When the Woo Band's founding member Damien "Woo" Salazar and his "Rage Against the Machine-meets-Lenny Kravitz" trio were playing out in Los Angeles, they frequented Sunset Strip staples like the Roxy and the Whiskey A Go Go. But when family matters brought Salazar back to his hometown of Kansas City, he rebuilt the group and played to audiences that had a more appreciative attitude. "In the Midwest, everybody's waiting to be entertained, which I think is pretty cool," Salazar says. The current Woo Band lineup, with Salazar (bass/vocals), guitarist Brandon Skeens and drummer Dana E. Scott, hit audiences with a uniquely percussive bass style and groove-heavy Queens of the Stone Age-esque hard rock. But while the riffs may be brawny and dirty, Salazar says the good vibes comes in spades. "I personally believe that lot of heavy music out there is designed to get you pissed off," Salazar says. "I want people to kind of walk away with a new energy ... Like you almost got a shot in the arm or drank a Starbucks cappuccino." The Woo Band will perform at 10 p.m. Sept. 12 at The Rendezvous.