The Honeybees
Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
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Press
Folks you know I dig great hillbilly harmony singing. I'm a sucker for it, The Everlys, The Louvins, The Delmors. And when the Gals get involved It really sends me. The Carter sisters, The Davis sisters etc.. Well up step the Honey Bees and I'm on cloud nine! Barb and Rachel aren't sisters (then neither were the Davis's) But their sweet (bad pun intended) voices blend like they should be! I love the vocal interplay on "Seeing Green"! Just Great! This along with Theresa's swinging drumming put the Honey Bees on the fore front of this great tradition!
-- Shaun Young January 2006 - Shaun Young
The Honeybees/"Around Here" Band Reviews May Issue 2005
The Honeybees
The Illinois Entertainer
Local twang merchants The Honeybees throw down a way-gone rockabilly sound on their debut, The Bee Sides. Their trademark is the harmony vocal sound of singers Barb Clifford and Rachel Decker, which is something not often encountered in this genre. The rest of the band has a great feel for this kind of music and helps to make The Honeybees one of the more interesting roots acts in town. (Contact www.rockabilly.net/honeybees.)
-- Mike O'Cull - Illinois Entertainer - Mike O'Cull
The Honeybees hail from Chicago and are fronted by lovely vocalists Barb Clifford and Rachel Decker, a talented team and very much fun to watch. You just have the feeling they are the sweetest gals ever and have the time of their lives on stage. That feeling persists throughout the CD - it's a serious mood lifter. Five of the twelve songs are cover version but none are just copies, in fact they hardly ever bring the originals to mind (with the exception of the Elvis' "Just Because" version maybe). Their approaches are different with great harmonies and duet approaches on others. "Hip Shakin' Baby" still rocks, the R&B "Teardrops From My Eyes" swings nicely. The other four Bees provide superb backing, occasionally helping out Barb Clifford with the song writing, too. The opener "Sugar & Spice" is a driving Rocker with Blues-tinted guitar work, "Cherries Jubilee" is a swingin' Rockabilly, "Little Jonah" a lively Swing-Rocker, "A Fool Like You" a beautiful Western Swing with fine steel guitar and again great vocal harmonies. Think 40's and 50's acts like The Miller Sisters or even the Andrew Sisters or Holland's Ranch Girls. Another highlight is Jimmy & Johnny's number "I Aint Worried About Tomorrow" with it's Caribbean flavor and the unlisted all a capella version of "Got You On My Mind" is a welcome addition, too. Check out the Honeybees live or treat yourself to this CD.
-GBM - Blue Suede News - -GBM (Gabby Maag-Bristol)
Discography
In 2002, the Honeybees released their EP simply called “The Honeybees”, their first musical product.
In 2004, they released their first full length CD, “The Bee Sides”. It features a wide range of original material such as rockers “Sugar and Spice”, “Road Trippin’”, and the jungle-rhythm-tinged, “Seeing Green”. Also performed is the classic “Just Because” and lesser known “Hip Shakin’ Baby”. Billy Horton of Fort Horton Studios recorded the CD in Chicago and co-produced/mixed it. (Austin, Texas)
In 2007, the Honeybees released their second full length CD entitled “Hive Jive”. Billy Horton of Fort Horton Studios recorded this collection of mostly original tunes, in Chicago and once again co-produced/mixed it. Their soon to be released "In The Key of Bee" will be out in 2010!
see video clips @ www.myspace.com/thehoneybees
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Bio
Formed more than nine years ago by Barbara Clifford (vocals) and Theresa Drda (drums), the Honeybees were created with the idea that female vocals can be reinvented to make an important impact on today’s music scene. The two core members worked with various personnel over the years. Today, the Honeybees' rock-solid line up includes Megan Hassinger (vocals), Manny Guevara (guitar) and Michael Hogeorges (bass). With the tight, expressive harmonies of Barbara and Megan, and Theresa as the driving force behind the drums, these three women represent the feminine strength behind the name. From there, the Honeybees move into a driving, modern energy mode driven by the varied guitar sounds of Manny and bass stylings of Michael.
The band’s musical influences range from rockabilly and roots legends such as Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Brenda Lee, Chuck Berry, The Sonics, Ricky Nelson, and T-Bone Walker to modern artists such as Rosie Flores and the Paladins.
The Honeybees have played a wide variety of venues and events in Chicago and in cities across the U.S. They have shared the stage with Robert Gordon, Dave Alvin, Bill Kirchen, Kim Lenz, Nick Curran, Ike Turner, Deke Dickerson, The Paladins, Big SandRosie Flores, Los Straitjackets, Wanda Jackson, Junior Brown, Big Sandy, the Paladins, Deke Dickerson, Ray Condo and Sonny Burgess.
Festivals include Taste of Chicago, Shake The Shack (Seattle), Hollywood Showdown (L.A.), Viva Las Vegas, Rockin’ 50’s Fest (Green Bay 2005 & 2007), Screamin’ Fest (Spain 2005 & 2007), Rockabilly Rebel Weekender (Indianapolis), Rockabilly Bombardment No. 3 (Austria/Germany), and most recently Tear It Up Festival 2010 (Croatia)
see video clips @ www.myspace.com/thehoneybees
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