First/Last-The Honeydogs

 Photo courtesy the band

The Honeydogs

Club Cafe

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Southside

"It's not clear if Adam Levy, frontman and creative force behind The Honeydogs, meant the title of their 10th studio release (and first full-length effort since 2006) as a statement or a question. The album's songs merge simpler lyrical content of early works with the deceptively sophisticated music making of The Honeydogs more recent offerings. Written in a short spell and recorded in just 5 ½ days, these lilting, memorable tunes lent themselves to a bare-bones recording approach. With shades of Leonard Cohen, Nilsson, Nick Drake, and Tony Joe White the band has created a soul folk and country record tracked as an ensemble with minimal overdubs. Despite it's sense of ease, the album still brings moments of unabashed rock, including the impassioned title track and the almost-psychedelic “Devil We Do”. On What Comes After the band truly marries it's original roots sensibility with complex orchestral pop and soul arrangements."

The band hits Pittsburgh this Wednesday at Club Cafe with guests Dan Getkin and the Masters of American Music and Scheabutter. My thanks to frontman Adam Levy for participating in this edition of First/Last.

 

The first album you ever bought?
KISS, “Destroyer”.

Your last album bought?
Zeus, “Busting Visions”.

Favorite album of all time?
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Anything by Prince post-“Lovesexy”.

First concert attended?
KISS.

Last concert?
Deerhoof.

Favorite concert ever?
Queen, 1980.

Least favorite concert?
Dora the Explorer 2003. She was in her hard drug phase.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Always loved playing Pittsburgh. Love the topography of the city and driving into it. Feels alternately sleepy Midwestern and very old East Coast.  Audiences are always enthusiastic and supportive. We've had a few all-nighters hanging with locals taking us to the cool off-the-beaten track spots and wild parties.

Thanks, Adam. Pittsburgh and wild, all-night parties? Where have I been at?