Honky
House of Good Tires
Hall Of Records
Black Sabbath must reign supreme in the Texas highlands. Austin’s Honky have recently released their powerhouse third full-length CD, replete with all the heavy riffs and house thumping bass of Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, respectively. But thankfully, this Texas trio doesn’t take themselves seriously. The comic overtones of “Don’t Shoot Baby I Love You,” “Your Bottom’s at the Top of My List,” and “I Might Just Shoot Somebody” make the music enjoyable on many levels.
First of all, it’s just good to know heavy rock n’ roll is still being made without the annoying intrusion of rapped lyrics or sampled song bits. Honky is straight hardcore rock with lots of distortion on the guitar and bass notes guaranteed to knock your pictures off the wall. Bass player Jeff Pinkus is formerly of The Butthole Surfers, but the five years playing in Honky has successfully distanced him from the experimental spitting and noise of that Austin band. Guitarist Bobby Langraf just joined the band during the recording of the CD, and his fast driving riffs and gravelly voice are welcome here.
Second, the lyrics are a hoot to listen to. Proof that making music can still be fun, and everything doesn’t have to sound like the formula material one hears on the radio these days. “I got some lipstick on my jeans/I smell like perfume and gasoline/I don’t know where I went/All I know all my money’s spent/baby don’t shoot I love you,” the singer pleads in a voice so rough it’s almost a threat. “What you got underneath I cannot resist/Baby your bottom’s at the top of my list.” These guys aren’t looking for Grammys, and they don’t care. With Jeff, Bobby, and drummer Lance Farley all singing, the songs almost have harmonies. What they do achieve is a proper slap in the face to what passes as “decent radio material” these days (quotes are my own).
Honky recently showcased during South By Southwest. It’s doubtful that any big time record executive type will be signing this band soon, but I’m sure that’s fine with the fans. There is much to celebrate in House of Good Tires.
Hall Of Records, PO Box 69281, West Hollywood, CA 90069; http://www.HORmusic.com
