The Damn Truth: ‘Lonely’, Stage Gear and Bob Rock

Could you please introduce yourselves to us by telling the readers your names and who plays what in the band?

Hi Glenn, thx for the interview!
My name is Lee-la Baum, I sing and play rhythm guitar. Tom Shemer plays lead guitar, PY Lettellier plays bass and Dave Traina plays drums.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words

Our hometown is Montreal Canada. Eclectic, inspiring, affordable (somewhat), artistic, home.

You recently released your latest single ‘Lonely’. What was the thought process/inspiration behind this song?

The song Lonely started taking shape in our touring van as we began a cross-Canada tour. Three days into that journey, our van went up in flames along with our acoustic instruments, personal belongings and our hopes to continue our long-awaited tour.

We put together a GoFundMe campaign so that we could rent wheels that would take us and our trailer of stage gear home. 24 hours later there was an incredible amount of money in our account. It was enough to buy a new van, and clothes, and rent the gear to continue our tour.

After the tour, we started recording demos for the songs that would later become Now or Nowhere. ‘Lonely’ was one of the first songs we sent to Bob Rock but it was originally called ‘Needs Help.’ It was just an acapella vocal line because, after the van fire it was the way we were playing it during that tour. It was an ode to our fans that saved us from being lonely and stranded on the highway.”

Bob fell in love with the song right away and told us not to worry and that Tom should just try to play a guitar lick along with the vocal melody and the rest would all fall into place once we’re in the studio. That’s exactly what happened. Bob walked into the live room and said, ‘The whole song is there, just play it.’ With his masterful, skilful ear and delicate direction, within two hours the song was recorded. Done.”

Do you have any favoured stage instruments/effects?

Tom: Let’s start with the guitars. Lee-la, PY and I primarily play custom-made “bunting” guitars during our shows. These exceptional instruments are meticulously handcrafted by Bunting, a renowned manufacturer known for producing some of the world’s finest guitars. Each guitar is tailored to our specific preferences, allowing us to experience the ultimate connection between musician and instrument. When I’m looking to unleash my inner demons, I reach for my Jef Demers V model. Playing that guitar feels like taking the wheel of a Ferrari—smooth, lightning-fast, and absolutely ferocious!
Adding to the arsenal is my latest gem, a signature model crafted by the talented artisans at Morifone Guitars. This gorgeous gold top guitar boasts a neck that perfectly complements my hands, making it an absolute joy to play. I can’t express enough how much I adore it!

During our tour with ZZ TOP prior to the pandemic, fate introduced me to Chuck Dean, the mastermind behind Retro King Amps. Chuck’s reputation precedes him, having created exceptional amplifiers for none other than Billy Gibbons himself. Impressed by our band, Chuck graciously offered to build me a custom amp. The result? A mesmerizing purple RK45, based on the legendary Bluesbreaker circuit. This amp embodies pure rock and roll, and I can’t get enough of its powerful sound.
In my quest for sonic perfection, I’ve also partnered with Invaders Amps, hailing from Belgium. Their Bluegrass model has become an integral part of my setup, and when combined with the Retro King, the result is simply awe-inspiring. The harmonious blend of both amps elevates our sound to new heights, delivering a sonic experience that leaves audiences spellbound.

How do you look after your voices?

A couple of years ago we had just got home from an intense European tour, and our homecoming show was a headline slot in an open-air festival stage. The night was ridiculously cold and combined with the fatigue from the tour, I blew my voice out and suffered severe vocal cord damage and inflammation. After being diagnosed, a wonderful surgeon suggested a vocal coach here in Mtl who teaches a science-based method of singing and recuperation. It’s Called the Estill vocal model and I’ve become an adamant student, relearning how to sing “properly”. There are many practices, warm-ups, cool-downs and exercises that I follow on a daily basis. The funniest one- other than humming into a straw, (it really works! But don’t fall for the “singing straw” bullshit, any old straw will do!), is a vocal spa where I cover my head with a towel in a bucket or large bowl of boiling water and breath in the steam through my mouth, then I need to be silent for about half an hour afterwards… which has led to some very awkward situations but we’ll leave that for next time…

Your latest album ‘Now Or Nowhere’ has six tracks produced by Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metallica). How did you all meet and what was that experience like?

While on tour in Europe, we started discussing how we want to approach recording our next batch of songs. One thing that kept coming up was our desire to work with a producer we had never worked with before. Somebody from the world of Rock N Roll. Somebody that had made legendary records. That was the dream.
The first name that was thrown around in the van was George Martin, which obviously could not happen, but the second name was Bob Rock. As it turned out we had a friend in common and we managed to send him a bunch of demos. Within 12 hours Bob called back and said come down to Vancouver and let’s make a record.

Bob really understood us and our music so working with Bob is a delight! He got what we were all about right from the start… we bonded over our love of Zep 1 and his vast musical knowledge and expertise are unparalleled. During our sessions, he had us set up in a big room playing together live, (which is probably the only way we can do it). After each take, he’d walk through the door and over to us to propose changes and explore ideas. Always full of creativity and ideas, he was able to masterfully guide us and propel us to achieve our very best. He could unblock obstacles and clear the path for excitement, and pure rockn’roll energy. We felt inspired by Bob and his incredible collection of instruments and we believe that there is something truly magical about the Warehouse Studios in Vancouver Canada and we cannot wait to go back at the end of August for recording our next album with Bob.

7. In doing my research, I discovered that The Damn Truth have not only opened tours for ZZ Top but that you also partied with the legendary Billy F. Gibbons in his pyjamas! What is the story there?

Tom: It was night three or four of our epic tour, and anticipation was running high. We were eager to meet the band, but thus far, they remained elusive, wrapped in an aura of mystique. We sensed that these cats needed their space to work their magic, and hey, we totally respected that. We understood that privacy is important. So, we reluctantly accepted that our dream of meeting them might just remain a dream.

But little did we know that fate had something extraordinary in store for us. Out of the blue, the legendary Billy strolled into our dressing room, radiating positivity and good vibes. Time stood still as he told us he liked our set. I mean, holy hell, it was an absolutely mind-blowing moment! The energy in the room crackled with pure excitement.

Picture this: Billy, decked out in a onesie pyjama leather jacket, his iconic fuzzy hat, and those unmistakable sunglasses, exuding an effortless coolness that only he possesses. Even in his sleepwear, he reigns as the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll awesomeness. It was like witnessing a rock God in the flesh, and we were utterly floored.

In addition to the new single, you will be returning to the UK for a tour in July 2023 with a series of intimate headline dates and an appearance at Steelhouse Festival. How do you as a band approach performing live and what two things do you hope to have achieved once you leave the stage?

At the heart of our band, “THE DAMN TRUTH,” lies a simple yet powerful motivation—to connect with others. That’s what it’s all about, you know? When we first started out, we always felt like outsiders, never quite fitting in wherever we went. So, we decided to take matters into our own hands and create something unique, something that would resonate with people who felt the same way.  We were pleasantly surprised to find out that there are tons of “outsiders” out there, from all walks of life and of every age. It’s incredible how music brings us all together!
 At a “THE DAMN TRUTH” show, the thing that truly matters to me is meeting everyone after the gig. I love hearing their stories and connecting with them on a personal level. It’s like finding a small piece of home in this big, wide world. It makes me feel a little less lonely, you know?

I mean, think about it—what else can you really ask for?

Then if that wasn’t enough, you are then returning to the UK in October 2023 for an eleven-date tour as special guests for Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the album ‘BURN’ tour. How did that opportunity arise and do you have any favourite Deep Purple songs?

Our love affair with the UK and our UK fans is quite the fairytale…with the help of the wonderful rock n rollers at Planet Rock radio, getting behind our record and spinning the tracks old school, people have been listening and showing up at our shows. Planet Rock had us play a few of their big festival events that have led to big audiences and more fans. Then other community radios around the UK got behind the song and things just took off from there. We are very thankful to The Gig Cartel and the band King King for taking us on. We have crisscrossed the island a few times now and our love is just growing!

When we got the call that we got the Glen Hughes tour we were ecstatic!! We are BIG Deep Purple fans, so it’s gonna be a wild one for sure. The first time I heard Made In Japan, I was hooked, one of those albums that have just stayed with me is arguably one of the best live albums ever made IMO… Space Truckin, Highway Star, Burn… these are all so epic I think I will die a little on the first night of the tour…PY, our bass player was even part of a band called Perfect Strangers.

Do you have any plans for an EP or another album release and have you been able to start any writing/recording in amongst your busy live schedule?

We are always writing, I think it’s part of our personal therapy… in the last few months, between tours, we’ve laid down quite a few demos and ideas, and have been sharing them with Bob and we are so excited to be going back into the studio with him at the end of the summer to record the next album.

I tell you, working with Bob, and having his input, is golden and still unbelievable to us! Any time his number shows up on our phones our hearts drop to our pants and we look at each like giddy schoolchildren- Bob Rock is calling!!!

It’s been one hell of a whirlwind since the release of Now or Nowhere and we are so excited to be working on new songs towards our upcoming release.

What makes The Damn Truth happy and what makes you unhappy?

The Damn Truth is a family that is happiest when bouncing around a stage and rocking out with our fans singing our lyrics back to us. We are pretty difficult to make unhappy but let’s say the Pandemic was a rough one… tours got cancelled, our album release got delayed, hell we couldn’t even finish recording our album with Bob… thank goodness that’s all behind us now!

Just give us some fish n’ chips and British Gin and all is right in the world.

The Damn Truth tour the UK from July 21 to August 1st. They also tour the UK with Glenn Hughes from October 10 – 29th. Tickets: www.thegigcartel.com