DIRTY HONEY OOZES AT THE HALL
My True Rockers’ Desire is listening to new bands who have a vibe and sound influenced by “Classic Rock” bands like The Rolling Stones, Free, and Mott The Hoople along with 70s-era bands like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and even 80’s rockers like The Black Crowes! This quest for the old in the new has been a challenge in the 2020’s to say the least. Can you say “Indie Pop and Hip Hop” five time real fast? Damn you for even trying! LOL
My quest of finding “newer” classic rock-sounding bands was rewarded with seeing a then unknown RIVAL SONS open for AC/DC in Vegas in 2010! Since then the classic rock revival has continued to spawn even more kick-ass bands like THE BAND FEEL and DIRTY HONEY!
FEEL THE BAND FEEL!
THE BAND FEEL is a Rock band from St. Louis known for their dynamic sound that pays homage to the Classic Rock era while adding a modern twist. With influences ranging from 70’s rock to Laurel Canyon to even mid-century jazz, THE BAND FEEL has garnered attention for their high-energy performances and captivating songwriting.
In researching this newer band I found that within just a year’s time the band has shared the stage with the likes of Cheap Trick, Rival Sons, 38 Special, John Waite, and now Dirty Honey! The mindset of THE BAND FEEL is to create and play music with the passion and focus that once was- and now is. And NOW they are playing with another of my favorite new bands DIRTY HONEY at The Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas!
To see these two powerhouse rock bands together at one of my favorite concert venues THE HALL feels just like seeing Rival Sons back in 2010… Well, minus that AC/DC band… LOL Well, I think Angus would give us his Aussie-seal of approval on this one!
Standing just 5-feet from the stage isn’t a bad thing at all at The Hall! But you better get there a little early and forget about the beverage line for now. But there’s really not a bad spot in THE HALL, and for a little extra you can opt for seating up in the small balcony with great viewing also!
The St. Louis-based THE BAND FEEL consists of founding members Tyler Armstrong on Guitar, T.J. Steinwart on Drums, Rodger Lenhardt on Bass, and their latest member, Garrett Barcus on Lead Vocals. They’ve just released a new music video “Find A Love” now available on YouTube.
As the opening act at The Hall THE BAND FEEL was all about THE ENERGY you “FEEL” from the band. This was not by the band’s design but more due to a bit of a darkened lighting set along with some audio monitor difficulties at the front of the stage! We could hardly hear the singer. Combining the two made for an interesting experience in the crowd, as I found myself feeling more of the energy the band was giving off as a result!
Your eyes were immediately drawn to singer Garrett’s shaman-type moves and long-hair flying against the low-red lit stage lighting. Like a cross between Robert Plant and Jim Morrison- Garrett was fun to watch no matter what he was singing!
Guitarist Tyler Armstrong wasn’t short of moves either and came across as a nice blend of Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes.
Tyler got some assistance from the guitar tech during the acoustic section of the performance with the guitar tech having to hold his microphone up so Tyler could sing. The crowd got into this by even cheering on the guitar tech- Talk about Team Spirit!
We could hear the bass and drums just fine, and both TJ and Rodger are outstanding musicians in keeping the beat and groove of this cool band flowing. Even with the monitor issues and lower lighting settings, we got to FEEL THE BAND FEEL, which made for quite a unique experience we’ll never forget!
Hey Honey – Time To Get Dirty… Honey!!!
While the sound guys got dirty fixing the sound issues and the stage crew got busy preparing the stage for DIRTY HONEY, The Rocker Chic and I took advantage of nearby restrooms, refreshments, and the nice swag area for band merchandise. The Hall is big enough for top acts to perform in but also small enough to feel like a neighborhood block party! The whole crowd interacts with each other and the event seems more like a rock and roll family reunion than what you would witness at some huge Stadium. Plus, there’s no nose bleeds here!
With that kick-ass DIRTY HONEY logo mouth glowing in the background and the band taking the stage The Hall crowd went nuts with excitement for this awesome American rock band from Los Angeles!
Singer Marc LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and new drummer Jaydon Bean strolled out on the stage like it was a family reunion- with high fives and waves to their dedicated fans in attendance!
Dirty Honey wasted no time launching into the first of seventeen kick-ass songs from their sound arsenal with “Can’t Find The Brakes”, the lead-off song from their new album of the same name. Even with a new drummer the band was tight and performed like a well-oiled machine that… can’t find the brakes!
Marc LaBelle’s voice was in top form considering this red-hot and in-demand band has been on the road since February! With a voice and sound that echoes some of my rock and roll idols like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, Marc sang with the power and swagger that would make even my favorite rock vocalist of all time Steven Tyler smile!
Maybe it’s his never say die attitude, but guitarist John Notto has the skills to definitely pay the bills with his killer riffs, solos, and a guitar tone to die for! He looks and plays like a cross between Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and STP’s Dean DeLeo with a little Jimmy Page thrown in for good measure.
Bassist Justin Smolian makes for the perfect glue between that killer guitar attack, those raspy but high tone vocals, and the steadfast locked-in beat. That hair though! It may be a bit curly, but I think it gives Justin secret bass-playing powers and it definitely makes for some cool-ass photos!
New Drummer Jaydon Bean kicks major ass too and fits in perfectly with the vibe of this party-time type band. His drum kit became the designated hang out during lengthy solos and in-between songs.
The all-ages crowd at The Hall was energetic and full of enthusiasm for this great rock and roll band. Marc LaBelle even went out of his way to give one lucky young fan a bunch of swag from the merch stand and even the set list for the concert. This kid will remember this night for the rest of his life, just like this 60 year old Rocker writing this review will also.
Seventeen songs later this band still had energy for more, but they’ll need that energy to last into November when they’ll be able to FIND THE BRAKES HOPEFULLY from this lengthy tour and get back to the studio to make more album HONEY… DIRTY HONEY THAT IS…
