The Honkeys were: Jefferey Positive, six-string reverb, hand-held drink mixer specialist, and walker of the spinning yo-yo dog; Cullen "Stab" McGrane, 4-string reverb, wookie stoicism; Jovian Kind, drums, percussion, laughter; and Micah Edge, Organs and Synthesizer. Later, Dave Devine (of The Cripplers) replaced Jovian on drums. Former members included Aaron Thomas, John Pitts, Josh "Jello" Pitts, Bill Wittkoetter, and Chris Lawrence. The band was managed by Kopper and Becky McGrane. The Saltines (our go-go dancers) were Sarah Rutherford, Audra, Catherine Browne and Jessi Cerutti.
Influences
Classic instrumental artists such as The Ventures, Davie Allan & The Arrows, The Trashmen, Link Wray, Dick Dale, The New Dimensions, The Pyramids, The Lively Ones, The Astronauts, as well as such modern surf/instrumental acts as Satan's Pilgrims, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, The Bomboras, The Tiki Tones, Los Straitjackets, The Untamed Youth, The Phantom Surfers, and, of course, Man or Astro-Man?!
The Honkeys date back to sometime in 1996, the year a group of bored high school musician friends bumped heads in a suburban St. Louis basement and, after rubbing the feeling back into their skulls, decided to form a rock'n'roll band. With respect to what William Tecumsah Sherman did to the state of Georgia and what Marcel Duchamp did to modern art, The Honkeys decided to do to rock'n'roll, and bagan to pick at its crusty scab, hoping to both cause further infection and leave a very noticeable, permanent scar. The Honkeys experimented for a while as an instrumental noise band, but soon realized that if they were really going to make it work, they had better tighten up their sound. They did this by downsizing their lineup from nine people to four. And, inspired by their love of '60s go-go movies, reverb, chili, yo-yos, and the occasional professional wrestling match, they molded their noise into a groovy modern interpretation of instrumental surf music that is both unmistakable and unforgettable. And while they remain overwhelmingly uninterested in the banal predictability of the jam band resurgence or in the generic mind-numbing malaise of modern rock or alternative music, The Honkeys don't find rock'n'roll's original language to be exhausted. They are faithful to their instruments' traditional vocabularies as they strive to create the instrumental sound of NOW; contemporary in attitude, fresh and exciting in execution.
The Honkeys disbanded shortly after their Tequila Mockingbird CD was released by Golly Gee Records. There is, however, a distinct possibility they may play a reunion show at some point in the future...
I think a “Prom Night” theme was the perfect setting for the hullabaloo that transpired on Cinco de Mayo 2007. For most of us prom night was many years ago as was the last time The Honkeys got together for a wild rumpus. Without missing a beat the boys took us back to those nights many years ago standing in a smoke filled dive bar sharing sweat with creatures from every walks of life. All for the love of the surf beat that fills your head full of songs you can’t sing in the shower the next morning.
It was a costume party although I think the honkeys might have been a little confused as to the concept. Cullen’s drunken Popeye costume was a little lacking, as was Micah’s john candy from “The Great Outdoors”. Valiant effort boys but just a little short of the prom night theme. On the other Jovian’s Jack Black costume was dead on to the point of creepy. Jeff’s Jerry Lewis in “The Nutty Professor” doing the pee pee dance costume quite an eyesore and he should really be ashamed of himself.
All in all it was a great time. Thanks for having us. Keep up the great work.
Aloha Honkeys
Scary wild sound you got there! Hope you guys reunite one day!
thanks for being our friend! Yours, Mike Barbwire
The Barbwires
Hot exotic surf from the land of cold and darkness
Upcoming California 2007 Shows
Mar 22 2007 Clint Beachwood Surf Music Radio Show (live), San Diego
Mar 22 2007 The Tower Bar with Monsters from Mars and Mr Neutron, San Diego
Mar 23 2007 The Blank Club with Pollo Del Mar, Mr Neutron, The Pyronauts, San José
Mar 24 2007 Axle's Pre Viva Las Vegas show 2007 with James Intveld, Riverside
Mar 25 2007 Purple Orchid Tiki Bar with The Insect Surfers and Mr Neutron, El Segundo
Welcome to our circle of friends and to the birthplace of trailer park rock. Where everyday is a holiday and on Wednesdays we play nude volleyball! New tracks uploaded from our soon to be released studio cd. Check em out! Don’t miss out on the good times, party down Trailer Park Kings Style! Our Live, 2006 Trailer Park Tour CD is now available for purchase on our page. Twelve classic Trailer Park Kings cuts, just under 60 minutes of kick-ass music for 8 bucks! Now folks, thats a lot of entertainment for less than it usually costs you to puke on a Saturday night!
Yes, it's Long Island's Surf Band keeping the sounds of the Beach fresh in December! We will not only be playing Long Island Surf Rock & Roll but we will be displaying Art work by our fans and members of the band made just for this show. Our call for artists to design posters was a big hit on mySpace and we have some of them on display there as well! Come on down and get your surf, gaze at some art & may the surf be with you... always.
The Vintage Lounge
58 Gardiners Ave
Levittown NY
STRANGE BUT SURF
http://www.strangebutsurf.com
http://www.myspace.com/strangebutsurf
Click the flyer for more info and to RSVP
