Honey Blue

Honey Blue's latest EP, Nashville 48, was recorded in Nashville during April 2011. This collection serves as a natural progression to the group's debut release Broken Places. These songs were recorded in 48 hours at producer Eric McConnell's (Jack White, Loretta Lynn, Col. Bruce Hampton, Todd Snider, Greg Hester & Old Crow Medicine Show) Nashville Studio.

On Nashville 48 Honey Blue's players included Jared Kuykendall, Marc Andress, Ryan Horn, Brian "Preacher" Chappell and Ashley Henry. The band recently added a new drummer Chris Morgan, which spawns a new dynamic to Honey Blue since this EP recording. For this session, the band used no headphones and everything was recorded live. Honey Blue has been nominated in the Americana category for the 2012 Georgia Music Awards. They will play the Spring Fest during March 22-25.

Kuykendall penned three of these four tunes. Nashville 48 commences with "Bedfellow", a quiet acoustic number that tells a tale of seasons changing and ebbing emotional ties. "Saturday Stranger" emits a Buffalo Springfield echo and all the elements of the band coalesce and contends as one of the sessions strongest tracks. Andress' pedal steel playing provides a lush sonic landscape to this country-flavored number. The final song "Radio", composed by Andress, showcases his voice that resembles Vic Chesnutt at his most emotive.

Nashville 48 proves Honey Blue is searching for mystical musical answers on the golden road...

James Calemine - Swampland.com

Asheville - Hailing from Saint Simons Island, Georgia, Honey Blue played Asheville as the middle leg of their High Country Heart-Shaped Tour. I had the pleasure of seeing them play at BoBo Gallery in the heart of downtown Asheville. BoBo Gallery is a laid-back beer and wine bar located on Lexington Avenue, less than a block from College Street. The bar has a wide variety of wines and a constantly rotating selection of local microbrew beers. The artwork on the walls reflects a wide variety of genres and changes almost as frequently as the drink selections. BoBo represents the best aspects of Asheville life - a relaxed atmosphere, great local food and beverages, and a fusion of different cultures and genres.

Like BoBo Gallery, Honey Blue fuses some of the best cultures and genres of music together into a wholly unique but familiar sound that makes people want to tap their feet and sing along. Sometimes described as “garage country,” Honey Blue sounds like everything from bluegrass to Americana to folk to rock ‘n’ roll - without every really sounding like any of these genres. The harmonies are simple without being simplistic, and the lyrics feature the kind of heart on your sleeve storytelling that makes folk music so compelling. Complementing the soulful lyrics and harmonies is the unique selection of instruments that Honey Blue plays.

As a correspondent covering local music and musicians, I’m lucky enough to get out to a lot of shows and see a lot of bands. A lot of shows. And a lot of bands. As such, I’m always on the lookout for things that are new, different, or just done in an unconventional way. As soon as I saw Honey Blue setting up, I knew I was going to be treated to something you just don’t see every day. Living in bluegrass country, I’ve seen my share of traditional instruments, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed hearing them. However, given the style of music played by Honey Blue, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw their choice of instruments.

Jared Kuykendall takes center stage, playing his acoustic six-string and providing the lead vocals. Jared’s soulful voice is a perfect delivery vehicle for the honest, heartfelt lyrics of Honey Blue’s songs. Standing like a sentinel behind Jared, Brian “Preacher” Chappell lays out the beat on his bass guitar. He warily watches over his flock while expertly laying down the basslines. That Jared and Preacher use pretty standard instruments for the type of music they’re playing takes nothing away from the expertise with which they use them. The chords are flawlessly delivered and perfectly complement the depth and emotion of the lyrics.

Going to shows in Western North Carolina, it’s not uncommon to see country and bluegrass bands with a steel guitar as part of their instrumentation. The pedal steel played by Honey Blue’s Marc Andress was something I’d never seen in a live show before. Like a traditional steel guitar, the pedal steel is played horizontally, but the similarities end there. The sound is much brighter, with less of a honky-tonk twang to it and, at least the way Marc was playing it, ranges from an upbeat tropical sound, reminiscent of the pedal steel’s Hawaiian roots, to a deeply distorted psychedelic howl. Throughout the show, Marc expertly worked the strings and slide with his hands while working the pedals with his feet and knees to alter the tones and bend the strings. The pedal steel added a wonderful depth and variety to the already unique sound of Honey Blue.

As curious as I was about the presence of this unfamiliar instrument, I was equally piqued by the absence of a more familiar setup. Viewing the stage, it was hard not to notice the absence of a drum set. Admittedly, I didn’t look very hard, but, then again, a drum set is not easily overlooked. I knew that Honey Blue used a washboard, but I didn’t know that the washboard provided all of their percussion. Again, this was something I’d never seen at a live show before and I was excited for the experience.

As it turns out, I now can’t imagine Honey Blue with anything other than a washboard for percussion. Ashley Henry and her washboard perfectly rounded out the rhythm section, melding perfectly with Preacher’s bassline. The sound of the washboard ranged from a crisp, loud beat that drove my foot tapping, to a gentle staccato that reminded me of rain on a tin roof, fading into the background but always present.

Watching Honey Blue perform would have been a treat just for the unique instrumentation and blend of styles. However, there was the added bonus of getting to hear very good music performed very well. The band is impressive musically, delivers thoughtful lyrics, and uses a mixture of instruments and styles that guarantees a unique sound and experience. If I ever make it to Saint Simons Island, or Honey Blue comes back to my neck of the woods, I’ll be the first through the door to see them again.

- Magazine33

Broken Places counts as Honey Blue’s debut release. This young group from Saint Simons Island promises vast musical horizons on these seven songs recorded in the fall of 2010 at Rockstudio in Brunswick, Georgia.

Honey Blue includes Jared Kuykendall (vocals & acoustic guitar), Ashley Henry (vocals & washboard), Marc Andress (pedal steel) and Preacher Brian Chappell on bass (although Scott Clark played in the studio). Since completing Broken Places, Honey Blue wrote a new batch of songs they plan to record in the spring.

Strength exists in the minimal sound of Broken Places. Kuykendall’s “A Town Not Even” opens the CD and serves as one of this collection’s strongest tunes. The acoustic guitar, bass and pedal steel weave a harmonious glow around the lyrics. “Just Before She Goes”, a Kuykendall/Andress composition, evokes musical images of jukeboxes playing sad country songs in a smoky cantina, tequila sunrises and curtain call farewells.

“Easy To Forget” retains a acoustic-country foundation that verifies the band’s intent on making honest music. “Johnson Cemetery” features the violin work of Ellen Kildegaard, which contributes a haunting quality to the track. Another strength of Honey Blue exists in their strong live performances that allow the songs space to breathe.

“Waiting For It To Pour” travels into musical territories of Neil Young’s Harvest or his quieter acoustic material. “Sweet & Broken” calls to mind the Flying Burrito Brothers or Buffalo Springfield. “It’s Only a Matter of Time”, written by Kuykendall and Henry, closes Broken Places. This number ranks as one of the group’s best, and showcases the beautiful voice of Ashley Henry in a timeless duet.

The ascent of Honey Blue begins with Broken Places…

James Calemine

- Swampland.com

Not too long ago I heard about the band, Honey Blue. I had heard a lot of really good things so I was intrigued. And, I really like the name - it seems sweet and calming.

There are four member, and all lend their vocals to the effort but each has a trademark instrument. Jared Kuykendall plays guitar, Will Gore does bass, Marc Andress brings the pedal steel and Ashley Henry is on the washboard.

When I sat down to chat with them, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. They just finished their first album, "Broken Places." And even thought the work took longer than anticipated, they feel it was worth it.

"We recorded it at Rockstudio in downtown Brunswick with Anthony Stubelek. He's the owner and does all the engineering there. He also mixed and mastered the album for us," Kuykendall said. "We started in December and we thought we'd be done in mid-January, but we just finished in mid-May."

Regardless, of the time spent, they are all really proud of their work. And, the general consensus is - it rocks.

"It's really exciting to be done," Henry said.

As well they should be ... I was one of the lucky few to get a sneak peak (or listen) of two album tracks. The soulful lyrics blend beautifully with the unique mix of instrumentation. To me, it's a hipper version of the Drifting Cowboys. It definitely has that twangy, bluesy feel to it. And, it's definately reminiscent of a by gone era with lots of country, rock, blues and folk in it.

Even the CD title came from Hemingway's 1929 novel, "A Farewell To Arms."

"The world breaks everyone and afterword many are strong at the broken places," Kuykendall quoted.

While not all the songs are upbeat, you'll be able to tap your toes on a few tracks.

"They are not the happiest songs. It's more about how you go through something and hopefully you're a little bit stronger after you come through that. There are seven songs on the EP. They're all original. I wrote most of them when I was a solo artist and others we collaborated on as a band," Kuykendall said.

Whatever the mood, Honey Blue members want their listeners to be moved.

"I'd love for them to say 'wow, what a unique arrangement of music making such a unique sound.' I don't think we are you're typical band. You don't really find many bands with this line-up," Andress said.

Henry agreed.

"All the songs mean something to us so we want them to feel something," she said.

To celebrate their accomplishment the group will be holding a CD release party at Palm Coast Coffee in the Pier Village on St. Simons Island. They will take the stage around 8 pm June 5 and serve-up some of their soul filled songs. Of course, they will have plenty of albums available for $10.

"We just want the songs to be good. And we hope that we can use it as a promotional tool. We are hoping that it will help us to branch out," Kuykendall said.


- The Brunswick News