A bit of rock and roll to keep your week… well, rocking and rolling!
Simple things first – where are you from?
Bournemouth, UK
How did you meet?
We’ve all worked together in various incarnations of various different bands together over the years. We met through the local live music scene and it’s continued to keep us together since. In 2018 we had all had enough of our respective musical projects and decided to form South of Salem. It just felt right. We decided to take a gamble on ourselves, take the plunge and work together on a band we truly loved.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We formed the band in 2018.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
When we decided to create the band, we knew we needed something that fitted the new style and sound. We brainstormed a load of ideas around the occult and dark arts and even lived with a couple of different names for a while, which luckily didn’t stick. Eventually in connection to the Salem witch trials, Kodi suggested South of Salem and we agreed it sounded cool.
What are your influences?
Motley Crue, Guns n’ Roses, A7X, Metallica, Alice In Chains and Rob Zombie to name a few.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
South of Salem is an 80s inspired hard rock band, using modern metal production. The horror element mixed in with that has created something special and unique.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Due to our vocalist, Joey’s passion for horror cinema, the lyrics often have a horror element to them. That being said, the subject matter is normally drawn from everyday situations, emotions and interactions. We like to explore things like betrayal, depression and emotional abuse because it happens all the time, it’s both honest and relatable, and if our songs can help someone or it speaks to them, then that’s an amazing thing.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
It’s loud, it’s high energy. Light show, cheerleaders, the works. We always aim to bring our A game and own the stage we’re on. We love playing live and meeting the fans. It’s what we live for and it’s why we do everything we do. SOS only had chance to play their debut show before the UK’s lockdown started, but it’s only made us more determined to get back out there.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Nothing too crazy as we’ve only had one show but for our singer’s birthday we all went out. We ended up at a local rock bar watching a live band. We got utterly wasted and ended up being coaxed up to play by the bar’s owner. We’d lost Pip so invited someone who didn’t know the song to play. Drunkenly we stumbled through one of our songs. It’s safe to say it went terribly.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Joey (vocals) uses a Shure Series II 55SH black microphone and Shure in-ears.
Kodi (guitar) uses an ESP Eclipse, Dean V and a Marshall JVM amp which was used for all the guitars on the album.
Fish (guitar) uses Jackson guitars, ADA & Digitech pre-amps & effects and Peavey amps.
Dee (bass) uses a Fender 80s jazz bass through an Ampeg amp.
Pip (drums) uses a Hybrid Pearl/Premier Kit, Joey Jordison signature snare, LDC sticks and Iron Cobra pedals.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
We have our debut album ‘The Sinner Takes It All’ coming out on September 25th 2020. It’ll be available digitally, on CD and limited edition blue vinyl via our BigCartel store.
What are your plans for 2020/2021?
We are currently in talks regarding 2021 and will definitely be looking to tour. We already have some shows confirmed that we’re excited to announce when we can. Until then we’ll be using our socials to give fans an insight into who we are and what the band is all about, and of course releasing our debut album.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you?
Rob Zombie would be awesome. For an opener we’d love to give a fan’s band an opportunity like Skeletal Crew from Portugal or Grave Robber from Sweden.
South of Salem: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube | bigcartel
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