Music Is More Than Just Entertainment

Music is more than just entertainment to us

There is a special bond that forms when you are completely lost in a moment with your bandmates, and with an audience. It’s a feeling that you can’t force, and you can’t recreate in any other situation. That’s what drives our passion, what makes us want to improve, and what makes it worth all the late nights and long drives.

We seem to be surfing a wave of rock and roll that is sweeping across the southern United States, which encourages us. There is a revival happening here, but rather than one of religion, it is one of creative expression. Some might argue that rock and roll is spiritual in its own right, but that is a debate for another day.

Black Market Salesmen is a rock and roll band hailing from Huntsville, Alabama. We initially formed as a trio for one show on Dec 21, 2012, the date of the Mayan apocalypse. Seeing as how Earth survived that fateful day we can only assume that we saved the planet with our groovy tunes. Our music has many influences ranging from blues legends such as Muddy Waters and Blind Willie McTell, seventies hard rock such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, to more modern influences like the music of Jack White. Taking our many different influences we have crafted a bluesy, psychedelic sound and have a penchant for sonic exploration.

In the spring of 2018, we traveled to Marietta, Georgia to record our debut album, "Brainstorm". Under the direction of Grammy-nominated and multiple gold and platinum musician/producer Joey Huffman and the expertise of engineer Kevin Sellors, we recorded the four songs that became "Brainstorm".

I would like to introduce you to the band:

Klayton Hodges is the lead singer. He also plays a little organ, some guitar, and bass. He is an outgoing and loveable goofball who wails like no tomorrow. His warm personality goes a long way with audiences and helps bring an air of lightheartedness and fun to our shows. His vocal style is influenced by Robert Plant, Jim Morrison, and Chris Robinson, among many others. He also has a deep love for professional wrestling, which he channels into his charismatic stage presence.

Shane Davis is the lead guitar player and occasional singer. He is probably the most mysterious member of the band, preferring to let his guitar do the talking. His guitar influences include players such as Lightning Hopkins, Hubert Sumlin, Otis Rush, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, and Tony Iommi.

Chris Salib slaps the bass. He also sometimes sings and plays guitar. Salib is the rock on which our temple of rock is built. An absolute monster musician. His advanced knowledge of music greatly enhances our sound and our songwriting. If we are ever stuck when working on a song, within seconds he usually knows where to go next. His many influences include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

Kris Poorman hits the skins. Kris's lifelong obsession with martial arts prepared him for a life of hitting things hard. His powerful drumming rounds out our rhythm section. John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell and Bill Ward are some of his drum influences. He is also a good singer and guitar player.

Non sequitur: We don't take any particular approach to songwriting. Sometimes one of us will come to the rest of the band with a completed song, sometimes just an idea.

We agree amongst ourselves that often times the best songs we do are the ones we all had a hand in writing, for example our song “Vapor Trail” from the “Brainstorm” EP. The song started as just a simple idea brought forth from Klayton. He wasn't really sure what do with it. Within half an hour we had combined forces and turned it into what is today.

The most important thing is to never take it too seriously, and always make something enjoyable.

Overall, the Black Market Salesmen are a hard hitting rock and roll group. We do it because we love it. You should check us out