The Honeydogs perform in The Current studio (full session and interview)

The Honeydogs - Devices (Live on The Current)

The Honeydogs - Vermillion Billows (Shouldn't Take It So Hard) (Live on The Current)

The Honeydogs - Sandstorm (Live on The Current)

The Honeydogs, a roots-tinged rock group, are one of Minneapolis's most enduring bands. Vocalist/guitarist Adam Levy and bassist/vocalist Trent Norton were there at the Honeydogs' genesis in 1994, and 22 years later, they're joined by Matt Darling (trombone), Steve Kung (trumpet), Ryan Paul Plewacki (guitar/vocals), Peter Anderson (keys/piano), and Peter Sands (drums/percussion).

Because of their longevity, it means a lot to say that the Honeydogs have just released one of their best albums. 

 came out on April 15 of this year, and for the first time since 2012, the band stopped by The Current's studios to chat and perform a few songs.

Electric guitars, trumpets, and trombones have such strong voices that it's easy to let one overpower another, but the Honeydogs are skilled at creating a balance. In "Vermillion Billows (Shouldn't Take It So Hard)," guitar and trumpet mirror each other. Bellowing, listen-to-this-on-the-bank-of-a-creek guitars complement Levy's philosophical wonderings ("How can you dust yourself off in the middle of a sandstorm?") on "Sandstorm."

Levy is frontman of several other bands in the Twin Cities (And The Professors, Bunny Clogs, music under his own name, and more), but he wrote the songs of 

 with just the Honeydogs in mind. The group have been prolific in the studio for quite some time, and the trend continued for this album. Levy called it was "a five-day record," saying, "We tracked the record in five days."

On the key to the band's endurance, Levy noted, "People come and go — based on their lives or creative needs or whatever — but we've always managed to attract really great musicians." According to him, both the Honeydogs' back catalog and the chance to make new music draw artists to the band. On the current line-up, he said, "We love playing with each other."

Listen to the full in-studio to hear "Devices," "Vermillion Billows (Shouldn't Take It So Hard)," and "Sandstorm," plus conversation about telepathy, the nature of change and what goes into making great records.

"Vermillion Billows (Shouldn't Take It So Hard)"

Gallery

The Honeydogs perform live in The Current studio

The Honeydogs perform Beatles covers in The Current studio

The Honeydogs, official site

Andrea Swensson was a host and writer at Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, where she helmed The Local Show, a weekly show dedicated to exploring the Minnesota music scene, and the O.K. Show podcast, which investigated the intersection between music and wellness. 


Andrea Swensson

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The Honeydogs

Cecilia Johnson is a digital producer at The Current.

Digital Producer

Emmet Kowler

Cecilia Johnson

Ahead of their album release show, the Honeydogs stopped by The Current to perform live in-studio and to chat with Local Show host Andrea Swensson.


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