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Honey Tongue 4-song demo review
So I was a little pissy on account of just being hit by a truck, and figured some anthem rock would make me feel less murderous (I’m sappy that way. Shut up). And hey, a band with a name like Honey Tongue should make me very cheery indeed. Yes, it made me smile again, like good hard blues-rock and silk underwear usually does. More importantly, it forced a clearer thought, something along the lines of, Holy christ, major labels should be throwing money at these guys instead of wasting it on some of the soul dead shit you hear on MTV nowadays, maybe. Doesn’t matter. Point is the whole package is impressive. A throaty front-woman with a voice of gold accompanied by a band of talented musicians with the right songwriting skills can do wonders for your mood, even if you’re already giggly as a schoolgirl.
Guitarist Graham McNeill shines using simple hooks and infectious leads that nudge the already well-crafted songs close to unforgettable. But the ace in the hole is the aforementioned throat-of-gold, Jen Ayers. Her Carrie Akre-meets-Janis Joplin voice is guaranteed to give you butterflies in your tummy and make your cheeks rosy red.
Despite all the ass-kissery of the last couple paragraphs, there are imperfections. I’d love a little bass-heaviness and some more percussive drive during choruses. But it’s a demo, and demonstrates (that’s what ‘demo’ means, in case you’re slow on the uptake) what Honey Tongue is capable of. Just as importantly, it undoubtedly shows where they should be headed. If the music industry doesn’t bend them over and treat them disrespectfully, they’ll be lighting cigarettes with fifties, snorting caviar, and kicking lesser bands right off the charts.
-- By Matt Johnson – Belltown Paper/Seattle, WA – December 2001
- Matt Johnson
Honey Tongue is one of Seattle's best rock bands, and they have been spending a lot of time on the road, promoting their CD and video. The video was shot in New York and was directed by Randall Strauss. This video is a work of art, and presents the song, "Senator," in a gripping and powerful, yet highly colorful and imaginative way. This song was written shortly after the Columbine H.S. shootings…and addresses the short-sightedness of our elected leaders, and their over-eagerness to blame influences, such as music, for such tragedies. How many must die before real solutions are sought? How long before they quit blaming music and art? It's not killing them...
The band’s songs are well-crafted and professionally performed. Their stage presence is very strong. Jen has passion and purpose, yes. Star-quality, definitely. Steamy and sultry, stunning, stellar, boisterously intimate, and sheerly sexy in a post-feminist power-stance...
- Dwayne Howe
…Ayers’ throaty, soulful voice is unparalleled on the music scene today when it comes to passion and intensity. This is undeniably the voice of a woman that commands your attention…she had the crowd wrapped around her powerful little finger, as they were clinging to her every note…
The powerful energy and funky grooves the band brings to its live performance is both a credit to their fine musical background as well as the intense energy of the crowd that the band so obviously feeds and thrives off of in producing its music…Honey Tongue is a promising young band led by a singer with superstar potential.
- By Chris Schwartz
Discography
Honey Tongue's debut EP - available at www.amazon.com, Northwest CD Stores and at live shows - was recorded at Robert Lang Studios with producer/engineer Kip Beelman (Sleater-Kinney) in July 2000, Four new Honey Tongue songs were recorded with producer Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Mad Season) at Seattle's Studio X in May 2001, the rest of the album is currently being recorded and scheduled to be released in the summer of 2002. You can hear most of these songs at our web site honeytongue.net, you can also hear them at mp3.com, and our video for Senator can be seen at giantradio.com
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
HONEY TONGUE: A SEATTLE-BASED, ROCK/POP FOURSOME
Named Top Ten Indie Band of 2001 by Femmusic.com
Best New Artist of 2000 nomination by the Seattle Area Music Awards
Performed at 2002 Club NBA Jam Session for the NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, PA
Honey Tongue’s on-stage electricity, impressive songwriting skills, rave reviews and frequent radio/T.V. appearances have also earned the band showcase performances at Canada’s New Music West Conference 2001 (for the Pacific NW Branch of the Recording Academy), GoGirlsMusicFest 2001 and ROCKRGRL Music Conference 2000, as well as a licensing agreement with DMX/AEI Music. Honey Tongue is fronted by powerhouse vocalist Jen Ayers (a two-time Lilith Fair Talent Search Finalist), whose pipes have also landed her gigs singing the National Anthem to sold-out crowds at NBA games …the whole package is impressive. A throaty front-woman with a voice of gold accompanied by a band of talented musicians with the right songwriting skills… Matt Johnson – Belltown Paper – Seattle, WA
HONEY TONGUE TOURS THE U.S. FULL TIME Sultry, high-energy live shows! Songs vary from introspective, melodic ballads to soulful, driving rockers Honey Tongue brought its tight, solid rock to New York City and showed that not only are people still playing real live rock, they’re playing it with all the passion and energy that defined the genre…Ayers delivers vocals with a passion and purpose…she has star quality written all over her… Chris Schwartz for www.showbizdigest.com – New York, NY
Honey Tongue recently finished recording 4 new songs at Seattle’s Studio X with noted producer Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Mad Season, Neil Young). A full-length release is due out summer 2002. These songs and the bands self-titled, debut EP, recorded last year with Kip Beelman (Sleater Kinney), have received radio play worldwide: KNAC-Los Angeles, Radio 3-Hong Kong, KNDD-Seattle, WHPK-Chicago, WSUM-Madison, KWUR-St. Louis, KCSU-Ft Collins, KROCK-Philly, KISM-Bellingham, KISW-Seattle & more Hong Kong's Radio-3 recently interviewed Ayers live on the air and played songs from the debut CD. The first single, “BK,” was showcased on hundreds of major radio stations across the U.S. in conjunction with Corona Beer's National ad campaign. Corona selected Honey Tongue from over 800 independent bands for sponsorship in 2000 and 2001.
Honey Tongue filmed a music video in NYC for the song “Senator” which was inspired by the anguish of violence surrounding the Columbine shootings and the finger-pointing that followed the tragedy. It successfully captures Ayers’ unique performance abilities and the band’s vibrant image. Honey Tongue a nd the video were featured on Seattle’s Q13-Fox morning T.V. news show, including Ayers singing live and a cappella. The band also performed live on Fox-T.V. in Milwaukee.
Ayers and guitarist Graham McNeill played high-profile gigs together, opening for Tom Petty and Dave Matthews Band at The Gorge Amphitheater, and Vertical Horizon at Seattle's Showbox. They joined with drummer Darnton Lewis and bassist Sam Larson to create the powerful Honey Tongue in 2000.
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