Brody Ramone: Live Your Life. Live Indie.

 

Art cannot be rushed or forced. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces have to fit correctly. Edges and colors have to mesh to create both a vision and message. Cincinnati’s Honeyspiders took their time. Unlike some times when bands are hell bent for fame and fortune, the Honeyspiders took their time to build a fan base, craft their sound, and ultimately just enjoy the ride. 

Formed in 2012 by Floridian raised brothers Chris and Jeremy Harrison, they have created a musical landscape that, takes the influences of post­punk guitars intertwined with desert and psych brush strokes, comingled with the flowing Midwest rumbling grooves of drummer Kamal Hiresh and bassist Cole Walsh­Davis that creates a gothic, dreamlike atmospheric soundscape. 

I personally became aware of them in July of 2014 when I made a trip to Cincinnati to enjoy the Bunbury Music Festival. They did not perform, but some of the local Cincinnati bands I spoke with told me to keep an ear out for this new local band. After arriving home, I found a grand total of one music video on Youtube for the song, New Bloom. But Jeremy Harrison’s swaying voice, along with the swaggering guitar work of Brother Chris and old school organ work had me hooked. 

Jeremy Harrison’s voice flows and drones hypnotically via intoxicating lyrics and edgy angst filled story telling on the Honeyspiders debut album, which was released in November of 2015. Their debut caught people’s attention in the region, being nominated by Cincinnati CityBeat for three Cincinnati Entertainment Awards; Best Rock Act, Best Live Act, and Album of the Year, for which they won the Album of the Year category. Not bad for a debut album for a city underestimated for it’s fine music scene. 

Stand out tracks on this debut album are the aforementioned New Bloom, Underneath the Claws, Guillotines, Royal Blood, and Meadow Song. Considering that two tracks are instrumental bridges, five out of seven complete songs are impressive for a group’s initial release. From info on their website, it is looking like new music is in the works. 

The Honeyspiders at moments can seem redundant. This is not an unusual occurrence in an initial release. However, it is apparent that they are still flushing out their sound and there is obvious talent to burn here. I like how lead singer Jeremy Harrison in particular stretched outvocally in the song Guillotines. What’s coming next for the Honeyspiders should be interesting to hear.


Show them some love on their official site, Facebook and Twitter!