Saliva, Drowning Pool are hard-rock headliners at Manchester Music Hall

Saliva/Drowning Pool

The title tune of Saliva’s 2014 album Rise Up is, as the title implies, a wake-up call — a loud, cranky blast of metal-savvy guitar rock. It places two decades worth of clean, anthemic electric gusto on full display over the course of three throttling minutes.

Though hailing from Memphis, the music of Saliva steers clear of the roots traditions normally associated with the city. The band, with lead guitarist Wayne Swinny as its lone remaining original member, would score major radio exposure with arena rock songs like Click Click Boom and Always.

On Saturday, the current lineup — Swinny, vocalist Bobby Amaru (who joined in 2012), bassist Brad Stewart (who joined in 2015) and drummer Paul Crosby (a member since 2001) — packs its huge, high-volume charge into the somewhat intimate confines of the Manchester Music Hall. Aside from 20 years of material to choose from, the band will likely preview music from its forthcoming album Love, Lies and Therapy, which is due out on June 10.

Saliva represents only half of the ear-crunching fun on hand at Manchester this weekend.

Saturday’s show will also feature Drowning Pool, a Dallas band of similar style (metal-esque post grunge) and lineage, also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Drowning Pool has also enjoyed ample exposure locally stemming from a Rupp Arena date with Seether and Five Finger Death Punch in May 2010. But its personal history has been troubled. Founding singer Dave Williams died of heart disease in 2002, with replacements Jason Jones and Ryan McCombs lasting for a total of three albums.

Jasen Moreno has served as Drowning Pool’s frontman since 2012. Guitarist C.J. Pierce, bassist Steve Benton and drummer Mike Luce, all original members, complete the current roster.

While early singles like Bodies, Sinner and Tear Away were championed by alternative rock radio, the band helped nurture a sizable fanbase by touring with arena favorites like Motley Crue, Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne. Drowning Pool released its sixth and newest studio recording in February, bearing one of the all-time snarkiest hard-rock album titles: Hellelujah.

Got your six

Over the course of 30 years, James Hunter has established himself as one England’s most-schooled soul music stylists. Finally, fronting a combo aptly titled The James Hunter Six, he makes his way to Lexington for a performance at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, 300 East Third Street, for the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour on Monday. Gospel-soul songstress Liz Vice is also on the bill. (6:45 p.m., $20). For reservations, call 859-252-8888. For tickets, call 859-280-2218 or go to Lexingtonlyric.com.

In Sunday’s Living section, Hunter speaks from his home in Brighton about working with Van Morrison as well as his new Hold On! album, his debut on the famed indie soul label Daptone.

Lee Brice in Richmond

The latest in a string of late-season concert additions hits the EKU Center for the Arts, 1 Hall Drive in Richmond, next week. Country star Lee Brice (of Love Like Crazy, Parking Lot Party and Drinking Class fame) will perform on Thursday. (7:30 p.m. $25-$66). Call 859-622-7469 or go to Ekucenter.com for tickets.

Brice became fast friends with Central Kentucky in 2014 by sharing a Rupp Arena bill with Luke Bryan and co-headlining the annual Red, White and Boom festival within a five-month period. Brice’s newest single is a collaborative tune with longtime friend and touring mate Jerrod Niemann, titled A Little More Love.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Saliva, Drowning Pool are hard-rock headliners at Manchester Music Hall."