Artist description Honest Pod is a musical journey of one group's vision of life’s triumphs, tribulations, and personal experiences expressed through original “heavy-mellow” rock rhythms, lyrics, and melodies. With dynamic vocal passages, winding guitar melodies, fluid bass lines, and hard hitting percussion this band has created a sound that can only be described as “real” and unique for these times.

Music Style Emo Rock

Musical Influences V-shape Mind, Stone temple Pilots, Queens of The Stone Age, U2, The Violent Fems, Prince

Similar Artists Queens of the Stone Age, Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, Smashing Pumpkins, HUM, Staind, Incubus

Artist History January ‘00 - Honest Pod releases HADTABOB, a 9 song disc of eclectic heavy mellow rock tunes, that displays the bands ability to produce melodic, riff laden, comical and yet political music. Various songs from the record find themselves slipping onto playlists on WJKL, WQLZ, WZNX and Cable Radio 90 helping to spread the word locally about the band. and the new disc. Summer ‘00 - Honest Pod spends the spring and summer months playing well over 50 shows in 9 months, traveling weekly to each destination from their hometown, Decatur, IL. to places as far away as Houston, TX. HADTABOB sells over 2000 copies and continues to receive airily on FM and Internet Radio, and continues to push the band towards a successful career.. October ‘00 - Honest Pod is selected as one of the recipients for The 2000 B.E.A.M. Grant sponsored by Jim Beam and is featured on Jim Beam.com, Herald & Review, Illinois Times, Springzine, Magic Bus.com, and The Pimp Palace. WZNX hosts a special airing of the entire HADTABOB CD in recognition of the band and the news about the B.E.A.M. Grant. October ‘00 - Studio 54 in Houston TX hosts a showcase featuring Honest Pod. The event is attended by writer Ben Asking (Access Houston) and John Laden (Premiere Media Group). Honest Pod blows away the 300+ Texas crowd with raw power and showmanship. With a great performance and music the band was able to peek the interest of Ben Askins, who later wrote a full length article about the show in Access Houston. February ‘01 - WJKL hosts the final night of broadcast from Chicago with exclusive performances by Interscope Recording Artisits - Queens of The Stone Age and local heroes Honest Pod. Josh Homme from QOTSA engages in some psychedelic conversation with band about Illinois, L.A., and the future of music. We completely took over the station on its last night of broadcast, drilled Josh with 20 questions about the demise of KYUSS, the need for more Honest Pod Music on the air, and the pending “must do sometime” tour w/HP & QOTSA.....ha! April ‘01 - HADTABOB continues to push the band to new heights by continuing to receive requests on radio, and by catching the attention of Nickelback producer - Dale Penner, Paradise Alley Productions. The band found Dale through a web search that took them to Paradsie Alley Productions. After reading his impressive resume, we decide to send Dale a press kit. Dale later called the band and told them he had received the CD and enjoyed some of the music we had written and expressed his interest in working with the band in the future. June ‘01 - Honest Pod is contacted by Chris Dobry - President of Stryker Records. Chris also received the disc after a web search and contacted the band to say he enjoyed the disc and would like to use 2 of our songs on his compilation record for Stryker Records. “Who U Wanna B’ and “Drop Dead Fred” appear on the Stryker Compilation Sept 2001. Honest Pod signs an investment deal with Stryker Records - Joe Phares to help cover recording costs for future sessions with Dale Penner. October ‘01 - Honest Pod spreads out and reaches some new ears with repeat shows at the infamous Rave club in Milwaukee. The band was asked to come back and open for newly signed artists SOIL on October 24th. The Rave has made plans to keep bringing the band back for performances to help them build a strong regional following. January ‘02 - Honest Pod takes a few months off of playing shows to work on material for future sessions with Dale. During this time the band is able to change the direction, steering more towards the rock-pop side of Honest Pod and focusing on a more simplistic sound for the next record. They will eventually write 15 tunes, 5 of which will be recorded by Dale in June 2002. June ‘02 - Dale Penner arrives in Decatur to record five new songs with Honest Pod. The first week is focused on pre-production @ the band’s studio with recording to take place later at the legendary Pogo Studios in Champaign, IL. (Mark Rubel-HUM). The process last about 2 weeks with mixing to be done in Toronto @ Vyner Road Studios in July 2003. December ‘02 - After a few remixes and additional editing, the band finishes their new record and prepares the music for mastering @ Mastermind in Milwaukee (Trevor Sadler). The first single - Vertigone - is aired on WQLZ and quickly rises to #1 on the program BANDEMONIUM 92.7 FM Springfield, IL. helping to build a buzz for the new disc due out in the spring of 2003. Vertigone will hold on to the top spot for the next 4 weeks. January ‘03 - Honest Pod performs at a special concert at the Lincoln Theater benefiting families of the Sept. 11 tragedy. The concert raises $3000 for families affected by the attack. Honest Pod donates their earnings to the cause and pledges to keep on giving throughout the year by donating portions of their show earnings CD sales. Jan - May ‘03 - The band prepares for the release of their second disc with shows around the Midwest, an appearance in the Chicago based television program - The Starving Musician, a 12 band, 2 stage CD release show in April, and various dates throughout the country. With a self-created buzz, expected increased sales of the next record, a local #1 song, constant touring, networking, and promotion, we hope to show the music industry that we are taking all the necessary steps towards a long and successful career in the business.

Group Members Shane Arden - Vox, Guitar Dan Cordray - Bass, Vox Ian Hoerr - Drums Jeremy Anderson - Guitar

Instruments Guitar(s), Bass, Drums, Vocals

Albums $200 Demo(ASCAP), HADTABOB(ASCAP), Seven On My Side(ASCAP)

Press Reviews NEWS—PROGRESS Wednesday, May 21, 2003 HONEST POD: BACK TO THE DAYS OF SONIC YOUTH, WITH A SMILE Rachael’s Room By Rachael Van Dyke I hung out in Decatur a while back with my friend Josie, and while I was there, I met this dude Ian, who I later found out was the drummer for a local band called Honest Pod. “Honest Pod? Hey, you guys played a show with my boyfriend’s band Soulmine before, didn’t you?” I asked. He got a big smile on his face and says, “Yeah, I think so.” We talked about music all night and early into the morning. I told him before I left that I’d check his band out. Well, it’s only been about six months now, but hey, better late than never, right? Honest Pod is Ian Hoerr - drums, Jeremy Anderson - lead guitar, Dan Cordray - bass, vocals and Shane Arden - lead vocals, guitar. They are a local four-piece (they got themselves a new guitarist, Jeremy) local ‘rock’ band from Decatur. Their new CD, Seven On My Side, is, well, actually a really good CD. I even listened to it at work and no one got mad! But first, I want to tell you a little bit about the guys of Honest Pod. When I first met Ian and found out he was drumming for a band, I almost instantly knew I would probably like the music he is a part of creating because of the manner in which this guy presented himself with and his knowledge and particular taste in music. He definitely seemed to be an individual, which is something I highly respect. Now for the band as a whole (I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the rest of the band members yet), they were awarded the 2000 B.E.A.M. Music Grant sponsored by Jim Beam for their efforts in helping to create a viable music community here in Central Illinois. What’s cool about this is that the Jim Beam Bourbon’s Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music (BEAM) awarded Honest Pod $1,800. Honest Pod was one of more than 200 bands and musicians who applied for BEAM grants, which are awarded three times a year. The band released their first disc, HADTABOB in February of 2000, which helped them build a local fan-base, radio play, numerous record reviews, as well as a production deal with Paradise Alley Productions. Seven On My Side, the new record from Honest Pod, was recorded, mixed and produced by Dale Penner (Nickelback, The Red King) for Paradise Alley Productions, Ltd. Honest Pod has also performed in cities across the Midwest, from Milwaukee to Houston, sharing the stage with national acts such as Mudvayne, Soil, V-Shape Mind, King’s X, The Pimps, and Enuff-z-Nuff and more local acts such as Taxi Ware Dance, Pork Chop Shifter, Clone, Lidlifter, Tubring, Stereotype and Soulmine. That alone is just something, if I were in their shoes, couldn’t help but being proud of. Now, about the album. The very beginning of the opening song, Vertigone, kind of reminds me of Tool’s Message From Harry Manback in English, then goes right into a guitar riff that for some reason again, reminds me of a 8 Stops 7 song. But don’t because it sparks a memory of another song by a totally different band, doesn’t mean Honest Pod’s music reflect these bands in any way. The next song and first single, Apathena, is just a good as the first one. I love the guitar parts and solo in this song. The song has very clean, melodic vocals, awesome drumbeats and beautiful guitar riffs. Another song, The Little Things, has some Candlebox sound to it but still stands as it’s own. The last part on The Little Things puzzles me though. Just as you think the song is over, here comes these unexpected fat rap beats that you would think Eminem got a hold of and put his own ‘signature’ sound on it. If Honest Pod wanted an eyebrow raiser with this, they got one, which I thought was a perfect touch. The last song, Saturn Return, is probably one of my favorite songs on this CD. The tune is sort of soft and slow, which I think is a perfect way to end a well put together album. This song has a lot of soul to it. I could definitely see myself driving my car and singing along with this tune, or sitting in my room memorizing every vocal attack that this guy’s breath has mustered. Most of these songs take me back in the day when I was 12, listening to Sponge, Sonic Youth, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Metallica and Everclear. So in other words, Honest Pod’s music takes me back to those days, which always puts a smile on my face. And though Honest Pod’s music is a little bit harder than some of these bands, they are a band on my list I definitely would keep my eye out for. The music - very honest (no pun intended), emotional, crisp, and clean with sooth vocals, awesome bass work, heavy guitar riffs and high-energy percussion. The best quality about this band is that they are not just another rip off band putting out material that people will stop and say to themselves “Haven’t I heard this same ole’ crap before?” They’re not a band that is going to create something that sounds the same as everything else out there, than have the nerve to say that they are “original”. Honest Pod has put together a very good and honest album that can evoke an emotion in anyone; two thumbs up! So, for those interested, Seven On My Side can be purchased at cdbaby.com and you can visit the Honest Pod website for more live show info, CD info and to download music samples at www.honestpod.com.

Additional Info CD's Available Online CD Baby.com

Location Decatur, IL. - USA

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