{"id":37235,"date":"2017-10-30T10:45:04","date_gmt":"2017-10-30T14:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=37235"},"modified":"2017-10-30T10:45:07","modified_gmt":"2017-10-30T14:45:07","slug":"on-stage-santo-still-sweet-with-time-off-from-honeyhoney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=37235","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Santo still sweet with time off from HoneyHoney"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It would make sense if the opening act on October 30 Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com<\/a>) were called Honey.<\/p>\n

The opener for headliner Willie Watson is Suzanne Santo, who is one-half of the L.A.-based Americana band HoneyHoney.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need for HoneyHoney fans to worry that the band has broken up. HoneyHoney is still recording and touring. It\u2019s just that Santo is taking a break from the band and touring in support of her debut solo album \u201cRuby Red.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoneyHoney had been in the throes of its last record for a few years,\u201d said Santo, during a phone interview last week as she travelled from a gig in Washington, D.C. to a show in New York City.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe toured like crazy. We love our last album but it didn\u2019t do quite what we wanted. So, I needed time to do some recording on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRuby Red\u201d has rock and pop elements, influences of soul music and country music in its DNA. People might just call it \u201cAmericana\u201d but that tag doesn\u2019t do justice to the music on \u201cRuby Red.\u201d<\/p>\n

Produced by multi-platinum Grammy nominee Butch Walker (whose Los Angeles recording studio gives the album its name), \u201cRuby Red\u201d marks Santo\u2019s first release as a solo artist after more than a decade singing and playing banjo and violin with HoneyHoney.<\/p>\n

\u201cRuby Red\u201d is a moody, sexually-charged album filled with organic instruments, distorted fiddle, Walker\u2019s powerful electric guitar, and Santo\u2019s array of impressive vocal performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Butch a little while ago and played on his last record \u2018Stay Gold.\u2019,\u201d said Santo. \u201cI also toured with him in 2016 \u2013 playing instruments and adding vocals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked Butch if he wanted to produce my record. He said he did and gave me a time frame. I had a limited amount of time to get songs ready. The songs I took into the studio are the songs on the record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preparing for a solo record provided Santo with new challenges.<\/p>\n

According to Santo, \u201cI\u2019ve identified with a collaboration for so long that the thought of taking a leap into the depths of my own music and having no idea what that would look like, definitely came as a shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was getting lazy and not finishing the tasks at hand like I really wanted, deep down, to be able to do. Writing this record was bewitching in a way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to have songs that were finished, let alone good enough. I couldn\u2019t stop and I wrote all day every day to finish the songs I\u2019d started years ago as well as the few that presented themselves in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took long walks in my neighborhood and listened to demos on my cell phone and worked out lyrics. I would also wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas and would get up and write them down or record them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like the songs were seeping through the cracks of my mind and out of my mouth, without much of my consent. I think art is a channel, connected to something much greater than we are and I feel honored when it picks me from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santo and Walker knew they could work well together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album at Butch\u2019s studio Ruby Red last summer,\u201d said Santo, who is originally from Cleveland and now lives in the Silver Lake section of L.A.<\/p>\n

\u201cRuby Red is a beautiful studio with all vintage stuff. It also had natural light with glass doors. It was my favorite place to sing in.<\/p>\n

\u201cButch played most of the instruments and his doctor (Dr. Stephen Patt, as a former member of the Edgar Winter Group) played pedal steel. He\u2019d come in from his office still wearing his doctor\u2019s clothes. Butch and I did most of the overdubs ourselves<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with Butch, I learned that the studio vibe was so supportive and open \u2013 try this and, if it doesn\u2019t work, try something else.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t tense at all. I got to expand in a way that I had never dine before. The material is very raw so I was comfortable having that support.\u201d<\/p>\n

HoneyHoney is only on a brief hiatus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith HoneyHoney, absence makes the heart grow fonder,\u201d said Santo, who joined bandmate Ben Jaffe in the TBS television series \u201cThe Guest Book,\u201d which featured the two musicians in acting and musical roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were on \u2018The Guest Book\u2019 performing at the end of every show and it got picked up for Season Two. And, we are creating space on the 2018 calendar to work on new music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Suzanne Santo \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/cYnLXBwgW7Y<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Boot & Saddle, which has Willie Watson headlining, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

BONES<\/p><\/div>\n

BONES is a power-packed rock and roll band from London featuring two talented young musicians \u2013 Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg.<\/p>\n

They will be in the area for a pair of shows this week \u2013 October 31 at Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/a>) and November 1 at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

While this is their first tour of America, they have already wowed American audiences with their onstage musical prowess.<\/p>\n

BONES were co-writers on Jeff Beck\u2019s latest album \u201cLoud Hailer.\u201d \u00a0Last year, they were key members of British guitar legend\u2019s touring band for the album.<\/p>\n

Vandenberg tore it up on rhythm guitar while Bones handled vocal duties. Additionally, music by BONES has appeared on Netflix show \u201cOrange is the New Black,\u201d Amazon show \u201cTransparent,\u201d and a \u201cVictoria\u2019s Secret\u201d ad.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Carmen started the band in London about a year before we met Jeff,\u201d said Bones, during a phone interview last week. \u201cWe met at a blues bar in London.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarmen was playing and I was drinking. We decided to get together. I thought she was amazing. She\u2019s an incredible guitarist<\/p>\n

Buying two one-way tickets from London to LA, the female lead duo\u00a0BONES\u00a0has landed in America. Forging their own distinctive sound with the help of vicious guitars, provocative lyrics and industrial electronic drum and bass,\u00a0BONES is aiming to make a huge impact on modern music.
\nTheir latest release \u201cBeautiful is Boring\u201d is an anthem about\u00a0embracing your quirks and celebrating your\u00a0imperfections. The gritty video follows\u00a0them creating mass hysteria while playing at a nightclub, celebrating\u00a0all things imperfect and manifesting itself in adoration\u00a0from extreme fans.<\/p>\n

According to Bones, \u201cWe are so used to seeing girls screaming at boys in bands so we wanted to flip the gender roll. It\u2019s rewarding to see what it feels like from the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two found their musical chemistry quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just played rock and roll,\u201d said Bones. \u201cShe was playing riffs and I\u2019d throw back ideas. I also play guitar and we both play guitar onstage. She plays lead and I do rhythm. I sing and she does some background vocals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vandenberg and Bones write all their own music.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur inspirations for songs are things we\u2019re thinking about,\u201d said Bones. \u201cThe songs come all different ways \u2013 soemtine4s a lyric idea and other times something in guitar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve only put out two tracks so far \u2013 \u2018Pretty Waste\u2019 and \u2018Beautiful Is Boring\u2019 \u2013 but we have started working on an album. We\u2019re writing all the time. When it\u2019s time to record, we don\u2019t use studios \u2013 we record at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we call our music is modern rock for the future \u2013 electronic elements with blues influence. Carmen is very influenced by the blues.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are starting to become aware of us. We\u2019ve already recorded most of the songs we play onstage. We just play and the audience seems to like what we\u2019re doing. We enjoy surprising people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for BONES — https:\/\/youtu.be\/g50cXs4bml4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BONES is the opening act on Highly Suspect\u2019s national tour. The show at the Chameleon will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. The show at Union Transfer will start at 7:30 p.m. with tickets priced at $25.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Secret Stuff<\/p><\/div>\n

Secret Stuff isn\u2019t so secret anymore.<\/p>\n

Secret Stuff is an emo\/alternative band from Tennessee. The Nashville-based band has been making good music for several years and steadily building its fanbase.<\/p>\n

On November 1, Secret Stuff will return to the area for a show at Everybody Hits Philadelphia (529 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-769-7500,http:\/\/everybodyhitsphila.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Secret Stuff — Michael Pfohl, Nathan Childers, and Alexander Gonser \u2013 released two EPs in 2016. The record releases \u2013 both on Spartan Records \u2013 were \u201cThis Is Fine\u201d in January and \u201cEw, You Taste Like Cigarettes\u201d on a split EP with Sundressed in July.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve played Philly about six times,\u201d said Pfohl, during a phone interview last week from his home in Nashville.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis tour started on October 17 with a home show in Nashville on October 24. This is an unexpected layover in Nashville. There was van trouble and we had to drop two shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cWe\u201d Pfohl referred to is he and the members of the band Save Face.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, I\u2019m riding with Save Face,\u201d said Pfohl. \u201cOn this tour, Secret Stuff is just me because the other two guys were unavailable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been a band for just over four years \u2013 just after Feather Oars broke up. I was in that band and the other members decided they didn\u2019t want to play anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to school here at Belmont University and I told a friend that I wanted to do a solo album. He said he wanted to play guitar with me. Another guy offered to play guitar and then a drummer and a bass player came.\u201d<\/p>\n

That started Secret Stuff\u2019s evolutionary process.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we\u2019re a trio and I\u2019m the only original member left. I\u2019ve had the current line-up since January after having a rotating cast for several tours.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got an offer to play a couple shows with Darktown,\u201d said Pfohl. \u201cI asked these two guys to play with me (Childers and Gonser) and it was magic from the start. We started writing songs together immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a long wait, Secret Stuff fans will soon have an album by the band to listen to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a whole album ready,\u201d said Pfohl. \u201cI just finished making the demos with them. We\u2019ll be going into the studio in January. We\u2019re going to North Jersey to record the album at Barbershop Studio in Hopatcong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Secret Stuff \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/finEdG4YKgg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Everybody Hits Philadelphia, which also features Harmony Woods, Brackish and Save Face, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times It would make sense if the opening act on October 30 Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com) were called Honey. The opener for headliner Willie Watson is Suzanne Santo, who is one-half of the L.A.-based Americana band HoneyHoney. There\u2019s no need for HoneyHoney fans […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[10571,7426,10570,10569],"class_list":["post-37235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-bones","tag-featured","tag-secret-stuff","tag-suzanna-santo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37236,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37235\/revisions\/37236"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}