Winterstorm – Troon Town Hall

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Review By Darren McIntyre Photos By Scott Anderson

Silver Dollar Room / The Damn Truth

We catch our breathe and wander up to the Sessions Stage to catch Edinburgh alternative rock band Silver Dollar Room as they grace the stage for the first time, the place is filling up nicely as they deliver a cool rocking vibe that gets us all moving and a grooving.

There are a lot of folk who are not aware of this band and I have to say I am one of them so forgive me. The band were giving it lage on the stage as they dropped hits Little Things, Melanin & Mantle to wet our appetites as we ll as a couple of tracks that surely brought them a new legion of fans, I was running around like a nutter and only caught a little of their set but feel that they may be ones to watch. Strolling down stairs it was time to rock out with my brothers & sister from Montreal rockers

The Damn Truth are a psychedelic 4 piece rock n roll juggernaut from Montreal, Canada who originally came to our attention around 2012. The band have toured the world and shared the stage with the likes of ZZ Top, The Sheepdogs, Styx, King King, Rival Sons & Glenn Hughes. The band dropped their debut record Now Or Nowhere upon us in 2021, gave us a slew of singles and really announced themselves to the world as one’s to watch and boy were they right, the band are busy putting the finishing touches to their follow up album and are out on tour at present. Tonight they roll into Troon to the world famous Winterstorm Festival to bring us their infectious brand of groove rock n roll, please settle yourself in as I give you –

This Is Who We Are Now – This Is Who We Are Now – Thundering snare drum rolls come screaming towards us as a rasping guitar riff pulls out all the stops as we roar off into the distance. Vocals come bellowing in and they have a rasping gritty tone that really sets this track on fire. Bass comes through and is giving us a plundering funk groove that settles into the rhythm so well that it commands respect as it opens this track wide. Guitar riffs are showering us with crisp clean licks that really make the hairs on your arms stand to attention as we get a rasping growler solo that is just insane. Pounding snare drum rolls are thundering through the mid section and really giving this track a real shot in the arm with killer beats and crashing cymbal shots that just elevate this track to another level, Lee La Baum the charismatic lead singer of this fantastic band tells this swelling crowd that they are so pleased to be in Troon @ Winterstorm and how good it is to be with us tonight, the crowd cheer wildly as the band settle in and really start to sizzle and pop as we roar into –

Full On You – Shredding power chords are exploding all around us as this thundering rock track comes to life with a rasping riff that just tears this track a new one. Snare drum punches fill the air with a real attitude driven rhythm section that is full of swagger and it shows, bass comes through and is handing out a deep meaty funk groove that mixes well with this composition. Vocals come bellowing towards us and really give this track direction as crisp clean guitar lines offload with killer precision and depth. This is a power chorded beast of a track that has energy, drive and ambition written all over it as it dishes out a full on assault of musical proportions, the crowd are really buzzing now as this killer 4 piece bring the attitude and swagger that just lights up this iconic building and makes it pop tonight, I must tell you I had the pleasure of chatting with these guys a while back and they were telling me that they were buzzing to play for us as they have heard such good things about it, we cheer loudly and ready ourselves for blistering track –

Love Outta Luck – A pounding rhythm section lets the groovy cat track kick ass @ Winterstorm as the band pushes the boundaries with this killer track that just kicks in the doors at the festival and lets us know that The Damn Truth have arrived. Lee La brings her soulful, smoldering vocals that just wrap themselves around this impressive building as the place embraces these 4 Canadian rockers. The crunching bruiser is hitting us head on with a shredding, power driven guitar riff that is shaking Troon to it’s very foundations, dark brooding bassline drops killer grooves all through this fantastic arrangement as the crowd gets behind this all our groove machine that really brings the heat to Troon, the place is really feeling the love for this band who really had a nightmare trip to us with hours tailbacks on the M6 with a crash that set them back but they made it and we thank our lucky stars they did as we roll into –

Lonely – This fantastic offering begins with Lee La’s incredible blues soaked blistering vocals that just let this gritty rocking beast come to life. The pounding rhythm section brings snare drum punches that combine with bass kicks and cymbal crashes that rain down on us, the meaty deep basslines are wrapping themselves around this melodic beast as the track welcomes slick clean guitar licks that are erupting all through this punchy power driven monster that has layers and layers of blues soaked lyrics that bring a smouldering vocal tone to this toe tapping arrangement that is just dripping with killer melodies and colossal musicianship that just let’s us know that this band bring it and then some. We await the imminent arrival of this juggernaut four piece from Montreal as they deliver a real gritty blues tinge that just lets us feel the energy oozing from this unit for sure.

Only Love – This is a real mellow groover that comes to life as Lee & the boys let their cool vocals roll through this impressive hall tonight before a solid snare drum beat gets us off the ground. The band are bubbling now and really bring their live show kicking and screaming to us with ease as the 4 members really bounce off each other with their killer chemistry that just sizzles as they get down to business, the full on bassline is dropping epic tones that really let this track come to us. The slick twin guitar work is building and building as we feel the energy pouring from the hallowed Troon stage as the place is going nuts for the rock n roll juggernaut that is The Damn Truth, the soaring vocals are filling every corner of this epic festivalnas we embrace this colossal band and what they are all about. Dave brings us a drum solo of sorts that really gets the juices flowing as we stroll into –

Look Innocent – The track kicks off with a real nice, smooth guitar riff that welcomes a funky fuzzy bassline that really lets Lee La bring her soaring vocals that just stop us in our tracks. The foot stomping groove really grabs your attention as we really get down and dirty with this super cool band that just bring a smile to your face for sure, the rhythm section is controlling the groove from the back of the room as we throwour horns in the air and get behind this fantastic 4 piece as they turn up the heat right here in Scotland as the place just welcomes TDT to the Winterstorm family. The soaring melodies really grab your attention as Lee & the boys settle into their groove and just give it to us straight as we sway from side to side and just feel the energy oozing from the stage as this killer band release their inner rock beat and just let us feel awesome, we roll into –

The Willow – Sweet guitar tones wander freely through the intro as this haunting number flows effortlessly through Troon tonight as Lee’s haunting vocals sets the track free as we watch with real joy. The tempo changes pace as a gritty guitar riff erupts and the place comes alive with punchy snare drum beats that let this soaring melodic number bring intensity to us tonight as the band just gels and really gives us a colossal arrangement that is stopping us in our tracks. Tom steps up and unleashes a killer guitar solo that is crisp, clean and really encapsulates this kick as 4 piece from Montreal as they deliver a power packed, crunching set that just gives us goosebumps as we really take these guys to our hearts, this is a cracking track that brings something different to this band and really elevates them with a cool lyric piece that tells us that TDT are here and here to stay, the place is showing them some love with thundering applause which puts huge smiles on their faces as we roll into –

Develish Folk – Lee steps forward and begins a sing a long as such as Winterstorm sings along with them to get this killer track off the ground before Lee lets her soulful bluesy tones rain down on us as this epic number comesn to life. The rhythm section is pounding away with bass / snare drum beats that are joined by a cool cymbal snap that lets the groove flow from the stage tonight, full on basslines are dropping sweet, mellow grooves that let this insane track breathe as we just lose ourselves in this colossal number as Tom steps forward and unleashes a killer solo that has depth, swagger, attitude and bags of energy as we feel the loce pouring from the stage right now. The place is fixed on the stage as this power unit just delivers a track that lets the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as they shift through the gears and really sock it to us with this fantastic rock n roll track that ticks all the boxes for sure, next up –

Get With You – We change groove with this psychedelic number that brings a punchy stop start snare drum beat that allows Lee to kick in the doors with her soaring vocals that really set this track alight. The crowd are grooving along with this outfit as they really change the dynamic of this celebrated festival as they put their stamp on their set with a cool, funky beat that is something different for the fine folk of Troon, we feel the energy pouring from the stage. Bass tones are dropping killer tones all through the track as PY bounces all over the stage in his striped threads as he and the band feel the love oozing from this swelling, hot crowd tonight which shows as they are beaming with pride to have rocked the famous stage with their infectious rock n roll. The rhythm section is kicking the doors in with Dave bringing his groove cat tone that just lets us know that TDT are a band with nothing to prove, we reach the last track of their set as they thank us for showing up to make them feel at home as we stroll into –

Tomorrow – Tom steps forward and lets the riffs come at us as Dave pounds away at the back of the room as this soaring beast rears it’s head as the rock n roll groove hits us with all it has. Lee’s grungy vocals are pouring from the stage as their anthem fills every corners of this impressive town hall as the place goes nuts for The Damn Truth, we are bopping along to this crowd pleasing, floor filler that just gets our feet moving. The grooving bassline is hitting us with deep, punchy tones that gives this track depth, funk and bags of swagger as the slick, clean guitar licks really let this crowd feel the full force of this powering 4 piece juggernaut from Montreal. The place is bouncing and really feeling the love from this band as they came in, set up and kicked ass with their killer brand of psychedelic rock n roll that just blew everyone away.

The Damn Truth –

Lee – La Baum – Lead Vocals / Guitar

Tom Shemer – Lead Guitar / Vocals

PY Letellier – Bass / Vocals

Dave Traina – Drums / Vocals

Setlist –

This Is Who We Are Now

Fool On You

Love Outta Luck

Lonely

Only Love

Look Innocent