Dirty Honey // Live @ Bogart's // 9.22.24 -

Article & Photos: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – As Dirty Honey continues their Can’t Find The Brakes Tour, the band spent an evening at Bogart’s, situated just a stone’s throw from the University of Cincinnati campus. It’s an ideal fit for the band, who appeal to young fans seeking an evening of shades of classic rock infused with a hip, Southern California-inspired vibe.

Dirty Honey injects their own brand of freshness to the rock scene. Formed in 2017, Marc Labelle (vocalist), John Notto (guitar), Justin Smolian (bass), and newcomer Jaydon Bean (drums) continue to evolve their music, heavily influenced by the icons they have toured with or supported, including The Who, Slash, Red Sun Rising, Alter Bridge, The Black Crowes, Mammoth WVH and Skillet. You can feel it in their performance.

It’s a gift to add that dose of “modern cool” to classic rock, which Dirty Honey certainly does in grand style. They bring the rock genre to a new generation of fans while appealing to established ones, as well. The crowd at this performance certainly confirmed the band’s universal draw across generations.

A special note regarding this Cincinnati show. Labelle told the crowd at the start of their performance how grateful they were to perform again at Bogart’s, stating that in light of their past experience here, they would be filming the evening’s performance. To what end? Time will tell.

This tour promotes the band’s sophomore LP, Can’t Find The Brakes, which follows their well-received 2021 self-titled album. The show is a satisfying mix of the band’s original songs and covers of rock legends:

Can’t Find the Brakes
California Dreamin’
Heartbreaker
Down the Road
Scars
Dirty Mind
Tied Up
Coming Home (Ballad of the Shire)
Honky Tonk Women (The Rolling Stones cover)
Don’t Put Out the Fire
Last Child (Aerosmith cover)
The Wire
Another Last Time
When I’m Gone

Encore:

You Make It All Right
Won’t Take Me Alive
Rolling 7s

Opening this night was The Band Feel, an effervescent rock band from St. Louis. Lead singer Garrett Barcus performed barefoot – a nice touch. The band’s mix of 60s and 70s inspired rock, blues and hints of jazz was a good fit for Dirty Honey.