Review: Dirty Honey – Mayhem & Reverly Live

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Review: Dirty Honey – Mayhem & Reverly Live

Dirt Records (February 21st, 2025)

Reviewer: Grant Foster

These Californians have already got themselves a burgeoning reputation in the hard rock field.

After just two studio albums, they’ve decided the time is right for a live album. They come from the old school where ‘live albums have always been the quintessential corner stone for any rock band’s catalogue.’ Vocalist Marc LaBelle’s  words, not mine!

This 16 track release features 8 songs from North America and 8 from the U.K. and Europe.

There’s also a companion four part documentary video.

Having learned over the years that the majority of live albums were anything but, I was a little sceptical about how much of this was actually ‘live.’

First thing, it sounds live. The band have resisted the temptation to add a rhythm guitar track to fill out the sound.

Recent addition, drummer Jayden Bean works up a real lather behind his kit.

Marc LaBelle is obviously the star with his rock star drenched vocals, but without the studio tampering, I was drawn to the guitar work of John Notto. Justin Smolian dexterous bass works helps fill out the rhythm section when Notto flexes his lead solos.

Marc constantly keeps encouraging Cleveland to impart more energy, although I’m not sure the message is entirely getting home.

There seems to be a different sense of urgency on the U.K. and Europe recordings.

Maybe it’s the sense that Dirty Honey’s brand of rock and roll is more suited to this market that brings out the animal in the band.

The sound also seems fuller and more vibrant. Live wires indeed.

It may not be as career defining as Kiss Alive, but ‘Mayhem & Reverly Live‘ shows a band who are kicking it old school.

And they are giving rock audience all over the world a damn good shoeing. They can’t find the brakes and more power to them for that.

Tracklist:

  1. Scars
  2. Can’t Find The Brakes
  3. Tied Up
  4. Won’t Take Me Alive
  5. When I’m Gone
  6. Satisfied
  7. Coming Home
  8. California Dreamin’
  9. You Make It All Right
  10. Roam
  11. Another Last Time
  12. Heartbreaker
  13. The Wire
  14. Rolling 7’s
  15. Dirty Mind
  16. Don’t Put Out The Fire
Dirty Honey, L-R:
Justin Smolian (bass), John Notto (guitar), Marc LaBelle (vocals), Jaydon Bean (drums)
Photo credit: Hanane Zahrouni

Line-up: 
Marc Labelle – Vocals
John Notto – Guitars
Justin Smolian – Bass
Jaydon Bean – Drums

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