Artist: Dirty Honey
Venue: Camden, Electric Ballroom
Date: 12th February 2024
'I left the venue thinking I have just watched one of the best bands I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of bands. It also raised some serious questions; Why isn’t Marc Labelle considered one of the best vocalists of all time?'
When I was given the assignment to review Dirty Honey I was overjoyed, I have been fan of their music from the first moment I heard it. For me they tick every box. Incredible singer, fantastic guitar player, rock solid rhythm section, great songs built around big guitar riffs with catchy vocal melodies. What’s not to like? So on a Monday night I make my way through the very busy streets of Camden Town to see if they can deliver the goods live.
I don’t know if tonight’s show was sold out, but it was certainly packed to the rafters. A sure sign of a hot ticket is how many photographers are in the pit and tonight they were tripping over themselves. I always like to see what kind of audience a band attracts, and looking around this was unquestionably a Classic Rock safe seat. Predominately male, but there was a healthy sprinkling of Rock chicks scattered about, especially in the front three rows. You could sense the excitement within the venue and there was an undeniable air of anticipation from the band’s adoring fans.
Finally the lights went down and with very little bravado the four piece from California took to the stage and launched into the title track of their new album, ‘Can’t Find The Breaks’. This is a class act. Slick, polished and professional. Singer Marc Labelle is charismatic and oozes sex appeal, he also happens to be one of the best singers in the world. Dressed in skin tight black pants, a furry black & white jacket, cowboy hat and dark glasses, he personifies what a Rock Star should look like. Guitarist John Notto unashamedly dresses and moves like a young Jimmy Page, but with all the technical flash of a modern day guitar hero. Justin Smolain looks like a bass playing version of Slash, and cuts a striking figure on stage. Drummer Jaydon Bean is as groovy as he is powerful. They proudly wear their musical influences on their sleeve and blend together the best parts of seventies and eighties Classic Rock. Their fans do not need to be won over and are 100% partisan. Flawlessly they transition into ‘California Dreaming’, the opening track from their eponymously titled debut album.
This is an incredibly tight band. Each member is a master of their instrument, but more importantly the sum is greater than the parts. The grooves are infectious, the playing is immaculate and the vocals are flawless. I’m watching a masterclass in Classic Rock. My only question at this point is why are they not playing in an arena? Next up is ‘Heartbreaker’, taken from their six-track EP which was released prior to their debut album. Like all the great bands, Dirty Honey are able to take their songs to a higher level when played live. The party continues with the brilliant ‘Get A Little High’. The audience are singing, dancing and generally having a great time. ‘Scars’ has a darker heavier blues vibe which allows Labelle to show off the depth and range of his considerable vocal ability. ‘Dirty Mind’, taken from their new album, is a modern day classic and will be listened to for decades. Lotto’s playing was spectacular throughout the whole show but on this song it was off the scale. I also have to say that Smolain is an incredible bass player, the closest I have ever heard anyone come to John Paul Jones. This is not a comparison I would give without serious consideration.
The fun and funky ‘Tied Up’ sees Notto giving us his best Joe Perry impersonation. After such an up-tempo and upbeat introduction it was time for a shift in dynamics. In my humble opinion ‘Coming Home’ is a phenomenal piece of songwriting. A beautiful song that deserves to be played daily on radio stations around the world. The vocal melody and performance is as good as it gets. It actually leaves me dumbfounded that this song isn’t recognised as a classic. Tonight’s acoustic version was breathtaking. We were watching a moment of true greatness. This was unquestionably one of the highlights of the evening. A surprise but welcome inclusion to the set was an acoustic version of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Honky Tonk Woman’.
‘Don’t Put Out The Fire’ with its sexy groove and killer chorus is another song that should be recognised as a classic. I predict that it will be listened to and played on the radio for decades. Sometimes a cover version can be the song that breaks a band. Van Halen’s ‘You Really Got Me’ as an example. Dirty Honey’s version of Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ should be another. I love their version as much as I love the original. The half time drum groove and Zeppelin-esque guitar riff takes this timeless classic to another dimension. Labelle’s vocals are mind blowing, as good as anyone I’ve ever heard in a live environment. Notto takes Prince’s legendary guitar solo to a level beyond brilliant and shows he can shred with the best of them. His extraordinary ability allows him to effortlessly blend together feel, groove, power, speed and still look cool while doing it.
We are getting close to the end of the set and it’s time for the big hitters. The brilliant ‘The Wire’ is another slice of timeless Classic Rock performed to perfection. ‘Another Last Time’ has a Black Crowes vibe, but is played with a much higher level of musicianship. ‘When I’m Gone’ was the first Dirty Honey song I ever heard so it was a fitting final song. It encapsulates everything I love about this band. A sawtooth guitar riff, a stratospheric vocal melody and a watertight rhythm section. The band leave the stage to well-deserved rapturous applause. I don’t think there was a single person in the audience that wasn’t blown away by what they had just witnessed.
Encores were of course guaranteed, the first was an electrifying version of ‘Won’t Take Me Alive’, which featured more killer vocals and more killer guitar playing. The very chilled ‘You Make It All Right’ gave a sense that we were coming to the end of the evening, a bit like the cool down at the end of an intense workout. Final song of the night was the bonafide classic ‘Rolling 7s’.
I left the venue thinking I have just watched one of the best bands I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of bands. It also raised some serious questions; Why isn’t Marc Labelle considered one of the best vocalists of all time? Why isn’t this band not headlining much bigger venues? If this band can’t break into the mainstream then what hope is there for anyone else?
Review & Photos: Myke Gray
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