Honey Wild

Un disque d’automne pour accompagner l’été.

Découvrir ce 7’’ d’Honey Wild avec quelques mois de retard ça n’est pas si grave. Après tout, ces deux morceaux se prêtent moins à un automne frileux qu’à quelques pas de danses estivaux, les pas dansés que l’on fait jusqu’à la valise des vacances pour y glisser joyeusement un maillot de bain.
Ces deux morceaux d’Honey Wild, au premier abord, m’ont donné l’impression de retourner pour quelques instants dans le Brooklyn de 2007. Cette année faste pour beaucoup de groupes du coin. Je jurerais avoir entendu un peu de Vampire Weekend de ce bon vieux temps dans les premières notes de “Garden”.

Passé les deux premières écoutes de cette discrète sortie de Shorewave Records, on se demande comment ça a pu m’échapper. Ce 7’’, finalement c’est évident, c’est surtout l’influence de notre préféré de ces deux dernières années : le phrasé, le timbre, le jeu de guitare, tout ici rappelle Mac DeMarco et on serait bien ingrats de s’en plaindre.

Un EP d’Honey Wild est prévu pour aout sur le même label et le groupe ne s’en cache pas – voir le revendique – : il suit encore plus nettement les traces du bien aimé Mac. Ça tombe assez bien, deux titres c’était un peu court pour voir ce qu’ils ont vraiment dans le ventre.
On croise juste les doigts pour que le quatuor de Brooklyn évite le piège du simple pastiche. Rendez-vous à la fin de l’été. - La Blogotheque

Honey Wild is a ’60s-influenced rock ‘n roll band from Brooklyn. They release their self-titled follow up to their 2013 AA-side 'Garden / Magnifique Innocent' on Tuesday, October 14th. Listen to the track 'Hair Song' above. The EP comes out tomorrow via Shorewave Records with a release show the following night (10/15) at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn, NY. It will be a limited edition lo-fi tape with a couple of bonus tracks. The EP was recorded lo-fi tape-to-tape. After hearing that it "lent mysterious qualities to recordings," Joe Stevens compiled 60 cassette tapes to record individual tracks, bounced them into a computer program and hoped for the best. While it's clear that songs like 'Hair Song' are DIY in ethos, their rich musical spirit comes through loud and clear on the EP.

Here are some of lead singer (and songwriter) Joe Stevens' words on 'Hair Song' "This song is kinda tongue in cheek, but its about growing from a straight-edge dude into a rocker and having the symbol of that be your new long hair. Its a transformation that happens to the singer."

Named after the 1967 Beach Boys favorite, Wild Honey, Honey Wild mix tones of their counterparts with the frenetic afro-pop of recent contemporaries. The band formed in late 2011 through mutual friends at the late Williamsburg’s Blackbird Parlour, where lead singer Joe Stevens met college friends Andy Payne and Steven Laing while working as a line cook. Ultimately, along with the addition of childhood friend Alex Rainer, the band turned into a dynamic four-piece. Honey Wild balances A.D.D. songwriting with pop sensibility, referencing city life and bohemia.

Read more at http://hangout.altsounds.com/features/167392-altsounds-premiere-listen-honey-wild-hair-song.html#fU4GzKOVIA6OhZiL.99 - AltSounds

We were pretty infatuated with Honey Wild the minute we heard them (the name practically demanded it!), and with their newest single, “7 Train”, that love has grown even deeper. The band wanted to explore new sounds with their latest EP, The Honey Wild EP out on Shorewave Records, which led to the acquisition of some fuzzy guitar pedals and bedroom recording techniques that have the song feeling distinctly DIY without sacrificing the clean sound that we fell for originally. “7 Train” is anchored by a spectacular hook that lets the fuzz and crackles flow effortlessly around it — it’s a great bedroom pop song that never lets go of its playful nature. Check out the track above, and be sure to check out Honey Wild when they play October 10th at Trash Bar with CBGB Festival or at their sure to be epic EP release party at Shea Stadium on October 15th. - Wild Honey Pie

By Will Oliver, October 10th, 2014

Brooklyn’s Honey Wild will release their new self-titled EP on October 14 via Shorewave Records. Today, we have the honor of premiering the music video for “Home,” a track off of the EP.

The video itself was shot at the Bushwick house of the label’s very own Chris Leo Palermino, and features the band playing a dazzling live performance of “Home.” The track features delightful 60s vibe that fans of Mac DeMarco should certainly appreciate. Get your exclusive first watch of the video (which was made by Brooklyn’s Yellow House Pictures) below.

They’ll celebrate the EP’s release with a show next Wednesday at Shea Stadium with Zula and Life Size Maps. The group has a bunch of CMJ dates coming up. All of which can be found posted below. - We All Want Someone to Shout For

Honey Wild, a rock ‘n’ roll quartet based in Brooklyn, released a live video for their song “Home,” a track from their recent self-titled EP. Filmed in their label’s owner’s house in Bushwick, the video is a straightforward shoot of the band jamming out in the kitchen, letting the phased-out song take advantage of the acoustics and fill the room. Their sound is swirling, shaded by influences of ’60s psych and shoegaze, and we’re confident this will be a great new find for fans of Mac DeMarco. Definitely keep on eye on these guys. - Alt Citizen

Honey Wild kicked off their East Coast Tour Wednesday night at Mercury Lounge. The Brooklyn based 4-piece band joked about finally getting to play NYC. Singer/Guitarist Joe Stevens announced to the crowd band mates Alex Rainer and Steve Laing’s birthdays. They celebrated by rocking out tunes from their self-titled EP. Those who braved the negative digit wind chills were treated to Honey Wilds’ 60’s psychedelic rock riffs mixed with 80’s Depeche Mode style beats. They’ll be back in NYC at the end of the month. Between now and then you can catch them on the rest of their tour: - Pancakes and Whiskey

Brooklyn’s Honey Wild are a band to be on the lookout for, combining sunny melody with sophisticated songwriting. When Thought Pollution caught up with frontman Joe Stevens and guitarist Alex Rainer last week, they were opening for In the Valley Below and Conveyor at Rough Trade in Brooklyn.

The origins of the group stretch back to 2011. Stevens met drummer Andy Payne and bassist Steven Laing, while working as a line cook in Williamsburg. The band was rounded out by Stevens’ childhood buddy, guitarist Rainer, who joined on last year.

On stage, Stevens and Rainer seem to have a strong musical connection. The two weave through tightly interlocked guitar lines and stake out a lot of sonic territory. Even with Stevens joking onstage about the group “arguing about tempo all the time,” the songs’ many dynamic shifts were executed impressively, keeping the performance tight.

The set at Rough Trade began with the ambient, instrumental “Autumn Means New Love,” which then segued pretty effortlessly into the more up-tempo “Turnaround.”

Stevens attempted to sell some non-traditional merchandise after a merch delivery snafu earlier in the day almost left fans empty-handed. Stevens smiled as he described the one item they had for sale: “It’s not an actual Honey Wild shirt, just my shirt… I wore it at work today.” He briefly described an earlier dalliance in the fancy green room of headliners In the Valley Below, where he “tried on their cologne” and “took a shit in their bathroom.” Then the band launched into singles “Garden,” and “Magnifique Innocent,” which Stevens told the crowd the latter of which was about his girlfriend, Christina, in the front row.

In late 2013 the band released both tracks as an excellent double A-side on Shorewave Records. “Garden” features catchy, playful melodies that jump around energetically, bringing to mind early-era Vampire Weekend. “Magnifique Innocent” works along similar lines, with a looser, surf rock feel.

“I’d say our main friend right now is DIY,” said Stevens in a post-show interview. He also noted that Honey Wild recently finished recording a new extended play. “We had a huge surge in writing in the past six months,” he said about the band’s new, yet-to-be-released material. The six-song EP is expected out in early July, also on Shorewave Records. “With the music taking on a bit of a slacker thing, we’ve been really feeling [the new songs].”

The second half of Honey Wild’s set was mainly devoted to the unreleased tracks, many of which carried a laid-back twang reminiscent of Mac DeMarco. If the show is any barometer, the new record should feature a shifting artistic direction for the band, with more bursts of chorus jangle and occasional cascades of delay and reverb.

Stevens and Rainer confirmed the DeMarco influence, before noting that “we all listen to different things,” singling out the Dirty Projectors, Pixies, and also the Beach Boys (from whose 1967 LP they derive their name).

The new tracks have some unpredictable twists and crescendos, giving a real unique fingerprint to the songwriting. The band’s last song of their set, “7 Train,” featured reverb-splashed, syncopated guitar chime echoing through it, showing a shift back toward the more Afro-Pop-oriented material of earlier on in the night.

It’s rare to find a band with such developed songwriting be equally adept at engaging with those songs live, but Honey Wild pulled it off, and the new tracks have excitement already brewing for the upcoming record. Stay tuned this summer. - Thought Pollution

Today is Thanksgiving, which gives us a wonderful bandwagon to jump on. So we say thank you, America and all of our American friends who continue to make music like nobody else. Today we join you in celebration by playing the brilliant new track from Brooklyn’s Honey Wild and dancing you, arm-in-arm, across our floorboards.

Garden is brilliant. A laid-back Summer strum that Vampire Weekend would break laws to get hold, but with sudden shifts in to some far more urgent and energetic pastures that keeps the listener on their toes throughout. There’s plenty more where that came from too; their soundcloud page is full of the same brand of shimmering guitar pop and on tracks such as Magnifique Innocent and Vandal Eyes you’re left wondering how you never stumbled upon them until now. - GoldFlake Paint

Montreal is a town that breeds flights of fancy, so when Honey Wild got a chance to wander around the Paris of Canada, their own music was the perfect backdrop. Light-hearted and summery, "Garden" shows the group interacting with the vibrant art scene, the lovely walks, and the live music culture of one of our favorite towns. Interspliced with some distinct live footage from the group, this video is like a garden itself—full of colorful, living variety.

The group just released their AA-sided vinyl on Shorewave Records, and you can catch them locally at the dates below.

November
25 Manhattan, NY - Mercury Lounge with Hippy
December
12 Brooklyn, NY - Muchmore's with Appomattox and Food Will Win the War
- Impose Magazine

What’s a AA-Side, you ask? Basically, it’s two singles, or a double-sided hit packaged together, a concept that gained popularity in the 50’s and 60’s. This format choice comes as no surprise from Brooklyn-based Honey Wild, a band steeped in ‘60’s pop and other vintage influences. The AA-side’s digital release comes on the 18th (here’s a link to pre-order via iTunes), but you can hear one of the songs here first!

While the two songs form a double-sided hit, they’re far from twins. The first single, “Garden”, is a short, infinitely sweet roll in the hay, calling to mind The Drums and early Vampire Weekend (think “Mansard Roof” and “Walcott”). Organ, piquant guitar, and plenty of tom rolls strike a lovely balance with singer Joe Stevens’ on-point crooning. Hitting repeat comes naturally after such a breezy, ecstatic treat. “Magnifique Innocent”, the older, slightly more serious song, is rooted more in a classic rock aesthetic. It’s slower and more of a jam piece than “Garden”, but it still shows off Honey Wild’s ear for interesting guitar tones. Furthermore, its bare-bones instrumentation and generous shredding highlights Honey Wild’s mastery of rock basics. “Magnifique Innocent” may not take root as immediately as “Garden”, but it’s worth the wait. Stream the track above to hear what we mean!

Brooklyn’s own Shorewave Records will be releasing the AA-side, and if you like what you hear (which you will), you can catch Honey Wild headlining the Mercury Lounge on November 25th. P.S. — we promise our praise and admiration has nothing to do with the similarity of their band name to our blog name. - The Wild Honey Pie

Brooklyners Honey Wild are getting ready to release their new single (out digitally on November 19 via Shorewave Records), and today we’re pleased to premiere a ’60s pop-influenced song from it, Garden. The surfly melodic track features quirky beats and jangly guitar riffs reminiscent of early Vampire Weekend. Bottom line, as I listened, I started Googling, “Cheap trips to Hawaii.”

The double A-side single is composed of Garden and the mellower tune, Magnifique Innocent. To support the 7-inch white vinyl release, Honey Wild will be headlining Mercury Lounge on Monday, November 25. If, like me, you’re sitting in an overly heated room staring at a sunny if chilly November day, longing for summer to come back, then I highly encourage you to listen to Garden and check out Honey Wild’s regional live dates below. - CMJ

Brooklyn’s Honey Wild have hit the east-coast jangly indie nail right on the proverbial head. ‘Garden’ is a post-Vampire Weekend take on afro-guitar pop that has the same summery guitar flourishes but less of the preppy attitude. Around the halfway mark guitar notes cascade like Victoria Falls onto some of the most upbeat moments on Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’.

If anything though, it’s the second side that really impresses. Sounding less Vampire Weekend and more Real Estate, ‘Magnifique Innocent’ finds the perfect balance between surf and stoner rock, mixing beautiful melody with the occasional warped guitar solo. All this garnished with a healthy slice of backing tambourine. Bring back summer.
- Art Rocker (UK)

Taking their name from the 1967 Beach Boy’s record Wild Honey, Brooklyn’s Honey Wild is a four-piece rock group that specializes in vintage sounds and polished pop songwriting. Their recent Mea Culpa EP showed off the group’s talent for balancing the eclecticism of modern bands like Dirty Projectors and nostalgic ’60s rock. With their upcoming double A-side single, “Garden/Magnifique Innocent,” they continue to show off those skills. “Magnifique Innocent” is built around jangly electric guitar riffs that cleverly shift between keys for different sections of the song, while Joe Stevens’s rhythmic vocal melodies float on top. The song ends with a noisy guitar solo and a nice fade out, adding to its classic rock aesthetic.

The double A-side single will be released via Shorewave Records on November 25th, but you can pre-order it here.
- Absolute Magazine UK

I’ve come to find that my relationship with bands is strangely similar to my relationship with girls. Just like seeing an attractive girl for the first time, I’ll hear a new song and immediately be enthralled. I’ll ponder my prospective relationship with the band and subsequently plan out the rest of my life next to them (like a crazy person). The only problem with this method, though, is that, while the first part is so amazing, once I listen to the whole album, I often find that the rest it is simply full of shit. I can try and focus on that initial part I loved so much, but I know I’ll never be able to get over those 10 boring filler tracks.

Thus, with this depressingly disappointing trap in mind, I was hesitant when listening to Honey Wild for the first time. I heard “Vandal Eyes” and was immediately excited, but I assumed that this was their good-looking, big-smiling song, to be followed by a second date filled with dull conversation. Surprisingly, however, this wasn’t the case. As I spent more time with their latest three-track releases Mea Culpa and Magnifique Innocent Demo, I found that they every song contained that up-beat, off-kilter modern rock sound that intrigued me in the first place. In songs like “Turnaround” and “7 Train”, Joe Steven’s idiosyncratic vocals play around a consistently fast-paced guitar and drums, making the band sound like a more classic rock version of Vampire Weekend. This awesome, rock-induced quirkiness pervades all of their records and will no doubt have you bobbing your head.

Download all of their albums including their latest, Mea Culpa here.
- The Wild Honey Pie

~Honeywild~ came over FORKSTER’S rocking ears as an exciting ‘up and coming’unsigned prospect going ‘onwards & upwards’ real soon!

Their rock music platform they presented had exceptional balance and diversity and I heard similarities to ‘The Talking Heads’ of past and ‘The Strokes’ of today. You definitely notice right away out of these class rockers how professional serious’ they are and their sound is blazing hot! FORKSTER definitely a supporter and will keep close ear tabs out for ~Honeywild~! - Forkster's

One of the many interesting experiences that emerges when listening to the new Daft Punk album is the inner turmoil that takes place: a fight between the part of your brain which recoils in revulsion at the 70's/80's soft-rock stylings employed, and the part that just wants to get on and enjoy the great songs.

This dichotomy is the genius of the album – and the enjoyment doesn’t immediately reveal itself because if this. It’s also more enjoyable as a result.

I experienced something fairly similar with Honey Wild – which, I suppose, is wholly to their credit.

I have to confess I was not 100% convinced by Honey Wild until the world’s wonkiest guitar solo just after the one-minute mark, at which point it all makes sense. It’s a moment of minor genius; a guitar solo that falls apart as it is played, a guitar line that even ’89-era Happy Mondays would have rejected for being too baggy.

As such, the song immediately elevates itself from good guitar pop to good guitar pop with added curiosities. And all of a sudden Honey Wild are a band to watch. Funny how these things work out. - A New Band a Day

This bill at Mercury Lounge on July 6 caught our attention mostly because we rarely see 4 very diverse local emerging bands booked on a weekend night at the prime Lower East Side small venue. While we already covered melancholic poppers Howth and animated folk rock revivalists Whale Belly in this blog (check them out!), Honey Wild and Hani Zara are names we are foreign to - and we are going to fix that right now.

Hani Zahra (pictured) is definitely the quirkier artist on this bill - and we like that. On record they sound like an electro pop band with the added bonus of charismatic vocals, an element so often missing from a genre generally shy in the singing department. This being said, the band presents itself live as a quintet, so we can expect a real show. Opening track Roll Roll Roll (streaming below) is particularly fun, with a mangled plodding organ sound and cheeky vocals between Wall of Voodoo's elegant 80s melodies and the theatrical antics of an Ian Dury.

Honey Wild (in the picture) is a more serious band, but not necessarily more predictable. All the tracks from their recently released second EP "Mea Culpa" develop under our ears in surprising ways while building in urgency, without sounding forced, skillfully playing with tension and release contrasts - which is what rock'n'roll is all about. The vocals are particularly good for an emerging band - definitely a band keep an ear on!

See the night's Facebook event for exact set times. - The Deli NYC

By Cal Meacham

Self-described dirty loud pop music……..Sounds like a great combination to me. Formed in 2012, NYC based Honey Wild brings a nice blend of pop and A.D.D. song structures which are far from predictable. Their new 3 song Ep was self-released last month displaying a true understanding of how to layer textures and ideas without comprimising the pop feel, or fracturing the melody so much that you lose interest. Ep Closer MOMA is a great example as they reach back to More Songs About Buildings And Food one moment and take a great left turn in the last 40 seconds of the songs which has you pushing repeat the second it is over.

R.I.Y.L. - Dirty Projectors, Talking Heads, Annuals, Cymbals Eat Guitars - First Order Historians

"I said in a FB post yesterday that they sounded like Modest Mouse on xanax-infused happy juice and I wasn't that far off having seen them live, except substitute speedball for xanax.

I haven't seen a new band this polished in their songcraft and stage presence since Clap Your Hands in 2005. Yeah, THAT f'n good." - Jasper Coolidge