Rolling into Sacramento, California last Wednesday evening on their Can’t Find The Brakes Tour, Dirty Honey left concert goers “California Dreamin.’” Returning to Ace of Spades, with no admittance except on party business, the marquee’s neon red glow set a perfectly bewitching mood as fans waited in line to see the high energy headliner.
Openers The Band Feel captivated the crowd as they performed “Goodbye Virgina” and “B.C” from their 2024 EP. As the last few rays of day’s warmth turned into moonlit starlight, the evening’s aura exuded a mystical shimmer.
Taking to the stage with an immediately noticeable and unique aura, the 70s infused rock band Dirty Honey was living for the night and holding nothing back. Creating an air of nonchalant mystery through sleek shades, the band performed “Won’t Take Me Alive” and “Get A Little High” from their 2024 album Can’t Find The Brakes, there was no doubt that the audience was in for a very special evening. Beaming beneath alluring gold, violet, and aqua toned lighting, lead vocalist Marc Labelle radiated remarkable showmanship as he cheekily engaged with photographers in the pit, getting up close and personal while he playfully swept his mic stand forward — leaning towards lenses that he gravitated to most. Demonstrating skilled technique, the Niskayuna native powerfully vocalized from smooth/delicate low registers to head turning high octaves with controlled vibrato. Sharing in the starry spotlight, lead guitarist John Notto floored the audience as he effortlessly hammered scales and chords with hair whipping ease while percussion blended beautifully with bassist Justin Smolian’s and drummer Jaydon Bean’s head banging flicks of the wrist.
Setting the stage ablaze, the quartet performed a variety of selections from their growing repertoire, ranging from “California Dreamin,’” and “Tied Up” from their 2021 album Dirty Honey to “When I’m Gone” and “Rolling 7s” from their 2019 EP. Making all the right noises, which undoubtedly contributes to this band’s increasingly popularity in recent years, they are trailblazing a reimagined fusion of perfectly blended elements within the genre and creating a sound that is entirely their own. Exhibiting continued respect for the legends that previously ventured the ever-evolving terrain of the genre, the band aggregated well executed covers into the evening’s exceptional set, which included “Let’s Go Crazy” from Prince’s 1984 album Purple Rain and “Runnin’ with the Devil” from Van Halen’s second 1978 single. The evening continued with frontman Labelle saying “Sacramento, do it — like you did before” and taking to the venue’s side bar as a secondary stage, sending the audience cheering with excitement. Fortunately, this band Can’t Find The Brakes because these gentlemen took the audience for an unforgettable ride; further solidifying the band’s honey dripped lip logo in our minds.
Have yet to see these gentlemen in action? “Get A Little High” and catch them on their Can’t Find The Brakes Tour in a city near you: dirtyhoney.com.
Words and photos by Andrea Garman
