Rearing its head from the depths of Northern California's South Bay Area music waters, Salmon had created quite a stink on the local (San Jose/San Francisco) scene over the years of 1993-2001. Hailing from Gilroy, CA, a community most famous for being the "Garlic Capitol of the World", it's SALMON that quickly became one of the city's most potent exports. Salmon's growing popularity, and unruly die hard fans had 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 album "Paco, drop the chicken!", certainly didn't swim against amongst an established school of hard-core bands. Adding raps to funk-metal grinds, Salmon perhaps faced 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, cranking out every song with the spastic energy of a five year on two cans of the most potent energy drinks you can buy, along with bandmates Aaron Goodwin (guitar), Steed Najera (Tom Walker was the originator of Salmon's dope bass lines) 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 had developed quite a following. While Salmon did get in a short tour before Red Ant's financial problems kicked in, their nation wide following had roots deep in the Internet.
Salmon will have multiple web sites spreading their new music to music fans everywhere, and will host online chats and concerts. Despite the lack of label backing, the band will continue to thrive in the California club scene. In 1997, along with the Deftones, was honored with a nomination for Best Hard Rock Artist in Northern California by BAM Magazine's music awards.
It is still obvious to Salmon fans that a slight push would replicate the overwhelming success achieved in the Bay Area, on a national scale
