The band had planned to record it with producer Nick DiDia (who produced. The result? LaBelle meanwhile, takes cues from his songwriting idols (to name a few, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, Chris Robinson, and the late Chris Cornell) when coming up with lyrics. "When you finally come through on those moments, that's where the real magic comes in," he says. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF HISTORY ON HOW YOU CAME TOGETHER? After a string of chart hits and live triumphs, one of rock music's most exciting new bands, Dirty Honey, is keeping the momentum going with the April 23, 2021 release of their self-titled debut full-length. Did you try to get some writing done? It consists of singer Marc Labelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone. A month later, the groups self-titled album appeared. I know it's the Black Crowes, I know it's AC/DC, I know it's the Stones as soon as I hear it. We were in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and I did one of those mic stand moves and I was on a mic cable. Aw, man, obviously that was a dream come true for any young rock band, says frontman Marc LeBelle. There's no tickets or anything, you just do it. Similar sparks happened with tracks like The Wire and Tied Up, off the LP, on previous Dirty Honey tours. Turns out, Kitsch and LaBelle have been friends for years. Dirty Honey will open for The Black Crowes 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at Pelhams Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Bath His top Crowes tracks include cosmic-rocker Wiser Time. He caught one of the few pre-pandemic reunion gigs Chris and Rich played, in New York. My stepdad pulled into the driveway and said, "Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are down there at the radio station right now. They put their time away from the road to good use by writing and recording new music. Brownstone, but from a 20-mile hike yesterday in Yosemite. Having to switch gears delayed the start of recording slightly, although this extra time ended up being a boon. Henry Yates has been a freelance journalist since 2002 and written about music for titles including The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Classic Rock, Guitarist, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer. Honestly, we usually do a few shots of tequila right before we hit the stage. We've done one offs with Guns n' Roses and the Who, and we did a theater tour with Alter Bridge and Skillet and some dates with Slash and similar sized venues. That last statement sums up what makes Dirty Honey a new must-hear amid a rap/pop era when rock has become almost career-suicide. DIRTY HONEY LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone planned to record the album with producer Nick DiDia (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, PEARL JAM),who had produced the band's 2019 EP; but the day before the band was due to fly to Australia to track the album, Los Angeles entered lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and traveling was off the table. The EP and LP are both adorned with the bands orange and black logo, a design that despite being sexualized lips, manages to not come off like a complete Stones rip. Which Rockers Love To Show Off Their Poker Face? And they agreed on us too [laughs], which is historically a tough thing to get those two guys to do. Ittopped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart,making them the first unsigned band to everdo so. The band became the first-ever unsigned act to top Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart with their single When I'm Gone, and kicked off the month by playing two shows as openers for Guns N . That was really the biggest challenge for a long time. What more contemporary rock bands would you say inspired you? "We did a lot of rehearsing and got tighter as a band. Along with AC/DC, Notto cites Aerosmith and Van Halen as bands that give him ideas. And then as we kept writing and trying to find our groove, we sort of figured out our musical direction together; what came naturally to us that we were passionate about. Catch Dirty Honey live at one of their upcoming shows: 13 Sacramento, CA, Holy Diver14 Fresno, CA, Strummers16 San Diego, CA, Voodoo Room @ House of Blues22 Los Angeles, CA, The Troubadour. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Im glad theres another group of young people like us, making the same music, he muses, before adding: We sort of share fans. Australia would have been about three weeks making an album. Los Angeles' rock band Dirty Honey are gearing up for an ambitious 2019. Chris Robinson passed on a little advice to the Dirty Honey singer. We just met those guys in Nashville when we rolled through there and they were very sweet. I think right now, its GNR, AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith, and the Stones -- theyre all on their own level. On the other end of the phone line, the frontman for the best new hard-rock band in recent memory sings and plays guitar for a few seconds. Dirty Honey's album indeed builds on the band's output to date, with airtight songwriting that plays up their strengths: sexy, bluesy, nasty rock'n'roll, melodic hard rock, and soulful 70s blues-rock. For instance, with "Rollin' 7s," John had two completely separate riff ideas that he was playing with, and I was like, "Dude, those go together!" WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST PLACE YOU EVER SLEPT ON TOUR? I hope youre right.. BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. Dirty Honey Albums and Discography | AllMusic Discography Dirty Honey Follow Artist + Hard rock combo out of Los Angeles inspired by titans like Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. The LA hard rockers describe what it is about their sound that has catapulted them to such dizzying heights. We want the band to grow to a place where Dirty Honey is just its own identity, like all of our predecessors. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Were here for a good time., LaBelle says hes about to go grab lunch before departing for rehearsal at Nottos San Fernando Valley home. Whats especially interesting about Dirty Honey is that in a world where everyone seems focused on the next big thing or the flavor of the hour, a band playing old-school rocknroll can conquer the world without any help from a label. Vocalist Marc LaBelle and guitarist John Notto give us their view from the fast lane. The DIRTY HONEY album does sound effortless and captures the lightning-in-a-bottle dynamics and energy of the band's live sound. Lyrically, the single puts a different spin on the idea of California as the promised land: vocalist/lyricist Marc LaBelle drew on the tough times he faced after moving west in the early 2010s to craft a bittersweet cautionary tale that hints at personal and emotional turbulence. "If we had gone when we were supposed to in March, we wouldn't have had as many songs," Smolian says. Please enter valid email address to continue. Featuring another salvo of catchy, swaggering rock tunes that showcase LaBelle's raspy howl and Notto's crunching riffs, Dirty Honey is another band providing ample proof that guitar rock's often reported demise is still premature. Sign up to get the latest from Revolver, straight to your inbox. In a world over-sweetened with pop syrup, Dirty Honey tell stories from the darker side of Los Angeles (Image credit: Daniel Prakopcyk) A year ago, an unsigned Los Angeles band sprawled on a downtown fire escape for a photoshoot that accompanied a High Hopes piece in Classic Rock. Some musicians take a while to build an audience and connect with fans. We dont show up naked wearing socks, but well leave a mistake on if the take has the feel. I thought that it should start with the chorus riff because that was so fun and so good, he says. When we were getting ready to drop the record, he was like, Lets do something fun for the record release., Dirty Honey tracked their album with Nick DiDia (a studio vet whose resume includes work with Audioslave and Stone Temple Pilots), producing and mixing. It really gave us the confidence we were on the right track.. Los Angeles rock band Dirty Honey. Feb 2. You dont want to just keep writing radio songs, quote unquote, that are all three-and-a-half minutes because you can get very cookie cutter. Dirty Honey L-R: Marc LaBelle, Justin Smolian, Corey Coverstone, John Notto. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Apart from great songs, were really selling ninety minutes of freedom, says Notto. The guitarist draws on any number of different influences when it comes to riffs, chord progressions and solos. They also supported Guns N' Roses on their Not in This Lifetime Tour on November 1 and 2 in Las Vegas. Marc LaBelle: I felt like a rock star in middle school when I played like the school talent show with a band, so it goes back pretty far for me. $40.00. All Rights Reserved. And hes just a huge fan of the band and has been a huge supporter for a long time. I dont usually encourage Justin or Corey to copy the parts that I put down because theyre such incredible players. By the time the guys were done adding their thing to it, it became a stadium rock kind of sound big and powerful.. All rights reserved. BEING IN A BAND, WHAT'S THE HARDEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE COME ACROSS SO FAR, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? Nobodys really heard the songs live before, so thats exciting for us. Notto recruited bassist Justin Smolian, and the trio had trouble finding a drummer until Smolian brought in Corey Coverstone, who enthusiastically asked to join. Listen to "California Dreamin'" https://orcd.co/californiadreamin Listen / Buy the debut 'Dirty Honey' LP . See the full list of tour dates below, followed by our video Zoom interview with Dirty Honey singer Marc LaBelle and Wolfgang Van Halen. Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets for Mobile are $22.50 via ticketweb.com and $25 - $30 for Huntsville via eventbrite.com. PROVE YOUR FANDOM. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Dirty Honey is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 2017. The collection boasts airtight songwriting that plays up their strengths: sexy, bluesy, nasty rock 'n' roll. Theres nothing too heavy-handed or overly ambitious just Nottos crunchy guitar work and Marc LaBelles impassioned vocals stretched out over bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstones resolute foundation for a fulfilling elixir of blues-based rock. Members: Marc LaBelle - vocals; John Notto - guitar; Justin Smolian - bass guitar; Corey Coverstone - drums; Albums: Dirty Honey EP (2019) Dirty Honey (2021) Dirty Honey is a hard rock/blues rock band from California that formed in 2017. / CBS San Francisco. For the Los Angeles-based quartet Dirty Honey, success came right out of the gate. LaBelle says there were songs Dirty Honey chose to leave off the debut LP that are a little more expansive, including one called Rebel Son the bands considering playing on tour. After a string of opening slots with the Who, Guns N Roses, Slash, and Alter Bridge, appearances at various music festivals across the nation, and a few headlining gigs (including one in Los Angeles), Dirty Honey joined everyone else in the pandemic lockdown and sheltered at home. So long as you have a good start, really it's just about a great performance captured by a great recording, you know? This is 2021 rock & roll, not 1987. In the end, even with the pandemic in full swing, it all seemed to work out. I cant tell that with a lot of modern bands today.. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Album Discography full condensed blue highlight denotes album pick I don't really see myself getting away from that too much in the future just because I think you lose the soul if you do it too many times, if it's too perfect. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. LaBelle, a former college lacrosse player, is checking playoff hockey scores. Young Guns 2022 Tour Tee. We don't want to bring anything back we just want to make music that's sexy and hard and rocking all at the same time. How did you guys spend the lockdown? Nothing but nice things to say about them. But at the end of the day, Chris and Rich are picking the bands. I also wanted to extend the artistic statement that weve already made, says the guitarist John Notto. We rented a lockout and everybody got together for a couple of months, every day, just writing, rehearsing, writing, rehearsing. Dirty Honey's album indeed builds on the band's output to date, with airtight songwriting that plays up their strengths: sexy, bluesy, nasty rock'n'roll, melodic hard rock, and soulful '70s blues-rock. It was very casual. Were gonna be playing the record for the first time, a good chunk of it at least, LaBelle says. Their self-titled extended play was self-released in March 2019. And then he suggested a melody for me to sing in the chorus. Version 2, edited by CBS SF: Do you remember what the first song you guys wrote together was? Do you remember a point when you realized that you wanted to be a singer? Another talented Los Angeles band, Joyous Wolf, is the opening act. We weren't looking to sound different, or prove our growth, necessarily. I Got Dirty Tee. I've seen them too. But the studio recordings are a little more polished and produced. Notto had moved to Los Angeles from Maine. They dont give a fuck (and neither should you). The official music video for "When I'm Gone" by Dirty Honey.Watch the behind-the-scenes video for a look at how the official music video was made https://s. In a world over-sweetened with pop syrup, Dirty Honey tell stories from the darker side of Los Angeles. The band has released several albums, and their fan Dirty Honey Band is a popular rock band that is known for their catchy hooks and energetic live shows. Thats not how we recorded. Could be an old soul song or could be an old Beatles song or something like that, LaBelle says. But rocknroll isnt perfect.. Its cool that they exist. "I also wanted to extend the artistic statement that we had already made. And I know a couple of the people that are part of this lineup. SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- In the space of four short years, Los Angeles band Dirty Honey has risen from playing local clubs to sharing stages with the likes of the Who, Guns n' Roses and the Black Crowes. Our latest subject is Dirty Honey, an Los Angeles-based blues-rock band that put a modern spin on the anthemic bluster of their heroes: bands like Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Pearl Jam. Its been one hell of a ride for Dirty Honey. CBS SF: Do you find it's hard -- as you look back through history -- to do stuff that has not been done? It has a rawness to it, and a throwback familiarity while still feeling fresh. We talk with frontman Marc LaBelle and other members of the band about the album and how the pandemic . You're blasting through all these cool cities and seeing the best part of everywhere you visit. The band became the first-ever unsigned act to top Billboards Mainstream Rock Chart with their single When Im Gone, and kicked off the month by playing two shows as openers for Guns N Roses. Dirty Honey rented a rehearsal space and demoed the album's songs in advance, meaning the tracks were in good shape when DiDia came onboard. Did you know someone or have family that worked at the radio station so you happened to be there? They looked horrible. But he was just like: Im wearing em. Marc LaBelle: Honestly, it's been a dream come true for me. Hold my beer.'". And we kind of knew then that we clicked. The more we came up, the more we saw Greta Van Fleet fans coming to our shows, which is nice.. But me, John and Justin had been playing together on and off throughout LA for a long time. Dirty Honeys self-titled debut album is out now (opens in new tab). It was fucking awesome. That's what we're all about. So is Greta Van Fleet. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Hope you're ready to do some shows. That was all him. Back in the old days, I used to know every band members name, because I could pinpoint Joe Perrys guitar playing versus Brad Whitfords guitar playing. For some artists who tour regularly, it was a time to reflect and reassess, while others scrambled to make ends meet. John introduced me to bassist Justin Smolian who in turn introduced us to drummer Corey Coverstone. There was maybe like 50 people outside the station, and I was this little kid. It has a lot of qualities that the great classic rock records have, but also still sounds somewhat knew -- its four young kids doing their thing on a record. We started a video series called "The Suitcase Sessions," where we went out into nature and played acoustic. Were all open to the answer coming from everywhere, but mostly everybody takes care of their own part., Indeed, the four members of Dirty Honey each contribute to the whole, however and whenever inspiration strikes. Marc LaBelle: Yeah, we played Houston last night and we've got Austin tonight, then we're heading home to LA for a few days in SoCal and then heading up to you guys. None of the stuff that I really liked as a kid was. There was this event that takes place out in Silver Lake where like a bunch of storefronts will have music right on the sidewalk along Sunset. I just think that without, shitting on anybody specifically, the sound of the music got too polished, Marc continues. My mom, not so much, but she tried. They've been nothing but kind to us and supportive. That song, LaBelle tells me, was totally just a quarantine baby. Then we were going to come back and do all the radio festivals for six weeks here in the U.S. and then we were going to go to Europe for a month and do the Download Fest UK. CBS SF: You came to Los Angeles specifically to pursue a musical career in 2012 from what I was reading in the band's bio, but you didn't connect with the other members until like five years later. Being in a bandit's a risk, you know? CBS SF: How's the tour been going so far? CBS SF: What is the band's writing process like? Which begs the question: what is it about Dirty Honeys music, straightforward and earnest as it is, that has vaulted them above so many other bands trying so hard to make it? I have to say, it was a rather uninspiring time to be making a record, says the lead singer Marc LaBelle. It's flattering and good all at the same time. Hungry to bring their music to the masses and play more shows, Dirty Honey is now ready to make the big leap after being selected as the support act for the much-anticipated Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker reunion tour, which kicks off July 20 in Nashville. California Dreaming was the last song we wrote, said bassist Justin Smolian. More info . Im gonna start wearing polka dot. Or do you try not to be too conscientious about that and just come together and play what feels natural? All of the four band members are determined to better themselves going forward. For Notto, its anything but a competition. But for him and the rest of Dirty Honey, pushing through those tough times and coming out stronger on the other side is worth it. Their second single, "Rolling 7s," went into the Top 5 and was still headed up when COVID changed everything. Stop trying to re-invent the wheel. But I really wanted to go to the reunion show and see the first one. Additional Info. The official music video for "The Wire'" by Dirty Honey. They burst onto the scene in 2019 with "When I'm Gone,' which zoomed to the top of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, making the band the first unsigned act to land at Number One. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). My dad was super into Tom Petty and the Stones, and my step brother was into the Black Crowes and he showed me a lot of stuff. But you also see the darkest shit imaginable: heroin addiction under a bridge in Skid Row, poverty, homelessness; I slept in my car for nine months when I first moved here. Marc LaBelle: We have a couple of friends that own a weed shop on Sunset Boulevard. I took the extra time and played a lot of music in my studio, he says. It was self-released on March 22, 2019. It'll be a nice escape. Expect setlists heavy on songs from the new album. Maybe 20 to25 times by now. Not from dancing with Mr. "I also wanted to extend the artistic statement that we've already made. Notto mixed and recorded these workshopped tracks himself, which helped him rediscover one of Dirty Honey's biggest strengths: being well-rehearsed while not over polishing their work. I play a lot of hockey and love riding motorcycles. Though the guitarist demos a lot of the material for the band to try out, he stresses its not quite that cut and dry. I just think people are ready for rocknroll again.. It will be one of the first tours out, Notto says. When moved by the music onstage, LaBelle works a mic-stand like someone worthy of a poster. By sheer coincidence, the band worked with Dave Cobb, Rival Sons producer, when they covered Aerosmiths Last Child., Then theres Greta Van Fleet, arguably the most scrutinized band of the new classic rock scene. Their self-titled extended play was self-released in March 2019. From covering Aerosmith songs to reviving classic rock with a modern twist, the band embraces bluesy riffs, nostalgic music videos and long hair, immersing listeners in the golden age of rock. So family was a definitely an influence. There are a lot of people in LA who don't want to take that risk. I'm super into Gary Clark Jr. and his guitar playing. They both grew up playing hockey, Kitsch in Canada and LaBelle in Upstate New York, and initially connected in Los Angeles skating at various local ice-rinks. Dirty Honey are all about the spit, not the polish. He's really amazing; a super tasteful player. Except for Marc's lyrics, everything was pretty much written by the time we got into the studio, there really wasn't a lot of, 'Let's try this, let's try that.' I've definitely seen Aerosmith the most. But yeah, the Struts are cool. Dirty Honey opening for The Black Crowes tour makes sense on several levels. Because the group couldnt make it to Australia where their producer, Nick DiDia, is based, they opted to record the album in Los Angeles. Were in the midst of an enjoyable 31 minute conversation, and this is what sticks with me the most: An impromptu musical moment beamed through my iPhones receiver. The song, supported by a surreal, exploratory video that embraces the California vibe, dropped on March 5 to great acclaim. #CaliforniaDreamin 2023 in the EU kicks off tonight in Antwerp 2-Feb - Antwerp, Belgium 3-Feb - Cologne, Germany 4-Feb - Nijmegen, Netherlands 6-Feb - Eindhoven, Netherlands 7-Feb - Paris, France Get tickets now at DirtyHoney.com. I know you've played with big bands and played bigger venues before, but is the first tour where you're playing large amphitheaters? Welcome to the Dirty Honey Official Store! 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Marc LaBelle: Yeah, other than festivals that we've done here and there, this is definitely the first big, 10-15 thousand seat venue sort of tour that we've done on this scale ever. WHAT BAND OR MUSICAL ARTISTS ARE YOU A BIGGEST FAN OF? Notto notes how the song evolved. "What makes all of our songs fun to play and listen to is we don't allow ourselves to stop short of getting the best possible results out of each one of them. In June, Dirty Honey hits the road on a headlining tour opening June 3 at Tempe, Arizonas Marquee Theater. We were in the middle of nowhere going to a gig where we might have played for like 100 people, LaBelle recalls. And then, pretty quickly as time wore on, they were like, "You know what? I wanted to do that from day one, no doubt about it. WHAT'S YOUR ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE TO BRING WITH YOU WHILE ON TOUR? It doesnt have any personality. That's why we've created Crash Course, a recurring feature offering a concise introduction to a band or artist that we think slays, covering their origins, process and vision. Having to switch gears delayed the start of recording slightly, although this extra time ended up being a boon. Notto also mentions another young band from Los Angeles: Joyous Wolf. All rights reserved. On a few occasions, the version that people kept going back to was the sloppiest, if you look at it from a performance standpoint. Rocknroll should be right on the edge, says Notto. "Lots of people come out to California, chasing a dream, and sometimes, people just don't make it," said LaBelle. Although the Dirty Honey album may sound effortless, its genesis had a bumpy start. But the Dirty Honey singers yeah-yeahs and ooohs up a tracks energy, without wearing out their welcome. I flew out to New York when they were doing the Howard Stern Show and playing the show at the Bowery Electric that night. And its perfect.. Stay up to date with in depth music reviews, exclusive interviews and widespread coverage of whats happening from your favourite music genre. But it still doesn't have a meaning that's easy to pinpoint. The microphone got catapulted out of that stand and hit Notto right on the side of his head while he was doing the guitar solo. CBS SF: How did you end up opening for the Black Crowes on this big reunion tour? Were you in any groups leading up to that point? And really, its not like contemporary rap and pop are that innovative. More info at dirtyhoney.com. CBS SF: A lot of your songs draw on a classic blues-rock sound, but "Take My Hand" is kind of reminiscent of something Audioslave might have done. PAUL STANLEY Blasts MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE After She Complains Of Harassment, DAVE LOMBARDO To Tour U.K. With 'Progressive Grindcore' Band EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, MIKKEY DEE Is Open To Playing With KING DIAMOND Again: 'That'd Be Great Fun For Me'. The bands members are no strangers to the rock and roll assembly line. Its tough when youre not living a life to write about life.. Eight hours later, friends contacted the members and family telling them their music was being played on the radio. It meant that we were able to workshop the songs a lot more, and I think it really made a difference.". We were going to go to Australia, John Notto, the bands guitarist, remarks during a phone call about their derailed plans for 2020. New-fashioned rock &roll from the soul. I love them both a lot. As soon as this tour ends, my dad and I are taking a trip up the coast to the California Redwoods to do some riding. Sometimes, Ill hear a melody. For example, drummer Coverstone has studied with jazz and L.A. session drummers but loves heavy metal; Notto grew up listening to 70s funk and R&B as well as rock 'n' roll, and bassist Smolian has a bachelor of music in classical guitar and loves Tom Petty and The Beach Boys. I know you did at least a one show at the Viper Room that was streamed at some point. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Dirty Honey is an iHeartRadio On The Verge Artist. I met Aerosmith before my first concert ever, literally watched Steven Tyler and Joe Perry walk out of the radio station and jump into a limo. Whether its traveling, going to restaurants, or enjoying the company of others, it doesnt seem to matter. $30.00 - $65.00. And that's what we strive for. I think we thought if there is one band to pay attention to and maybe imagined our model would be, we thought it was Rival Sons for a minute, he says. After a year of empty stages, things are set to explode on the concert circuit. The LA-based hard rock quartet have gone from the underground phenom to chart-topping rock stars, all on the back of their diligent work, DIY ethos, and refusal to compromise their sound. On "The Wire," LaBelle reaffirms his status as one of contemporary rocks best vocalists, while Another Last Time is a raunchy, timeless ballad about a toxic relationship that you just cant stop saying goodbye to. It was about two days too late when quarantine started. "As a guitarist, I'm always inspired by the everlasting pursuit of the perfect riff," Notto adds. The band traveled to Australia to record their self-titled extended play with producer Nick DiDia. These guys are awesome. Other songs like The Wire, Take My Hand, and Gypsy pretty much jump out the gate and slap you across the face. He's sort of playing around the solos that are on the records, but putting his own little spin on it. The Black Keys are great. Formed in 2017, the blues-tinged rock outfit came together after singer Marc LaBelle and guitarist John Notto -- who had been playing in the LA-based group Ground Zero -- decided to split with that band to follow their muse and find their own path. Thankfully, the song isnt a Mamas & The Papas cover. I'd say we're more blues/rock-based and that certainly came from influences from all our parents and older siblings. Sometimes, Ill hear a style for the solo.. CBS SF: That is one thing I wanted to talk about. It's sort of a challenge any band that's doing music with clear touchstones in '70s classic rock.