roots deep in the Internet. Salmon has multiple web sites spreading their music to music fans everywhere, and they have hosted online chats and concerts.Despite the lack of label backing, the band has been thriving in the California club scene, and along with the Deftones, has been honored with a nomination for Best Hard Rock Artist in Northern California by BAM Magazine’s music awards. It is obvious to Salmon fans that a slight push would replicate the overwhelming success achieved in the Bay Area, on a national scale..