Alright butt — get ready to plug into some real rock ‘n’ roll electricity. Straight outta Montreal, THE DAMN TRUTH are the living, breathing proof that rock’s heartbeat is still wild, loud, and covered in glitter, grit, and passion. 🇨🇦🎤💄
They don’t just play music — they live it. With vintage swagger, cosmic energy, and a frontwoman who sings like she’s ripping open her soul, The Damn Truth are here to remind the world what happens when you stop chasing trends and start feeling the truth. 💥
🎤 WHO ARE THE DAMN TRUTH?
Formed: Montreal, Canada – 2011
Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Blues Rock / Classic Revival
Mission: To bring back the fire, freedom, and freakiness of the 70s with a modern kick. 🚀
Line-Up:
- 🎙️ Lee-La Baum – Vocals / Guitar (Fierce, fiery, and fearless)
- 🎸 Tom Shemer – Lead Guitar / Vintage tone wizard
- 🥁 Dave Traina – Drums / Thunderous soul
- 🎸 PY Letellier – Bass / Groove powerhouse
They’re a band’s band — no gimmicks, no machines, just blood, sweat, and distortion. Think Janis Joplin jamming with Led Zeppelin while Fleetwood Mac watches from the wings.
💿 DISCOGRAPHY OF RAW FIRE
| 💿 Album | 📅 Year | 💀 Why It Rocks |
|---|---|---|
| Dear in the Headlights | 2012 | The debut spark — bluesy, bold, and bursting with soul 🔥 |
| Devilish Folk | 2016 | Cosmic energy and killer hooks – a modern 70s masterpiece ✨ |
| Now or Nowhere | 2021 | Produced by Bob Rock — stadium-sized riffs and spiritual groove ⚡ |
| Tomorrow’s Calling (EP) | 2023 | Experimental and passionate – proof the band’s still evolving 🚀 |
🎸 THE SOUND: RAW, REAL & REBELLIOUS
The Damn Truth sound like a time machine wired through a fuzz pedal.
You get:
💋 Janis Joplin’s soul
🎸 Led Zeppelin’s thunder
🔥 The Black Keys’ modern bite
🌈 A whole lotta heart
Every song bleeds authenticity. Lee-La’s voice isn’t just powerful — it’s primal. She sings like she’s exorcising heartbreak and lighting up the world in the same breath.
And those guitars? Pure fire. Tom Shemer’s tone is all analog warmth and vintage fuzz, every solo dripping with 70s attitude and modern emotion.
⚡ LIVE SHOWS: LOVE, LIGHT, AND LOUDNESS
If you’ve ever caught The Damn Truth live, you know they don’t hold back.
They hit the stage like a storm — all passion, sweat, and psychedelic glow.
Expect:
🔥 Explosive vocals from Lee-La (barefoot, wild-haired, and unstoppable)
🎸 Vintage gear humming like it’s possessed
💡 Visuals straight out of Woodstock with a modern punch
💥 And energy that’ll hit you right in the chest
They don’t play to impress — they play to connect. You walk away lighter, louder, and a little more alive.
🧠 ATTITUDE & AESTHETIC
The Damn Truth live by their name. They’re all about honesty, emotion, and empowerment.
No auto-tune. No filters. Just four musicians who believe music can still mean something.
They blend 70s counterculture with 2020s consciousness — a bridge between rebellion and rebirth. 🌹
Their aesthetic?
- 🌈 Bell-bottoms and leather jackets
- 🕊️ Peace signs and power chords
- 💄 Feminine energy meets feral rock spirit
Lee-La isn’t just a singer — she’s a symbol. Confident, chaotic, and completely magnetic.
🏆 HIGHLIGHTS
- 🎙️ Produced by Bob Rock (yes, that Bob Rock — Metallica, The Cult, Mötley Crüe)
- 🎶 Singles like “This Is Who We Are Now” and “Tomorrow” tore up Canadian radio
- 🎸 Tours with The Sheepdogs, King King, Rival Sons, and ZZ Top
- 🎥 DIY music videos shot in living rooms and deserts — pure heart and hustle
- ❤️ Dedicated fanbase across North America and Europe
🎧 ESSENTIAL TRACKS
🎶 This Is Who We Are Now – A mission statement, a declaration, a banger
🎶 Tomorrow – Hope, heartbreak, and huge harmonies
🎶 Get With You – Sexy, soulful, and explosive
🎶 Lonely – Bluesy emotion turned to lightning
🎶 Only Love – Anthemic, beautiful, and timeless
💬 THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT
🎤 Vocals: 10/10 – Soulful firepower
🎸 Riffs: Dirty, fuzzy, irresistible
💫 Energy: Pure heart and rebellion
🔥 Spirit: 70s soul in a 21st-century body
The Damn Truth aren’t here to play rock — they are rock.
They’re the lovechild of peace, power, and psychedelic passion.
So light some incense, turn up Now or Nowhere, and remember:
“Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t dead — it’s just been waiting for The Damn Truth to wake it up.” 🌹🎸
The Riff Report
🎶 Keeping real rock alive — one riff at a time.
Visit staging.theriffreport.co.uk/ for more band bios, gig reviews, and modern-day rock revolutions.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
Comments