If ever a band belonged on stage, it’s The Damn Truth. Their image suggests a rock ‘n’ roll heart and their quite stunning new album damn well demands the roar of the crowd and the sultry smell of spilt beer. While live gigs (at least in the visceral form the band require) may be some little way off, albeit getting closer every day, The Damn Truth have kindly put together a live stream that sits somewhere between glorious display of rock ‘n’ roll in excelsis and a pointed teaser for when we can actually get up close and personal. At any event, with the band airing the whole of Now Or Nowehere, as well as a generous helping of tracks from 2012’s Dear In The Headlights and 2016’s Devilish Folk, The Damn Truth offer up a performance that charmingly bats expectations out of the way and leaves the audience gasping for more.
The show opens with a brief shot of the band sitting around discussing the genesis of the album. It’s a short and engaging entrée, and we return to this setting between each of the new songs, the band offering short insights into the writing process. From there, we’re thrust into the band’s performance. Kicking off with (and, really, it could be no other song) This Is Who We Are Now, The Damn Truth grab you by the hair, haul you from your seat and basically scream their mandate into your upturned face. As displays of rock majesty go, it’s pretty much flawless, and it sets the bar insanely high for the performance that follows. Fortunately, the band have both the chops and the songs to keep the momentum and Tomorrow keeps things moving along nicely, thanks largely to a killer chorus you’ll be singing for weeks. It’s a great sound mix the band have, too, with Lee-La Baum’s stunning voice riding high over the raging guitars and thunderous drums, and they sound immense. Following another little chat, Only Love proves to be a powerful showcase for Lee-La’s voice, and Bob Rock’s assertion in the studio that the band should speed the song up pays great dividends. The band take things to a bluesier place, with the awesome acapella intro to Lonely only serving to make the hotwired riff that powers the song sound all the bigger. Damn it’s a great track, even better live than on record, and it’s so intense that the audience need the Dylan-esque acoustic beauty of Everything Fades in order to catch their breath.
The Damn Turth talk The Fire up a storm, and you can see why, when one considers the performance the band deliver, nailed by the taut percussion and a stunning vocal from Lee-La, whose wild-eyed assault on the chorus is nothing short of sublime. A full-on Janis moment, Look Innocent feels like some long-lost gem unearthed in a time capsule, while Full On You remains a groovy number with an AC/DC vibe. The album set ends with the slow-burning Shot Em, a poignant plea for peace delivered with passion and a vocal that soars with emotion. It’s one of those powerful pieces of music that stops you dead in your tracks, just to absorb every moment of the song.
With blistering new album Now Or Nowhere already over, the band dig into their catalogue for a lengthy set of favourites that feels like a party among friends. Drum risers are stood upon, poses are thrown, and the band generally act like this is the pay-off after all their hard work, not to mention a reward for fans who have been there all along. Highlights abound, but the storming Get With You shows the band had class in abundance from the outset, while the dark bass and howling feedback of Too Late (which sees Lee-La ditch the guitar) is a deliciously gritty blues with the soul of Beth Hart. With dizzying guitar to the fore, it’s stunning in its intensity. Broken Blues is similarly impressive, providing a showcase for Tom Shemar, who rocks a flying V like a boss, while the folky Devilish Folk is a very different piece for the band, showcasing their versatility. The band round things out with Heart Is Cold, Lee-La proving herself to be as humble and gracious in her thank yous as she is an astonishing singer. What a set!
Was The Damn Truth Live Stream the perfect set? Well, no, but only because I wasn’t physically there. Did it make me want to jump on the sofa and play air guitar? Most certainly. Did it make me want to turn up the volume until the neighbours were blown clean out of their bedroom at the sheer excess of it all? Well, um – perhaps it’s best I don’t comment on that! Are The Damn Truth one of the best rock ‘n’ roll acts out there today? Hell yes! Now go buy the album – you can thank me later.
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