Sticky Sweet: The two years since L.A. rock & roll band Dirty Honey released their self-titled debut album have been nothing if not eventful. That first album may have been created during a pandemic but, when the world reopened, these lads were able to take full advantage.

Multiple grueling European tours saw their stock rise across the Atlantic, while over here they opened for bands as prestigious as Guns N’ Roses and the Black Crowes, earning a ton of new fans in the process.

“It’s been an interesting ride to say the least,” says singer Marc LaBelle. “The last year or so has really been focussed on bringing our band and our style of music over to Europe a lot. I think we’ve been there three times in the last 18 months. We’ve done some really cool stuff along the way. Opened for Guns N’ Roses, and played Hyde Park [London]. Played a bunch of festivals over there, and really got acquainted with what it means to tour in Europe. It’s been really exciting, it’s been a lot of hard work and obviously tiring, but all of it is in good fun.”

Tiring or not, the band found the time to write and record a second album, Can’t Find the Brakes, due for release on November 3. “Won’t Take Me Alive” is the single that preceded it,  a typically raucous, high energy hard rock tune. For LaBelle, it’s just great to get the new music out there.

“I’m definitely excited for it to get out,” he says. “It kind of feels like it’s old news for us at this point, because we finished tracking it in May, and a couple of weeks after that it was done. So it’s been kicking around my phone since then, I’ve obviously had the freedom to listen to it a bunch, and I’m in this strange place where people aren’t familiar with the material but I’m super familiar with it and I know what’s coming for our fans and for music fans really. I think there’s a lot of new sonic elements to this record that are really interesting and different for us, that hopefully people like. We’ll see.”

Can’t Find the Brakes was recorded in Australia with longtime producer Nick DiDia. Having had just one week to record the debut during COVID, it was nice to kick back Down Under for a month and take their time over this new one.

“It was awesome, honestly,” says LaBelle. “I had the freedom to maybe listen to a verse I wrote on a song the next day, while I woke up with the sunrise on the beach. I was able to go into the studio that day, later on, and maybe write something new and really dial it in so it’s the complete executed vision of what we wanted to finally do.”


The frontman says that, while there are plenty of high energy rockers on this record, there are a few surprises too.The constant touring has worked its way into the lyrics too.

“I think a yearning to go home is only natural, but also getting comfortable with your independence on the road is definitely a theme that comes up on a song here and there,” LaBelle says. “But it’s also the strain it takes on your relationships with friends and family, that’s in there. There are also themes of love and heartbreak, and all the things that go with living a full life.”

The touring also led to the departure of drummer Corey Coverstone, though replacement and old friend Jaydon Bean has slotted right in.

“I think on stage, it’s definitely a different vibe,” LaBelle says. “Corey was a more stoic performer and Jadon’s a little more off the rails, which is fun for us. To feel something, and turn around to your drummer and have that same energy reciprocated is really nice actually. It’s never easy, figuring out those dynamics on stage. In the studio, he’s got a great understanding of melody, harmony, and he had some good ideas rhythmically as well.”

The band’s bout of touring kicked off in San Francisco on October 18, and it reaches the Belasco here in L.A. on November 20.

“We can’t wait,” says LaBelle. “It’s actually quite interesting to finally be playing these new songs for people. There’s a different dynamic to the show obviously. This will be the first time American audiences have seen Jadon play. It’ll definitely be the first time audiences will be hearing some of these songs live. So it’s really exciting for us. We’ve got a whole new stage design. We’re adding different elements to the show for the first time, so the Dirty Honey touring machine is definitely growing, which is exciting. I don’t know what to expect really, when I step onstage for the first time, so that’s got me a bit nervous in terms of what the show will look like.”

While the setlist is largely fixed for the tour, there are a few spots left open for fun and options.

“It changes every night,” says LaBelle. “When it’s a great crowd, sometimes you just don’t want to leave. So you just start playing more songs and it’s totally a thing – you get out what the crowd puts into it. You’re all on this journey together and if it’s going really well, why not play a new one that we’ve never played before” Or play an AC/DC song? Let’s just have some fun. You want to take that ride and sometimes you don’t want it to end.”

The rest of 2023 will be filled with touring for Dirty Honey. Next year, they’ll be heading back to Europe, and have plans to play Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South America.

“So we’re going to be pretty busy again,” LaBelle says. “I don’t think there’s any end in sight. That speaks to why the record is called Can’t Find the Brakes. It’s just an out of control touring train that doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon.”

All aboard!

Sticky Sweet: Dirty Honey’s Can’t Find the Brakes is Out November 3. They play the Belasco on Monday, November 20.


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