MySpace a place for friends

Salient Bio

Ask any given band why it exists, and something about “wanting to rock” is likely to be stated. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but a stage- shaking act like Nashville-based Salient stands out for knowing more precisely its reasons for all those late night rehearsals, finely-tuned original melodies and riffs, and long drives from home to entertain a growing number of fans.

“We create this music together because we love the experience of combining our individual gifts into something greater than any one of us,” says Mark Duckworth, Salient's personable and purposeful front man. “We do it for the moment when everything clicks . . . when a song is being shared, when an audience is participating in what we're communicating.”

To date, Salient has made a tight connection with seemingly every type of crowd: at college campus gigs from Dallas to Detroit, intermission shows at National Hockey League games, sharing stages with Switchfoot and others, and hundreds of concerts for youth and church events nationwide. And following the success of a recent independent radio hit, “Immortalize Me,” the edgy quartet also caught the attention of Grammy-nominated guitarist Barry Blair (Audio Adrenaline, dc Talk).

What Salient communicates so well on The Constant State of Change—its new album produced by Blair—is an understanding of every person's need to be loved without condition.

“We believe true unconditional love can only come from one place, so we sing about the access we've found to that place,” Mark explains. “The common factor in any relationship—romantic, family, or spiritual—is the change it goes through constantly, whether in deepening intimacy or in gradual decline. Through these songs, we deal with different points in the arc of a relationship, all from the most hopeful perspective possible.”

Favorably compared by others to Foo Fighters, Live, Collective Soul, and Stone Temple Pilots, Salient is decidedly brighter in its lyrical approach, always aiming to counter the sometimes-negative influences of mainstream media (“Call us sheep in wolves' clothing,” laughs Duckworth). “Life Outside The Lines” opens The Constant State of Change in search of “truth that changes lives” and finds wisdom from “learning the hard way.” Likewise, riding in on a fierce, Jimmy Eat World- like arrangement, “Adaptation” spins hope out of a dissolved romance.

“It may seem like a breakup song, but it's really an anthem of empowerment for the days after a relationship ends,” explains Mark. “It's about forgiving faults in others and ourselves and embracing what is yet to come.”

Other cuts on The Constant State of Change range from brilliant pop (“If You Want Me”) and ultra-intense alternative rock (“My Security”) to stunning balladry (“We Were Free”), deftly covering topics of love, faith, and commitment. Throughout, each Salient member brings a unique sound to the mix. Co-founder Bobby Reinsch first entered the music industry as guitarist for Dove Award- nominated act Daily Planet. His freewheeling, confident playing pairs well with the engagingly direct vocal style of Duckworth; who got his start singing in vocal groups. On bass and drums, Craig Woelber and Jeromy Rowe exceed the foundational importance of their roles, hinting at the integral accents they bring to the quartet's energetic live performances.

Indeed, Salient is most at home on stage and travels with enough production gear to cover rooms up to 5,000 seats. Blair, whose background on the road with a gold-selling act naturally lends itself to sharp production instincts, was right when he believed that working with this band would result in its most head- turning music to date.

“Barry had great ideas for getting the most out of every song and coaxed music from us that we'll be proud of long term,” concludes Mark. “Salient is finally at the point where each member is doing exactly what he feels he was created to do. We have never been more driven or excited.”