Combining their passion for music and theatrics, Red Haven and Dirty Grace have joined forces to create a new super band called The Honey Tongues.
The eight-person band will be at the Legion on August 10 to perform songs off their debut album Live at Monarch Studios, which features an entirely new genre of music that they’ve called “swamp opera.”
For the unitiated (which is most of us) swamp opera combines Americana roots grit and indie swing with soulful harmonies and beat boxing.
“It’s our best means of describing the size and the character of it,” said Brendan Steele, the lead guitarist from Red Haven.
The two bands first joined forces in the summer of 2015 while on tour across Canada.
“We’d do sets where they’d start and then we’d play afterwards and we eventually just started playing together and our music was so synonymous it was pretty undeniable that we had to play together, the show was so similar,” said Steele.
Following their Canadian tour both bands got together again for a U.K. tour that was billed as two separate bands, but once again they found themselves sharing the stage.
“The way the U.K. tour went it was crazy and awesome and we set about finding a name and Honey Tongues is what we landed on,” said Steele.
“It sort of represents the character of the band. We write about love and relationships and sensuality, but also things that have darker sides.”
One of those songs is called ‘Beheaded,’ which is a playful, groovy track but also delves into mortality and death.
“That’s one of my favourite numbers to play,” Steele said, adding it’s the first song on their new album and usually the band’s closing song of the night.
“It’s as theatrical as it comes.”
Another one of his favourite tracks and likely the most popular song on the album is called ‘Glass House.’
While the two bands may have formed a super band it doesn’t mean that either Red Haven or Dirty Grace are over.
Red Haven in fact is already gearing up to record another album in August almost immediately after they return from Jasper.
Dirty Grace on the other hand has slowed down and is focusing on two separate projects, including another band called Daemon & Airdrie and Betty and the Kid.
To catch The Honey Tongues head over to the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion on Aug. 10. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door.
“It’s nothing like any project that we’ve come to Jasper with before and we really hope people come out and get a little wacky with us.”
Paul Clarke
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