HONNEYCOMBS
Songwriter Carrie Newcomer, who wrote "Should Have Known Better" on Nickel Creek's Grammy winning album This Side, has this to say about Honneycombs: "I love Honneycombs - I really do. April and James Combs' new collaboration is poignant and powerful, whimsical and beautiful. It grooves like crazy and is fearlessly original. April's voice has a heartbreaking vulnerability but she can sing powerfully out into the world in a way that most vocalists can only dream of doing. James' musical sensibilities are solidly original, compelling and absolutely delightful. The third Honneycomb, Laurie Burnham, contributes her own unique vocals into the mix, another shimmering layer of elegance."
BIO
Siblings April Combs and James Combs (formerly of the band Arson Garden) are the creative forces behind the striking new band Honneycombs (two n’s). Dedicated to elaborate and imaginative harmony singing, the band establishes its style on “Rite Of Spring”, the first track of their self-titled debut album. The song starts as a country stomp, then suddenly careens into dreamy Beach-Boys-world, makes a stop in New Orleans, and ends in a Syd-Barrett-era Pink Floyd psychedelic harmony dream, complete with backwards guitar. The band goes on to explore a range of rock and folk terrain - from the reverb-drenched lonely folk meditations of “Fleeting” and “Little Moon”, to the cracked bluesy Dylan-ish “The Truth And Mrs. Anthony”, to the Who-inspired “When The Going Gets Sad”, to the 30’s-flavored romp “Live A Little”. Third harmony singer Laurie Burnham provides the epoxy that holds the whole operation together.
In the fall of 2009, Honneycombs signed to Elgin Park Recordings, the boutique label of producer/composer Michael Andrews. Mike is best known for his production work with Inara George, Metric, and Gary Jules, as well as his singular soundtracks for great indie films like “Me and You and Everyone We Know” and “Donnie Darko” (he’s the man behind that ubiquitous cover of Tears For Fears’ “Mad World.”)
Honneycombs’ music has been getting airplay on domestic radio stations (including highly influential radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, CA) and was featured in the pilot of the new hit TV show “Men Of A Certain Age”, starring Ray Romano.
James and April’s ex-band Arson Garden was considered one of the best and brightest midwestern alt-art-rock bands of the 90’s - championed by British DJ John Peel (who invited them to do a Peel Session for his BBC1 radio show). The band went on to play the Lollapalooza festival, had their videos aired on MTV’s 120 Minutes, and were called by the Chicago Reader “perhaps the only art-rock band in America that matters.”
James’ solo material has been featured in high profile TV shows such as True Blood, Six Feet Under, Entourage, Men in Trees, Gossip Girl and many others.
Produced by John Would (Fiona Apple, Lucinda Williams) and James Combs, the HONNEYCOMBS debut collection is a deep, rich, wild ride - keeping the focus on harmony every step of the way.
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John Would, Jamie Mayer, Karen Combs, Mike Andrews, Steve Kaye, Gary Calamar, Alyson Vidoli, Chris Douridas, Staci Valentine, Douglas Axtell, Wyatt, Libby Kauper, Kim Roberson, Michael Hawley, David Everitt, Kelly De Martino, Matt Hergert, Linda Good, Willie Aron, Joey Peters, Probyn Gregory, Katie Emery, Jon Emery, Lee Williams, Jim Manion, WFHB, KCRW, WNKU, Peter Lopilato, Paul Sturm, Carrie Newcomer, Robert Meitus, David Weber, Krista Detor, John Strohm,
Jeb Banner, PJ Christie, Musical Family Tree, Michael, Mia and Lyla Mann, Gina Weathersby, Will and Sam Burnham, Mom and the whole Lehrter family, the Combs family, the Mann family... thank you very kindly.
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