Live Review: Dirty Honey - Stylus, Leeds
9th February 2024
Support: Wolforna
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
As I arrive at the Stylus on a rainy Friday evening, fans are already queuing at the doors, a palpable buzz of excitement in the air. When the doors finally open, they make an instant beeline for the barrier in eager anticipation of the show to come. The stage is set with the Dirty Honey logo ablaze on the backdrop, bathed in purple hues, while the accompanying Hendrix’s 'Purple Haze' sets the mood.
Kicking off the night is Wolforna, a four-piece group of local lads, playing what they say is a huge show for them. They kickstart their seven song set with ‘Something's Missing’, a cut from their latest double A-side, demonstrating the energy of a young band getting their big break. With punchy hooks and bone-rattling riffs, they try to win over the audience, one that perhaps leans towards a different age bracket than they’re used to. Initially, the crowd observes, but as Wolforna's set continues, they’re captured the band’s infectious energy, nodding along, and raising fists in solidarity.
Maintaining their intensity, Wolfhorna unleashes tracks like '22 Degrees and Sunny' and 'Broken Bones and Gritty Fights', culminating in a climactic finale with their 2021 anthem 'Penrose'. These lads are destined for bigger stages, having already supported heavyweights like The Hara and Tigerclub. I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on this band, and would very much like to catch them at their own headline shows.
Next up, the moment everyone’s been waiting for – the arrival of Dirty Honey!
I first came across Dirty Honey whilst walking past the second stage at Download Festival last summer, where their retro aesthetics immediately caught my eye. Formed in Los Angeles in 2017, Dirty Honey seem to be going from strength to strength. Touring in support of their latest release 'Can't Find the Brakes', which dominates tonight's setlist, they storm onto the stage, poised to conquer the Leeds crowd. Anticipation builds as AC/DC’s 'Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation' blasts out before the band launches into the album’s title track.
Standing in the pit taking photos, I’m transported back to the '60s as these showmen unleash their arsenal of infectious riffs and sing-along choruses against a kaleidoscopic backdrop. With their larger-than-life personas, leopard print coats, and oversized shades, they exude a timeless cool. By the third song, 'Heartbreaker', those watching are in fine voice, belting out the chorus in unison as frontman Marc LaBelle thrusts the microphone into the crowd.
After tearing through a collection of thunderous songs including 'California Dreamin’' and 'Dirty Mind', Dirty Honey punctuates the evening with a slow rendition of 'Coming Home (A Ballad of the Shire)' before reigniting the crowd with their country-bluegrass style cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic 'Honky Tonk Women'. Arguably one of the best-received songs of the evening, earning raucous applause.
From here on in, it's a battle of decibels between the band and the audience, culminating in a blistering rendition of 'Don’t Put Out the Fire', its stomping beats and vocals reminiscent of rock legends of old. The band wraps up their set with the crowd-rousing Billboard Top 100 anthem 'When I’m Gone', igniting a massive sing-along, capping off an incredible experience for the band’s first time in Leeds.
For their encore, Dirty Honey channels the spirit of icons like the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, with Marc LaBelle and guitarist John Notto sharing the spotlight for the final two numbers, 'Won’t Take Me Alive' and 'Rolling 7’s'. It’s abundantly clear: Dirty Honey are a force of nature, connecting with the audience, and putting on an incredibly exciting and fun show, all while recognizing what their growing fanbase wants to hear.
As I leave the venue at the end of the show, carried along by the electrified crowd, it’s evident that tonight wasn’t just a 'concert' – we’ve all witnessed something truly special. Like many others, I’m no longer a curious bystander but instead a sure-fire fan of Dirty Honey.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley Photography
