Dirty Honey brought their California rock ‘n’ roll to Pennsylvania’s capital city with a 16-song set showcasing music from their 2019 Dirty Honey EP and 2021 Dirty Honey album.
Dirty Honey – California Dreamin’ tour
The Capitol Room, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. 21 September 2022
Words and Photography: Mick Sprouse
At the restored turn-of-the-century, art deco ballroom, christened “The Capitol Room” in downtown Harrisburg PA, the all ages crowd waited excitedly for the classic rock sounds of Dirty Honey to fill the air.
In front of a red, white and orange version of the Dirty Honey lips logo, the boys from Los Angeles made their way on to the stage, with cheers and screams from the eager crowd ringing in their ears.
The band kicked things off with Gypsy and followed by the wonderful California Dreamin’. Fans in the front row reached across the barricade, hoping to touch front man Marc LaBelle’s black and white paisley patterned poncho as he strutted and spun back and forth across the stage.
Break You was next up, and then came the rocking Heartbreaker, one of this reviewer’s favourite Dirty Honey songs). 2021 single, The Wire, was paired with the song Scars before it was time for the first extended solo of the evening.
Bassist Justin Smolian, eyes hidden by his curly hair and shades, laid down jazzy bass runs during his solo coming nearly halfway into the 16-song set. The languid Down The Road chugged along with Marc’s plaintive declaration to a lost love that he would see her down the road.
During their great cover of Aerosmith’s Last Child, guitarist John “fuckin” Notto’s wailing licks locked in with drummer Corey Coverstone pounding on the drum kit, driving the band’s hard rocking sound along.
The bittersweet ballad Another Last Time was followed by a drum solo by Corey and then a guitar solo by John before the band played their slowed-down cover of Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy.
Early Dirty Honey single, When I’m Gone, was up next. For those who don’t know, it was the first song by an unsigned band to top Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
Finally, the band was Rolling 7’s as the encore, and then, way too soon, the evening’s rock ‘n’ roll festivities came to an end, leaving the crowd happy but also craving more Dirty Honey.
Hopefully, new music will be coming soon from the boys.
Dirty Honey were joined by Dorothy and Mac Saturn. You can read this report at https://www.metaltalk.net/dorothy-and-mac-saturn-join-dirty-honey-in-harrisburg-midtown.php
