Dirty Honey
Dirty Honey LP
Dirt Records
L.A.-based rockers Dirty Honey have been generating a healthy following via the ol’ DIY, work-your-ass-off ethic since the band’s inception in 2017. Singer Marc Labelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone play rock and roll with a flair, similar to the consummate blues rock and sleaze bands of the 70s and 80s. Upon hearing the band’s full-length debut California Dreamin’ there is no doubt that Dirty Honey will be compared to other bands, such as Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses; yet, they are not a knock-off to any band, active or defunct.
The commanding title-track opens the album and the summery vibe it evokes can be likened to ice cracking after a long, cold winter. Loaded with powerful rhythm and superb guitar licks, complemented by Labelle’s dynamic vocals, the eight-song track list rocks all the way through—devoid of that familiar, mawkish 80s balladry.
“Gypsy”, a fast-tempo boogie-woogie number, jolts the listener like a high-voltage cattle prod. This is a song that screams to be played live. The bluesy closer, “Another Last Time”, supplemented with soulful backing vocals, really flaunts the band’s musical range.
The appeal of this album is that it is real, without a hyper-produced, “we better hit this one out of the park” veneer so prevalent in this age of faux-sound trickery.
Dirty Honey has caught fire. Come and get you some.