Years ago now, “a wonderful night of free love and amazing music” brought Lee-la Baum and Tom Shemer together in more ways than one — a chance encounter that set the stage for what has been one hell of a ride since.
“Tom and I met naked at a hippie festival,” laughs Baum, the lead singer of Montreal-rooted rock quartet The Damn Truth for which Shemer plays lead guitar.
“It was a wonderful night of free love and amazing music. We really connected on a beautiful, beautiful level, but we fell in love musically before we fell in love otherwise.”
A few years later, in Montreal, “wanting to form a band, basically not finding our place in the musical sphere of the moment,” the couple hooked up with drummer Dave Traina and, later, bassist David Massé. The Damn Truth was born.
What has followed since has been nothing short of what Baum terms “a wild ride”; a sure but steady progression that has seen the band release four albums to date, extensively tour Canada and Europe, and receive word that the band’s self-titled latest album has been nominated for a 2026 Juno Award.
Lindsay’s FLATO Academy Theatre will welcome The Damn Truth on Friday (March 27), just two days before the Junos are awarded in Hamilton.
VIDEO: “This Is Who We Are Now” – The Damn Truth (2021)
While bassist Massé is long gone, having been replaced by Pierre-Yves (PY) Letellier, the driving hard rock sound that has endeared The Damn Truth to fans of the genre near and far remains very much in place.
“There was very little rock and roll in the city (Montreal) at the time,” recalls Baum of the band’s pre-formation period.
“It was all Casio keyboards and 15 or 20 member bands. We wanted to be a straight-up rock band. It’s not like that was a conscious decision, like ‘Oh, we want to stay away from this or that.’ It was just this music is what we gravitated to. It was very organic … just play our hearts out and play live.”
The Damn Truth’s debut album, Dear in the Headlights, was released in independently in 2012. Come 2016, signed to Fineline Records, Devilish Folk was released and caught some serious attention, including that of ZZ Top, which invited The Damn Truth to join them as the opening act for its 2018 international tour.
While that was and remains a band resumé highlight, catching the ear of legendary Canadian producer Bob Rock was a turning point for The Damn Truth.
The Winnipeg-born multi-Juno and Grammy award winner — who has produced and engineered albums for Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Cher, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, The Cult, The Tragically Hip, Nelly Furtado, and Michael Bublé, to name just a few — reached out in 2019 after receiving demos from the band.
Although the pandemic interrupted and delayed recording at Bryan Adams’ Warehouse Studios in Vancouver, The Damn Truth released Now or Nowhere in 2021. It subsequently garnered extensive radio airplay in Europe, and in the United Kingdom in particular.
“He really is a sweetheart,” says Baum of the aptly named Rock, adding “It’s important to work with someone you love and trust. It’s got to be like that for us. We’re a family band and that’s how we feel about anybody who joins the team.”
“Whenever I got behind the mic in the studio, knowing that Bob’s ears were on the other side, something came out of me that never came out before and maybe, in some ways, never since. There’s this urge, like ‘My god, I’m singing for Bob Rock. I’ve got to do my best. I’ve got to bring my A-game.'”
While band members pre-produced much of Now or Nowhere before Rock entered the picture, the band’s eponymous album released just last year saw Rock involved from the get-go. The result is an 11-track explosion of what the band does best: deliver musically while staying true to its hard-rock-rules mantra.
The album spawned two top 40 singles in the form of “Love Outta Luck” and “I Just Gotta Let You Know,” with the latest single “Be Somebody” in line to do the same.
“The album is a beautiful collaboration with Bob,” assesses Baum. “Having his expertise and his beautiful, beautiful touch really elevated the sound, really elevated the songs. He wanted us to be the best version of ourselves. I’m very proud of this album.”
And rightly so, given the new album has been nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2026 Juno Awards.
“We still can’t believe it,” says Baum of the nomination, adding “I’m supposed to go find some clothes to wear for this thing.”
“We’ve really tried to bring our songs to radio outside of Montreal. To be recognized (at the Juno Awards) is really beautiful and surprising, but hopefully it will get us some cross-Canada airplay and will duplicate what that did for us in the UK.”
It’s across the Atlantic that web-based Metal Planet Music effused of Baum, “If Robert Plant and Janis Joplin had a love child, Lee-la would be the result.”
“That definitely brought a big smile to my face when I read it,” says Baum.
“There have been a lot of comparisons from people listening to our band, or listening to my voice, and saying this or that. A lot of times people shock me. One woman told me ‘You really remind me of Tracy Chapman.’ I was like ‘Really? That’s incredible. I love her.'”
If comparisons to such iconic performers makes feel Baum pressured to deliver to a higher standard, she’s not anywhere near admitting to that.
“We like who we are and what we do. I’ve always been a very confident lady, so that doesn’t faze me.”
Just back from an East Coast tour that saw The Damn Truth featured on the same bill as Live and Big Wreck, Baum and her bandmates are excited to bring their sound and high-energy show to the stage in Lindsay.
VIDEO: “I Just Gotta Let You Know” – The Damn Truth (2023)
“We’ve played hundreds of shows yet, every time, my belly is rumbling, I’m super excited and nervous and cold in my fingertips. You kind of feel like you’re on the verge of passing out but don’t, because you know what you’ve got to do. But with that that essence of excitement, we just go up there and we do what we do.”
Baum adds there are new fans to be won over whenever they play to audiences in towns they haven’t performed in before.
“They’re looking at us like ‘Who are this colourful, weird bunch that keep jumping around?’ I can kind of see the whispering and wondering of what’s going on. I don’t think about it too much, but I can see a change by the last song when hands are in the air and we’re getting the crowd with us. We don’t take it for granted, not for one little bit. Every every show is an opportunity to make new fans.”
Having performed in major European and Canadian cities, the band’s Lindsay show may seem to be a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit. Not so, says Baum.
“Our agent suggested it and it was like ‘Why not?’ Music lives and thrives everywhere, and rock and roll especially. If there’s a want for rock and roll, we’ll be there.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint what the audience can expect, but expect high energy, good vibes, and lots of love. We love what we feel on stage between the four of us, and the love that we have for our music and for sharing it.”
That love extends to both long-time and new fans, Baum adds.
“After every show, we come out to meet the audience. We go to the merch table. We will take photos, shake hands, or just say hello. The connection is so strong that we always feel the need to do that after every show, no matter where. No matter how big or small (the venue), we’re there.”
“Rock audiences are the same everywhere. They are made up of the same beautiful, loving cloth. Maybe we’ve been super lucky, but I have not encountered a fan that I did not like.”
After their Lindsay show and the Juno Awards ceremony, The Damn Truth hits the road yet again in May, performing in Quebec before heading to Spain in late June for the Azkena Rock Festival. Then, on the same continent, from late September to October 26, the band will join Swedish rockers Europe for their tour marking the 40th anniversary of the release of The Final Countdown.
VIDEO: “Love Outta Luck” – The Damn Truth (2024)
Beyond life on the road, Baum says while there are no definitive plans for a new album as of yet, writing new music is a constant work in progress.
“I’m very proud of all we’ve accomplished but we’ve just begun,” she says. “We know there’s nothing else for us out there. The four of us put all our eggs in this basket and there’s no alternative.”
“The idea of The Damn Truth is simplicity and rock and roll and in your face. Here we are, doing what we do. That’s our truth. Kind of what you see is what you get.”
Good seats are still available for The Damn Truth’s concert at FLATO Academy Theatre in Lindsay at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Tickets are $33, including fees, at www.flatoacademytheatre.com/whats-on/the-damn-truth.
VIDEO: “Be Somebody” – The Damn Truth (2025)
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