llfoxphotos
- 3 min read

Dirty Honey at The Vogue Theatre on November 10, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS

Photos and Review by Laura Fox (LLFoxphotos)

After covering a metal show with four amazing bands Tuesday night (see our posts for "The Kiss of Death" Tour), and an intense week at work, I wasn't sure if I had enough energy for another show on Friday. I've been wanting to catch Dirty Honey for a hot minute, though, so I sucked it up and headed to The Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple. Boy, was I glad I did!

After a fantastic set by Texas-based Austin Meade, I was perked up and excited to see what Dirty Honey would do. What they did was to absolutely kick ass.

From the minute they took the stage, Dirty Honey showed that they were there to have - and provide - a great time. They opened with their brand-new single, "Can't Find the Brakes," from the album of the same name. It's an upbeat banger that showcases every band member's skills, making it a great tune to kick off the show.

Although Dirty Honey is often compared to Led Zeppelin, the similarity is merely superficial. The L.A.-based band has a straightforward, all-American sound that's rooted in the blues. I don't think you'll ever hear about trips to Mordor from them, but they'll definitely tell you about how hard it is to say good-bye and what's it's like to feel like a rebel. It's not fancy, but it's solid and it's GOOD. It's the stuff people can relate to, and Dirty Honey lays it down old-school with slick guitar and bass riffs, lots of brassy percussion, and vocals that are strong and passionate.

Speaking of vocals, frontman Marc LaBelle looks like the quintessential rock star. I won't go into details about his long, wavy locks and tight pants, but I did notice there was a large proportion of women in the front few rows. It's not just about looks, though; he was charming and engaging, telling a little bit about each song and what it meant to the band. And while he could have boasted about the band's successes, he humbly expressed gratitude for the fans' support instead.

Yes, Marc LaBelle is standing ON the bar at The Vogue.

I'd like to point out that Dirty Honey has toured with some heavy hitters, (KISS, Guns 'N Roses, Rival Sons), and they've clearly been paying attention. There was no shoe gazing at this show; all four guys were great at making eye contact with the audience. And they brought lights!! (Thank you, thank you, thank you from all of us photographers.)

The night flew by as Dirty Honey played a fourteen-song set of straight-up rock and roll that included two really fun covers ("Honky Tonk Women" and "Let's Go Crazy.") I was surprised by how many people were singing along to the tunes from "Can't Find the Brakes," as the album's only been out for a few days.

The crowd demanded an encore, which they got. I kept telling myself I should head home because it was getting late, but I just couldn't tear myself away. I don't think anyone else could, either, because I didn't notice a single person leaving. We were all treated to two of the band's most hard-hitting tune, "You Won't Take Me Alive," and "Rolling 7s."

I left The Vogue tired but exhilarated. In a world full of Top 40, sound-alike programming, Dirty Honey has got something special, and I was happy to witness it first hand in such an intimate venue.