Remember a time when hard rock ruled the radio and MTV? It wasn't that long ago, though finding someone to admit that they listened to (and liked) Ratt, Motley Crue, Skid Row, and Poison these days is like finding someone to admit they liked disco. You don't often read interviews with bands that admit that these hard rock bands influenced them; it's not a chic thing to do. The Honey's say fuck that. With no shame whatsoever, The Honey's are proud to admit that the late '80s, early '90s hair metal bands are a huge influence on their sound.
In early 2001, the members of The Honey's got together to record music that they liked rather than playing in bands that performed whatever style of music was popular at the moment. The original goal of the band, which stands true today, was to create loud rock and roll with power chords (ala AC/DC), glam rock hooks (ala Skid Row) and sexy-yet-tough vocals (ala Pat Benatar). That goal was accomplished and committed to CD in the form of 2001's Shoot From the Hip, which found limited release through a Columbus indie rock label called Derailleur Records. That release earned words of praise from local media such as The Columbus Dispatch, The Other Paper, Alive, and Swizzle-Stick.com.
Paul Bearer of the Alive wrote, "They've got the snarl of Joan Jett or L7, but these gals, I reckon, would rather smooch than bite."
Aaron Beck of The Columbus Dispatch commented that, "Motley Crue, Nashville Pussy, Bob City, booze and a trail of used-up lovers figure into the Columbus band's sleazy, hard-rock blueprint."
The Honey's spent the better part of 2002 honing its sound by playing as many shows on the Columbus rock club circuit as possible. With a few shows every month, The Honey's fan base went from casual fans that had read the glowing reviews to rabid headbangers that sing along with every word of every song. By late '02, The Honey's were holed up in Diamond Mine Studios in Columbus writing and recording the four new songs that you'll find on Hot Day in Heaven. These four songs, much in the same vein as the songs on Shoot From the Hip, find the band channeling the spirit of every band featured in Metal Edge magazine from 1988 to 1991 while also incorporating the party punk sound of peers like The Donnas. In addition to the four new songs, as a bonus, The Honey's put the four strongest tracks from their now out-of-print Shoot From the Hip onto the end of Hot Day in Heaven.
Forget the leather pants, the hairspray and the make-up, for The Honey's it's all about the rock. Loud and proud (and sexy to boot).
Jaime Campbell vocals
Justin Modica guitar
Lisa Lorraine bass
Ben Kemp drums
Releases
Shoot From the Hip
Derailleur Records (12/01)
Hot Day in Heaven
Self-Released (05/03)
Additional Information
· The Honey's have opened for
national bands Local H, Jucifer,
and Rusty Nails.
· Jaime's list of 5 Favorite CDs of
all-time was featured in the
January 30 edition of the Alive.
· Members of The Honey's have
played in Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party, Templeton, Bob City,
Electric Porn, Cali Swain, and
The AquaNet All-Stars.
