Review by Junkman
Photos by Joe Schaeffer
I’ve been waiting long enough for this. For years, we have been bombarded by so many whiny, pessimistic, and, frankly, boring bands, whose musical output is classified as “rock music.” In reality, it has been more about political and social statements than coming up with a musical “groove” of any kind. You know, the kind of material that you first heard when you were a kid that lit the fire in you, and your love of rock and roll? The last few years, bands like Rival Sons, Greta Van Fleet, and others have been kicking the door open to a trend that not only celebrates putting the “groove,” but the power of the “riff” back in rock and roll.
At the top of that movement these days is a Los Angeles quartet called Dirty Honey. Their first EP is so good that people have taken notice. They are the first unsigned band EVER to hit number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. I live in the Los Angeles area, and there is no radio support for new rock bands. Word of mouth, sites such as VintageRock.com, and web-based radio are what propels new bands, especially of this genre. Of course, touring is the bottom line. Recently, Dirty Honey brought out their fans as well as the curious to a sold-out show at the El Rey Theatre.
Opening the show was a terrific band from Reading, England, called the Amazons. Celebrating the release of their new record, Future Dust, these four lads opened up the eyes of many of us seeing them for the first time. Loud, proud, and melodic, they gave a very uplifting eight-song set that featured the pleasing, pleading voice of singer and guitarist Matt Thompson leading the way. Songs like “Mother,” “In My Mind,” and the outstanding “25” were all well received. On a night where both bands wore their influences on their sleeves, I sensed the spirits of past bands like Crowded House, the Alarm, and U2 had given the Amazons a good push. It was a very pleasant way to start the evening.
The room was soon completely filled and buzzing. At 10:15, Dirty Honey hit the stage to a huge roar. Starting with “Scars” from their self-titled EP, it was their time to shine for their fans. Singer Marc Labelle, adorned in a top hat and double-breasted coat, was truly the pied piper with a great set of pipes. His voice was in top form, this being the last night of a sold-out tour. His vocals just soar and keep soaring. The women screamed, the guys waved their fists, and everyone sang along with the chorus. When the band played “Fire Away,” it was as if they had recorded it live right there on the spot.
“When you are on the road, you don’t always get to work on new songs,” Labelle told the audience, and they then performed a new one called “The Wire,” which is every bit as listenable as the six songs on the EP. Again, the “riff” of the song is what propels it initially, thanks to the Gibson Les Paul sound of guitarist John Notto, combined with the heavy low end supplied by bassist Justin Smolian. Drummer Corey Coverstone is a sonic metronome, supplying a huge back beat throughout the evening. Labelle dedicated “Heartbreaker” to all the women in the audience, and there were many who screamed the chorus in unison.
Coverstone then did a brief drum solo, as the band members teased with a few notes of the Van Halen classic “Everybody Wants Some” since the beats are very similar to start with. Thankfully, it was not an overstated drum solo, as they can become very cumbersome very quickly. This led into one of the highlights (and there were many) of the evening when the band played their ballad “Down The Road.” This is a song that would make any vintage 1960s and 70s soul singer proud. Labelle’s vocal range and power were spotlighted once again, and his deeply emotional side shined on this number. It also has the feel of any classic Black Crowes or Lynyrd Skynyrd love song you may have blasted out of the tape deck of your Camaro way back when.
Another new, unreleased song “Tied Up” was performed. With a beginning riff ala Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” it leads into a full-on Aerosmith-style boogie that just keeps rolling. Labelle and Notto even shared the microphone during the chorus, just like the Toxic Twins used to. It was a true salute to their obvious influences. Naturally, a brilliant cover of Aerosmith’s 1976 song “Last Child” was performed next. Dedicated to guitarist Slash, who took Dirty Honey on their first tour as a supporting act, it was a terrific rave up. Labelle, who just happened to be wearing a vintage Aerosmith tour shirt, sang in a range and hit notes that Steven Tyler could only DREAM of hitting.
John Notto then took center stage and armed with his sunburst Les Paul, drove through a wah pedal- infused extended guitar solo that paid tribute to Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. Yet another influence saluted. Classic sounds, which have been reinvented for a new generation. “This is by FAR the most fun we’ve had on the tour,” a beaming Labelle announced. The band then cranked up the song that started it all for them, the number one hit “When I’m Gone.” Its infectious groove, along with its sing-along lyric “All I wanted to Saaaaay,” had the bulk of the crowd doing just that, leaving huge smiles on the faces of the band members.
Bassist Justin Smolian, his long curly hair reminiscent of a Deep Purple era- Glenn Hughes, cranked up the fuzz-tone on his bass and teased the crowd with a bit of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” as Labelle climbed the rigging on stage right. The band then blasted out their final number and current hit “Rolling 7’s,” which made the crowd go ballistic. All the things that have been missing about my favorite kind of rock music. No political statements or complaints about society, just great rock n roll performed by a young band that “gets it.” They thanked everyone and met with all their fans afterwards at the merchandise booth. No “rock star attitudes” found. Bravo Dirty Honey. The future looks good. Keep waving the flag!
