Dirty Honey - La 2 de Apolo, Barcelona 11/3/24

by Philamonjaro

published: 4 / 5 / 2024

Dirty Honey - La 2 de Apolo, Barcelona 11/3/24

Philamonjaro enjoys and photographs a set of energetic, guitar-driven rock from Los Angeles band Dirty Honey

Article

Dirty Honey live are rock and rock alchemy. The right ingredients brought to a boiling point for transformation. Killer songs delivered with sexy swagger. A definite vibe with all the moves. Unrestrained showmanship and improvisational confidence. The best of L.A.’s Sunset Strip at its height. A rolling bass groove, fans clapping in unison and driving guitar from the very start. The foursome opened with the hurtling ‘Can’t Find the Brakes’, their 2024 title track release. “Hold on, Shorty can't find the breaks. Hold on, babe, I do whatever it takes.” Perhaps a fitting metaphor as the band rockets about internationally. This was the first of five new songs performed which comprised a third of the setlist. They didn’t shy away from the new tunes for good reason. The crowd ate it up. With so many new songs, set-list staples like Aerosmith’s ‘Last Child’ didn’t make the cut. Singer Marc LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian and (latest addition) drummer Jaydon Bean are a rockin’ brotherhood. They jell. They compliment. Musically they leave space for each other. Notto and Smolian saunter to LaBelle’s microphone for shared vocals. Bean’s drum solo held centre stage. All with a big, arena-scale velocity and a certain pirate-like camaraderie. Next, their 2019 charting single ‘California Dreamin’ segued into ‘Heartbreaker’, familiar songs for the diehard fans. Their earliest song ‘Scares’ was sandwiched between two new cuts: ‘Get A Little High’ and ‘Dirty Mind’. During the latter, Notto pushed the angular guitar riffs as LaBelle crooned wordplay: “I keep my hands clean when you know I've got a dirty mind/Make up your mind/Every time, I said make up your mind”. Whether the hard rocking ‘Scars’ or the power ballad ‘You Make it Alright’, their catalogue is a collection of guitar-driven songs. Outfitted with a classic Marshall stack and Gibson Les Paul rig, Notto's guitar style shines with his masterful song-defining riffs; melodic hooks that linger on. Midset Notto and Smolian switched to acoustic guitar for an Allman Brothers-esque ‘Coming Home (Ballad Of The Shrine)’. Smolian’s acoustic slide work complemented Notto’s gentle fingerpicking arpeggios, offering a softer dynamic. Then came a show highlight. Quite uncharacteristic of their hard rock persona, they went straight-up Earl Scruggs. Still strapped into their acoustics, a fast 2/4 snare train beat led a bluegrass version of ‘Honky Tonk Woman’. Lightning fast, Appalachian style flat-picking impressed as LaBelle sang “I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Barcelona”. The slower groove ‘Don’t Put Out the Fire’ had LaBelle singing of suspicion, hurt, betrayal and insecurity. Finally resolved to a warning for his love interest that she will be replaced: “Now you're running all over town/ And the talk on the street's got me thinking that there's someone you've found/Yes, it did! Now I'm so insecure I need a little more”. ‘The Wire’, ‘Another Last Time’ and ‘When I’m Gone’ were all from their debut release, and capped with one more new song, ‘You Make it Alright’. Notto, Smolian and Bean all had big, extended solo moments flaunting their respective chops. Welcomingly indulgent, each held the crowd’s attention as they were impressive. Smolian finessed his fretboard like a guitar solo more than a bass. Bean led the crowd in a rhythmic, audience call-and-response during his drum solo. They closed with a fan favourite, ‘Rolling 7s’. A mid-tempo, energetic funky groove filled with guitar riffs and solos. As fans sang along to the chorus, it was a fitting grande finale to bring it all home. Segue to a fervent fan’s approving chant: Olé, Olé, Olé Stylistically, they are an old school Guns N’ Roses, Black Crowes and Aerosmith influenced sound. Musically talented. Lyrically clever yet not deep. But hey, everyone is having fun. Loving every moment of it. Ain’t that what rock and roll is all about? Set List: Can’t Find The Brakes California Dreamin’ Heartbreaker Get A Little High Scars Dirty Mind Tied Up - debut Coming Home (Ballad Of The Shrine) Honky Tonk Woman Don’t Put Out The Fire The Wire - Debut Another Last Time Encores: When I’m Gone You Make it Alright Won’t Take Me Alive Rolling 7s - Debut Photos by Philamonjaro www.philamonjaro.com