Artist description HoneyPot mixes one part funk, one part groove, and a dash of jazz fusion.Vˇ

Music Style Funk, Groove, Jazz Fusion

Musical Influences Zappa, Bootsy, Maceo, Monk

Similar Artists Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas...

Artist History April 1998:While chilling, studying his pre-med, and watching the beautiful women walk down Magazine St. in New Orleans, multi-talented musician Todd Washko spotted a flier on the bulletin board at Café Rue de la Course. It said "Keyboard Player Looking to Join/Form Band: Call Josh."Todd, at the time, (this was a bit before he decided to become full time doctor/part time entertainer) was playing in a band called "The Honey Pot Movement," consisting of himself on trumpet, Cracker Pete on sax, Leviticus an d Terry Jackson on vocals, John Dandry on the guitar, Gary Golus on drums, and Slick Willy Langford on bass.Todd called Josh, who was very much a full time school teacher, and told him to check out the band at Jimmy?s, a New Orleans institution for up-an d-coming local bands. Josh dug the show, grabbed a tape from Todd, which contained the songs Jemez and Empty Promises, and joined the band for their next show at the same venue.Cracker Pete begins to sport a Kid Rock sticker on his horn case.May ? October 1998:The Honey Pot Movement develops their sound and audience in such small New Orleans clubs as Jimmy?s, The Acadian Beer Garden, and The Dragons Den. Todd Washko, immersed in his studies, decides that saving lives is more his calling than music, and t hrows himself to the wolves of the Tulane Medical Center. Nuff respect to Todd.This is also the time of the now infamous Halloween Show at Jimmy?s where unbeknownst to the rest of New Orleans (due to various snafus), The Honey Pot Movement played with Al l That and New Orleans Juice to a crowd (if the term could even be used here) of about four.December 1998:HPM funks up the New Year at Checkpoint Charlie?s on Decatur Street in New Orleans. It must have been a combination of HPM?s music and the spirit of the moment that spurred on the numerous couples to "get it on" in the back room before The Honey Pot Movement?s set. Dave Sobel, who now plays with The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars, was behind the drum kit for HPM at the time. And The Atomic Thunk, wh ich remains one of New Orleans? coolest bands, opened the show.January ? June 1999:The Movement continues to throw down some wild jams, while helping to resurrect the music scene at the comfy Acadian Beer Garden. In April, HPM played at the decadent Tula ne Up All Night Party in the Mini Golf room, where they entertained the crowd who putted around and grooved while they were taking a break from the school sponsored porn movie which was showing on a continuous loop across the street at the McAllister Audi torium.July ? August 1999:After much deliberation, Leviticus decides to use his vocals to spread the gospel as opposed to the funk, and leaves the band. It is at this point that HPM began to develop their uniquely intricate instrumental arrangements.Josh manages to track down one of the coolest damn mofos in New Orleans: Ade, The Wizard, at Café Brasil, who gives the band a show at his club on Josh?s birthday. Ade immediately becomes a big fan of the band after the show and schedules HPM for more gigs l ater in the month. Perhaps it was because of the vocal, rowdy crowd (spearheaded by funkster Jesse Vogel) that came out to get their groove on. Jesse later hopped up on stage to deliver a spirited freestyle on the mic.September 1999:HPM dropped the "Mov ement" and became simply Honey Pot as they stepped up to the big time in New Orleans venues by jamming with Afroskull at The Howlin? Wolf. Friend and fan, Damon Metzner taped the whole show and the band released it as an independent disk titled "Dr. Deli ghts Rendezvous with the Wolf."Later in the month, the band rented a U-Haul, hopped into a friends car and drove up to Ames, Iowa to open up two sets for funk kings, Liquid Soul. On the way up to the show, in Marion Arkansas, HPM gets pulled ove r in a We ndy?s drive through for forgetting to pay for gas next door. The matter might have been easily rectified if Gary, who didn?t have a license, had not been driving at the time. Furthermore, they?re not too fond of having long-haired musicians from Ne w Orleans in Marion, and before long, the police chief and every cop in town showed up to cuff the band and search the car and U-Haul. One of the officers, ironically, was at the New Years Eve show at Checkpoint Charlie?s.There were no favors to be hande d out though, as paraphenelia was indeed found and the car and U-Haul were confiscated. Josh, Will, and John grabbed their instruments from the car, and were told to "Get out of our town!" (Southern Accent Implied). Gary was arrested.Josh, John, and Will walked to the nearest motel and begun trying to get their drummer out of jail. They contacted a bondsman, got Gary released, and the next day recovered their vehicle, which was thoroughly disheveled after the cops searched it. Amazingly, they didn?t even find the stash! The band quickly used up the unfound evidence, and got back on the road, pulling up to the club in Ames with just enough time to load in.The shows were phat indeed. As Liquid Soul proclaimed, "You guys blow most of the ba nds we play with out of the water!"The band managed to get a hold of a tape of the show, and released it as "Slim?s Bust." (If you can ever get a copy of this show, check out Soul Purpose and Shilo).The next day, HP stopped at a club called Rock Island t o check out some local music, but the band didn?t show up. Josh asked the club owner if they needed some music, and worked out a deal to play for beer.October 1999:Honey Pot hit the road again, this time going up to Denver to play Quixotes, Salt Lake Cit y for The De ad Goat Saloon, Des Moines for Rock Island, St. Louis for Cicero?s, and back down to Baton Rouge for Chelsey?s.For their show in Des Moines, HP fans who saw them play with Liquid Soul made the drive from Ames to experience the Honey Pot vibe. The next n ight HP sat in with their new friends from the Norm Stagger Band across the street at Club 308. The word was beginning to spread.November 1999:Honey Pot hooked up another show at The Howlin? Wolf, this time opening up for Strangefolk. John, however, was heading out of town at the time to visit his friend in Utah, and Gary wouldn?t be available either, which left Will and Josh scrambling to find folks to play with. Josh called Willie Green, who was (and is) the drummer for the Neville Brot hers, and Will called Rene Duforc, who was (and is) the guitar player for Iris May Tango. With Ade?s blessing, they got together and jammed at Café Brasil to warm up for the show, and later played the gig with Strangefolk.The chemistry and intensity at t he Wolf gig wa s palpable. Damon again recorded the whole thing and the tape is circulating around HP circles.Furthermore, the show layed the groundwork for the collaborations between Willie Green and Honey Pot, which are still strong to this day.Decembe r 1999:Still se arching for a regular drummer (Willie still had his gig with The Neville Brothers), Honey Pot booked another short tour, heading this time to Ames, Des Moines, St. Louis, and Kansas City.Before they headed out, Josh got a call from Kofi Ba ker (Ginger?s Son from Cream) who said he heard a live CD and was interested in the gig. The group drove up to Des Moines, where they met Kofi at Josh?s father?s home. There, they practiced for a couple of days and hit the road. Towards the end of the m onth, Honey Pot came back home to New Orleans to play a much anticipated show with Willie Green at the Maple Leaf.January 2000:Josh and John journeyed to Florida to pick up an RV that the band could use for touring. After a bit of confusion getting the titles transferre d, and a couple of days at the maintenance shop, they began the drive back to New Orleans. Not far past Orlando, however, the brakes failed while Josh was pulling up to a toll both. Josh and John managed to pull the RV off the road and get it towed to t he nearest shop. The next day, they got the RV fixed up and motored home just in time to pull up to the Maple Leaf where they were playing a gig with Willie. Local funk group Sweet Peas Revenge was just finishing their set as Josh and J ohn drove up.Later that week, HP played legendary New Orleans venue, Tipitinas, with the brass band, Egg Yolk Jubilee.February 2000:Will, while walking around in the French Quarter, heard Jeremy Pruitt singing and playing guitar. It just so happened that Jeremy didn?t hav e anywhere to be for the next month or so, so he decided he?d like to do some vocals with the band.It was time to hit the road again and Honey Pot drove up to Denver to meet Kofi Baker and practice at his father-in-laws restaurant. The band practiced eve ry night from about 11:00 to 4:00 till it was time to tour.They started off at The Dark Horse in Boulder, CO., and then swung by Quixote?s in Denver again. From there, it was off to the Dead Goat Saloon in Salt Lake City, and then, the highlight of the t our, a two night stay in Yellowstone National Park.If you?ve never been there during the winter, it?s quite an experience. No roads. The gear (and band members) were all transported by snowmobiles.From there, HP traveled to Lincoln, NE. to play at Knick erbockers. Then it was off to the Q-Bar in Iowa City, People?s in Ames, and Club 308 in Des Moines, IA. Once again Josh?s family proved to be gracious hosts.HP then stopped off in Lawrence, KS to play the Bottleneck and went to St. Louis, MO to open for Stir Fried at Cicero?s. Quite a thrill to play with that band. Cincinnati was next where HP jammed with Runaway Truck Ramp at the Barrel House, before heading down to Atlanta and Smiths Olde Bar. They concluded the trip with a me llow, yet soulful gig at Georgia?s, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.March 2000:Mardi Gras. Nuff said.April - May 2000:Honey Pot took a break from the road and hit the studio, calling on the expertise of engineer Buzzy Langford and producer Carlo Nuccio.They i nvited drummers Willie Green and Kofi Baker to record some tracks, and also brought in the Iguana?s bass player, Rene Coman. Alex McMurray from Royal Fingerbowl stopped in to record a tune, and Malcom Bruce (son of Jack Bruce from Cream) provided some gu itar work.With such an all star line up, HP was sure they had a killer disc. The band, however, wasn?t sure we would be able to capture their intricate live sound in the relatively sterile environment of the recording studio, but they proved themselves wrong.Aquasox was the result. We?re very proud of it.

Group Members Josh Gold: Keyboards Will Langford: BassMatt Taylor: DrumsDave Diamond: Guitarü

Instruments Keys, Bass, Drums, Guitar

Albums Aquasox

Press Reviews Pitch WeeklyDecember, 14, 1999Kansas City, MOSaturday, Dec.18HONEYPOTAt Davey?s UptownWhenever a band?s bio contains the phrase "a colorful hue of melodic and rhythmic soul satisfaction," it?s pretty much a guarantee that the group in question likes to ja m. For the less literally inclined, the photo is a dead giveaway. But it takes more than far-out slang and an aversion to barber shops for musicians to win over even the spaciest audience, and HoneyPot has all the rolling baselines, peppy percussion, a n d psychedelic guitar tricks that discerning Deadheads desire. It?ll be a long, strange trip for the bands? fans, who might get bad vibes at first from the talented but harder edged acts the Victor Stands and the Revolvers. However, it?ll be time to di ve into the underwater world of hypnotic groove when HoneyPot takes the stage.-Andrew MillerThe BottleneckFebruary 2000Lawrence, KSHONEYPOTCheck out this fine trippy jam band for an evening. From New Orleans, HoneyPot has put out two live recordings, and i s now taking their hypnotic fusion rock on the road. This is one of those up and coming bands, so come get your groove on. The kinetic jazz jams of Busy Signal open.Creative LoafingFebruary 2000Atlanta, GAHONEYPOTProudly flying the hippie jam band ba nne r, this pedigreed band of New Orleans all stars mix together jazz, funk, and psychedelic rock better than almost anybody around. Tight, loose, and tight again ? nothing explains it away like telepathy. Keyboardist Josh Gold is a standout among the ensem ble. Smith?s Olde Bar-TrammellBillboardApril 15, 2000The heart of the New Orleans sound is still roots music ? jazz, funk, rhythm and blues. Young bands are taking these roots genres in exciting new directions, finding initial support with college audie nces, releasing independent CDs and then hitting the road.Their ranks include Juice, a nouveau-funk band in the tradition of Galactic; Idletime, whose musicians flout a jazzier influence; Cronk, a unit that broke off from ling running brass/funk/hip-hop h ybrid All That; Quintology, a younger quintet that looks to be the next Astral Project; and HoneyPot and Afroskull, two more funk rooted bands.What Da FunkJuly 7th, 2000San Francisco, CAFirst, let me thank all those who came to share their warmth, and shake their notorious behinds in the Funk n? Jam House at the High Sierra Music Festival. I will be giving you a complete review of the festivities next week (when I have recovered). For now let me say that it was the best (Non New Orleans) music fe stival I have ever attended. My personal highlight was a 1.5 hour set on the radio station during the break before Dr. John, where I played tribute with New Orleans funk and jazz, explaining origins and generally edumocatin? One of the nice side-benefit s of this festival was a chance to reacquaint myself with an old friend; funk keyboardist (and Van Gogh?s Ear veteran) Josh Gold. Gold?s latest project, HoneyPot, is barnstorming around the country peddling funky acid jazz to anyone with soul. When I to ld him I could provide a small venue with loads of soul, they jumped at the chance to play for you. So this Thursday, HoneyPot will play Nickie?s for a while, then sit in on their various instruments, playing over my beats grooves, and loops. HoneyPot?s music is funky, groovy, organ-based acid jazz. It sounds a lot like Galactic, but is more song oriented. Rather than just trading solos over a central groove, the songs themselves are centered within the groove, reinforced by Gold?s classic organ play. They had different heroes than Galactic too. While Galactic stands on the shoulders of the Meters and Hot Chocolate, HoneyPot works the grounds of Dr. John, John Cleary, Jimmy McGriff, and Jimmy Smith. This is acid jazz the way your daddy used to dig it!-Rob ert KowalHigh Sierra Music Festival GuideQuincy, CAHONEYPOTNew Orleans musicians tend to have an uncanny, almost telepathic, ability to play off of one another and HoneyPot come to High Sierra from the Crescent City eager for us to sample their ta sty musi cal gumbo that mixes one part funk, one part groove, and 1/2 part jazz fusion. HoneyPot are constantly adding to their uncategorizable collage of musical bliss.What Da FunkAugust 2000San Francisco, CAFirst, I have to send out a word of thanks to HoneyPot, and the funky folks who came last week to watch them tear it up. It was the first time we have had a full funk band in Nickie?s and the results were nothing less than spectacular. Their live sound outdid my expectations, and they were a lot b etter tha n what existed on their CD. They were tight, groovy, and capable of explosive jams. We had a great time working over each others music, and I enjoyed dropping samples over their grooves. We also had a special guest appearance from Michael Myers of Tree O Frogs who blew his horny horn over the groovy HoneyPot backbeat. Thanks to HoneyPot for sharing some time and funk with us. I only hope they return to Nickie?s again someday. By the way, I taped the whole thing and will be contacting them for permis sion to dub copies for interested parties.-Robert KowalHeadJams.ComHigh Sierra Music Festival ReviewAfter a morning of Deep Banana and the Motet, I was in need of something to keep the funk going. I guess High Sierra was aware that this need would pop up among us, hence why they had the New Orleans band HoneyPot lay it down for us at the perfect time. This is a younger band that has a high drive and is forming quickly. They sure surprised me by the level of communication they had with each other. You can tell that the band listens to each other, that they get along, and are true friends. From the taste they left in my ears, I think they are on their way, for they have the ingredients.These younger bands like ALO, Tunji, Tree O Frogs, and HoneyPot ar e on their way. They are what this scene needs; young talent with good vibes, good people, and the kind of people supporting them that become part of the music as it?s created.-Seth WeinerHeadJams.ComThe latest band to come here to the mecca of Jamband m usic is a fantastic jazz and funk outfit out of New Orleans called HoneyPot.HoneyPot has recently left the comforts of home and are acquainting themselves with the national scene. They have just landed in the Boston area and are introducing New England t o their sound.You can check out samples of their album "Aquasox" at the Artist Listing section here at HeadJams.com. Or you can visit the downloads section and check out their track, Fountain Of Muse. That track has already become a favori te of the Head Jams visitors.-Phil SimonR

Location Boston, MA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).