Words and Live Photos: © DG Shadow Editor
Rocking in the Iron City on a Sunday night has its perks. What turned out to be a glorious weekend of sunshine across Birmingham, perfectly gave way to a steaming night of Hard Rockin delights that evening. The Iron City is typically often out of our range coverage wise as we tend to lean more towards Nashville shows due to the simple fact of more variety and venues up there, but given the quality of a band like Dirty Honey, we decided to make the trek down and check them out again.
Before the world got wrecked with Covid, the last major festival we covered in this area was Exit 111 in Manchester, TN. At that time Dirty Honey was just breaking into the scene and already hitting millions of streams, they started crushing waves with their single “When I’m Gone”. Their steep rise quickly landed them on supporting slots for the two final dates of Guns N’ Roses “Not In This Lifetime Tour,”. It has been onwards and upward from that point on. Later on, we’re on the road with Alter Bridge and Skillet which only provided more exposure for the already mature kinship of their sets.
If memory serves me correctly they played on the last day of what turned out to be an Epic Rock and Metal festival at Exit 111. One of the best sets I heard all day came from the bluesy and very LA vibe of frontman Marc Labelle. The tight guitars of John Notto and the stout rhythm section of Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstone topped things off very nicely.
Before headliners come on stage, we are graced by the presence of the opener and young guns themselves, Nashville’s own Naked Gypsy Queens. While having heard of these guys before, never their music; gave me a chance to quickly assess their skills. Tons of energy on the onset, very charismatic singer and guitar player Chris Attigliato, these Franklin, TN natives have a tight 70’s retro sound that can easily be identifiable in today’s modern Rock verse. I have to say never having heard these guys live, I was impressed with their short set and with their title EP tune sticking out as well as “Down to the Devil”. Left me curious for more music and with their EP out now titled “Georgiana“, they have a growing fanbase and one that will surely help them rise quickly in the scene. There is something to be said about bands that cut their teeth for years and keep growing their sound. A cool band that we recommend anybody check out, they definitely bring it live!!!
The night has been officially warmed up by Naked Gypsy Queens, giving way for the main headliners in Dirty Honey. Crushing it night after night has a way of making bands keep sharpening their toolset. The same rules apply here, if you don’t want to have a good old Rock good time, too bad. The Honey is here to deliver. Singer Marc Labelle comes out in lavish white attire with his trademark hat to pop things in zest right from the get-go. “Gypsy”, and “Heartbreaker” are always crowd-pleasers and sure-fire burners hit the spot just right on this muggy Sunday night. The rhythm section is tight as ever, and axeman John Notto is in dynamic execution shape, playing lively into the mostly packed crowd at Iron City.
Some of the locals I spoke to can only rave about how the guys keep on getting better and better from when they exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago. More hits keep on coming with “Down The Road” and “California Dreamin'”. Dirty Blues, Groovy, and Soul has always been a friend of Dirty Honey, and wearing their influences on their sleeves only amplifies their sound, LA vibes are carefully crafted as an asthetic and organic part of their bloodline. What a breath of fresh air. Another great night of Hard Rock a pure crowd-pleaser that left even more fans turning on to a band that can do no wrong. No set would be complete with their smash hit ‘Rolling 7s”.
Their continued ascension keeps them busy as it was announced this week they are heading over to the UK, Including Festivals And Supports To Guns N’ Roses, Kiss, And Rival Sons. One of the most exciting rock acts these days, they come highly recommend for the UK crowd to check them out while on tour!!!
Presser
Monday, April 4, 2022 — Already seen as one of the most exciting new rock acts in the home country of the USA, Dirty Honey are set to establish themselves in the UK and Europe in the summer of 2022 with their debut album release and full UK and Europe touring schedule.
Their 14 track debut release, “Dirty Honey EP / LP,” will be released on May 20, 2022 (Dirt Records). The band will then support this with 28 shows across twelve countries in the UK and Europe – including headline shows, festival slots, and supports to Guns N’ Roses, KISS, and Rival Sons.
Vocalist Marc LaBelle says, “It’s an honor to finally bring our music across the Atlantic. I’ve always thought we’d be well-received in the UK and Europe, and it just felt right to release both the EP and LP together after having had to wait so long to get there. It really feels like the right time to introduce Europe to our particular brand of Filthy rock n’ roll, and I also can’t wait to bring our live show to European audiences. Our maiden voyage across the pond is literally hitting every type of venue, from our own headlining club shows to theaters with Rival Sons and stadiums with Guns N’ Roses and KISS. I can vividly remember busking in Piazza di Santa Croce in Florence, and never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be playing some of the biggest stadiums in Europe.”
While harking back to the band’s influences, “Dirty Honey EP / LP” is at the same time a completely fresh, contemporary-sounding record. From the dirty groove of LP opener “California Dreamin'” to the laid-back melodic beauty of EP track “Down The Road,” from the driving “Gypsy” (LP) to the riffs and infectious chorus of “Heartbreaker” (EP), this is a stunning collection of groove-laden rock songs. The band’s first single from the album will be “When I’m Gone.” With a performance-based video HERE, the song was the first-ever track from an unsigned band to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
Confirmed dates for Dirty Honey’s June and July 2022 European tour are as follows:
JUNE
6 B, Malmo SWEDEN support to Rival Sons
7 Pustervik, Gothenburg SWEDEN support to Rival Sons
8 Train, Aarhus DENMARK support to Rival Sons
9 Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg SWEDEN
11 Download Festival, Derbyshire UK
12 The Cathouse, Glasgow UK
14 Oslo, London UK
16 Azkena Rock Festival, Vitoria-Gasteiz SPAIN
18 Rock The Ring Festival, Hinwill SWITZERLAND
19 Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel BELGIUM
20 PGE Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw POLAND supporting Guns N’ Roses
22 Beatpol, Dresden GERMANY
24 Retro C Trop Festival, Amiens FRANCE
25 Hellfest Festival, Clisson FRANCE
27 UEA, Norwich UK support to Rival Sons
28 O2 Academy, Sheffield UK support to Rival Sons
30 Academy, Dublin IRELAND support to Rival Sons
JULY
1 Limelight, Belfast UK support to Rival Sons
2 King George’s Hall, Blackburn UK support to Rival Sons
4 University (Great Hall), Cardiff UK support to Rival Sons
5 Rock City, Nottingham UK support to Rival Sons
6 O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London UK support to Rival Sons
8 Olympiastadion, Munich GERMANY supporting Guns N’ Roses
9 Arena Zagreb, Zagreb CROATIA supporting KISS
10 San Siro, Milan ITALY supporting Guns ‘N’ Roses
12 Sequoie Music Festival, Bologna ITALY supporting Guns N’ Roses
14 Budapest Arena, Budapest HUNGARY supporting KISS
15 HDI Arena, Hannover GERMANY supporting Guns N’ Roses
For ticket info, please go to https://www.dirtyhoney.com/
For “Dirty Honey EP / LP” sales information as well as tour information, please click HERE.
EP tracklisting:
1. When I’m Gone
2. Rolling 7s
3. Heartbreaker
4. Down The Road
5. Scars
6. Break You
LP tracklisting:
1. California Dreamin’
2. The Wire
3. Tied Up
4. Take My Hand
5. Gypsy
6. No Warning
7. Another Last Time
8. The Morning
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