poundSalt
Zephyrhills, Florida, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
POUNDSALT AT DOC'S PLACE
The first time I went to Doc's Place was last year ('08). It was at the request of my good friend "Longhair" Kev who’s a buddy from the Tuesday Night Blues Jam down at Ybor Cigars&Spirits. He'd told me that he was managing a new band called Pound Salt and that I should come out to see them. As soon as I walked in the door I met T. J. Alcock who's the guy that makes all the music at Doc's happen. His company, Central Florida Entertainment, books two to three shows a week at Doc's with four bands in each show. Folks that's a lot of music and that's what keeps the crowds of music fans and partiers steady coming in. T.J. cleverly books a variety of acts, from different locales as well. One from the Tampa Bay area, one from Orlando, one local band, and one from a number of touring groups, always looking for another gig to play, out on the road. This seems to be the formula that brings in the largest draw for each show they produce, night after night.
It was during that first visit to Doc's that I heard Pound Salt and I was impressed right away. The number of original songs performed in each of their sets was amazing. Maybe one or two covers and the rest, well sung and played homegrown songs that had a life all their own. Pound Salt's bassist, Casey Jones is well named, that is, in light of the fact that he fronts this band and sings almost all the songs. The energy of these guys cannot be overstated, but this night in early May '09 there was something different. After a song or two I realized there was a new drummer on stage who has really helped to transform this group into the power house they are today.
Jimmy Van Bremen so sparked the talents of Jones and guitarist Brett Shock that they sounded like a whole new band. Like being on a Disney ride, they take you through so many styles of the newest music. Reggae, Ska, Punk, Rap & HipHop, their music glides seemlessly from one to the next, blending all styles into their ingeniously written originals. The strings in this band (bass& guitar)float easily over the pool of energy that is VanBremen's drumming. Never draging, never dropping the beat, he's the perfect compliment to their playing and writing.
Kev's been very busy booking the next tour for Pound Salt. Out west, It's been said, Los Angles and Las Vegas and maybe a few other stops along the way for this cookin trio. And while Doc's is homebase for the "Salt Band", with a great group of fans and patrons; your sure to hear more about these guys on the national scene as they make a splash with their diverse sound. Check out the Doc's myspace page (myspace.com/docsplace) maintained by Doc's longtime owner, Craig Kandon, whose been providing Lakelanders with great live music for over sixteen years. Also there's plenty of info at: (docsplacelivemusic.com) or just come on out North Florida Ave. to 5153 US highway 98 N. and see for yourself. Be ready for some very high energy music and be ready to dance, cause there's lots of that going on too!!!
(this review can be found online by going to thefocusmagazine.com and then look in the magazine archive under Lakeland Focus and check out issue 5-9, page 8)
- Focus Magazine
Discography
Socially High (2000)
*streaming V Radio of Las Vegas
*Wittenburg Radio, Ohio
Window (Single 2010)
*Audio and Video
Photos
Bio
Poundsalt was formed in Ohio (during one of many long periods of boredom that is Ohio) by high school friends Casey Jones and Brett Shock when they realized the music they wanted to hear was not to be found. It needed to be chili Peppers and Primus meets Clutch, a tricky combo indeed. Quickly they assembled an array of songs the likes of which had never been heard. Rock but funky, heavy yet melodic with catchy hooks and bass driven, they knew what must be done! One task remained, find a drummer man enough to complete the group. After many attempts to find this awesome man in Ohio they set off for South Carolina in hopes of better luck. They didn't find any. Then, one night they had an epiphany. All the best drummers were in small towns in central Florida! The duo packed again and headed toward the water but after a year of gigging the area, they still had not found the missing piece. Then, just when all seemed lost, they learned of a local drummer who had become available. James Van Bremen joined them and POUNDSALT was born! After only two years they are fast on the rise having played nationally supporting three top ten singles on Las Vegas's V Radio (including two number one's), a hit YouTube video for the single "Window", and opening for Hall of Fame inductee Marty Balin. Now through a collaboration with international distributor Rising Sun, they move toward, you guessed it, their destiny!
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