A Friend In Need Is A Friend With Jumper Leads

Sharing and giving and having and receiving.

Obligatory Friends reference.

I'm sure all of you have had to ask a favour of a family member, friend or stranger. When you ask in a polite, non obtrusive manner, whoever you have asked will generally help you out (unless they are a dick, or genuinely can't help). Asking for help is something a lot of people struggle with. No one likes to be vulnerable. The fear of hearing 'no' is always there, the fear of failure and rejection will always rear its ugly head.

Today the subject of the HB blog is asking. Specifically, is it ok for an artist (by that I mean musician/writer/performer/visual artist etc) to ask for financial help to further their art/career.

I know I probably harp on about her a bit, but this is something EVERYONE should see. This is what I hope to be the future of the music biz. Amanda Palmer's talk 'The Art of Asking' at the TED conference in California last week was inspiring and full of hope for the young buck musicians like your friends at Honeybone. The speech has gone viral.

Please watch it, its 10 or so minutes of awesomeness. Even if you dislike her music, she's one hell of a public speaker.

If the above video doesn't work, here is the youtube link

The basic gist is: the question isn't how do we make people pay for music, how do we LET them pay for music. In 2012, Amanda Palmer made global headlines by raising almost 1.2 million dollars (US) through crowd funding website Kickstarter for her new album 'Theatre Is Evil'. About 25,000 people backed the project, including yours truly.

Crowd funding has opened up an entirely new way to distribute and pay for music. Amanda (we're on first name basis now she's retweeted me) used the Kickstarter as a kind of preorder for the album, with rewards ranging from $1 digital downloads to an artbook, vinyl packages, 'mailbox invasion' art packages and the list goes on. That's right, we could CHOOSE how much we wanted to pay for her music. And you still can on her bandcamp. And you can on ours.

By not having a hard sticker price on our music, both Amanda Palmer and us kids at Honeybone have found that people have an overwhelming streak of generosity when they are given the CHOICE to pay for something or not. When we put our single 'Don't Need You' up on our bandcamp, we made it a 'pay what you want' option. We knew we wouldn't get many downloads if we made it a set price, so we decided it should be free. And guess what? People paid for it! Mostly they were our mates, but one lovely lady whom I have never physically met paid for it, purely on the basis of the music. And that feels good. Because we didn't MAKE her.

Think of that feeling you get when you give your last $2 coin to an awesome busker or street performer. Knowing the money goes directly to them makes you feel a bit good, doesn't it? No one's making you pay. So is it shameful that they are on the street, performing for passersby and loose change?

Amanda Palmer says her days as a Living Statue in Harvard Square, Boston taught her a lot about being a professional musician. Especially how to deal with the people that did and still do yell at her 'Get a job!!' from their cars/computer screens. She copped a lot of criticism for raising so much money on Kickstarter, and then asking her fans to come play onstage with her for tickets and beer and hugs. People thought now she's a 'rich rockstar', she should pay everyone who plays. Which is a fair enough point, to the people that don't know the relationship she has with her fans. She connects with them directly, through her blog, Twitter and her shows. She asked them to help her, and they did. Because she helped them. In so many ways.

An illutration form of Amanda's talk for those of you on the go.  By  Fever Picture

So Honeybone had a crisis (in my opinion, I was FREAKING OUT) on Saturday night. We had a gig and oops, we left the van lights on. Classic error. Everyone does it once. Not many will do it twice. My mind was running over the possible solutions. We didn't need to take drums or a bass amp, so we could get a taxi? Shit, Drew's massive amp cab is in the van, parked 5 blocks away, not exactly feasible for a taxi (that may or may not show up). We had a battery charger, but there wasn't enough time to charge it up before the gig. And we don't have jumper leads. Fail.

Thus I proceeded to the depths of my phone contacts, feverishly scrolling, trying to remember who has a car, who would be home and who would have jumper leads. Enter drum extraordinaire and vintage radio collector Tom Hendry. What a champ. I called him up and ten minutes later he was jump starting our van. I asked for help and he helped us. Of course, he's an awesome guy so it's not a huge surprise he came and helped, but it's still fucking great. His band is called Son of Set, and they're playing tomorrow night at the Vineyard. You should go see them, they are awesome. We got to the gig a sneaky 5 minutes before we were supposed to start. Luckily the boys from headliner Cotangent (one of the best freaking bands in Melbourne) didn't mind in the slightest. And we played. And it rocked. And everything rocked.

Said rockage. Photo by Heath Gillespie of Cotangent

We wouldn't have been able to play the gig if it hadn't been for Tom. Amanda Palmer wouldn't have been able to release her album if it wasn't for her fans. One example is small, and one is on a scale I can't even comprehend. But both have the same basic principle. Ask and you shall receive. Be a good person and you will receive goodness.

Asking for help, or monetary remuneration for artistic services shouldn't be seen as begging. Busking isn't begging. Playing gigs isn't begging. Crowd funding isn't begging. Let's stop thinking of it as begging. Let's think of it as what Amanda Palmer would think. ASKING.

And also we should all probably think about investing in a nice set of jumper leads.

X

Sunday is a day for a blog post.

Currently I am sitting on our Cowch (a sofa with cow print, it's as awesome as it sounds), listening to Drew mix 'Edge of The Sun' after we finally finished recording all the vocals. And my oh my, it's sounding pretty nice. So I thought I should probably do something productive. Why not update the blog with what we've been up to in the last two weeks, I thought to myself. And yes, that's what I'll do.

Amazing Cowch

We've played a couple of gigs, recorded some stuff, had some band practices. It's been a busy couple of weeks. And this next week coming up is even busier, with Peter's 'season' of concerts (he's going to an average of one a week for the next six weeks I think) and SOUNDWAVE! I'm really very excited, as I'm a bogan from way back and finally get to see Metallica, who have been on my bucket list since I learnt 'Enter Sandman' on drums when I was 14. And I missed out on tickets when they came down under last time so I owe it to my 14 year old self. Plus I'm a bogan. I'm gonna headbang the shit out of Soundwave. If I could, I would grow a Handle Bar moustache. But as I am a woman, I'll have to settle for a makeshift mullet and Metallica tshirt (black of course).

Bogane Chic

On Valentines Day we played a gig on Sydney Road. It was fun, our mates got their own special private show, as the other bands we played with decided not to watch our set, and took their crowd outside to listen to the DJ that was playing out there. It was a pretty loose set, there wasn't a lot of foldback and I didn't have time to set my drums up properly (and I played badly).  I decided it was a good thing no one watched us, and we got paid (which was funny cause all our mates got in for free so I don't know who's money that was). There was also one girl watching who I didn't know who caught the whole set, and got a download card afterwards. Whoever you are, random girl from that night, you are cool. All it takes is one person to come up afterwards and say they liked it, and everything seems a bit better. It's a shame that none of the other bands even came in for one song, especially as the first band were talking about 'supporting local music' all throughout their set. That's not really a good attitude to have. They were a good band though. But if musicians aren't supporting their fellow musicians, what else do we have?

On Friday we played the Valleyarm Showcase at the Vineyard in St. Kilda. And what a turn around from our last gig! The place was packed, all the bands were awesome and supportive, and Honeybone were tight.
We gave away 24 copies our newly printed single (more on that later), with the help of Ashleigh and Rory from Valleyarm. I cannot emphasise how awesome the guys from Valleyarm are, they were so helpful in getting everything organised (they even brought us drinks). If you or anyone you know get asked to play at this monthly gig at the Vineyard, do it. Very lovely, helpful people. Valleyarm Distribution are an digital music distribution company, who distribute to 200 online music stores, and they also do publishing and online marketing too. Check them out here.

Here's a picture of Drew from the gig. Badass.

One of the bands that played at the gig were amazing. Their name is The Ugly Kings, and they are a three piece (drums, two guitars) who play dirty garage rock. And their drummer is the vocalist. Awesome. Their facebook page is here, go and click on that 'like' button.

As I mentioned before, we now have physical copies of our single 'Don't Need You' We also chucked 'All My Sins' and 'Soul On Fire' on there from the Soul On Fire EP, for the people who haven't heard the old stuff.

Since we're not rich people, we decided to do a stripped down version of the original single design, and make the CD covers ourselves. So last Saturday night was spent folding (and folding and folding) paper CD cases.

And we also had tea. Because tea.

They turned out really well, so if anyone wants to do this themselves, here is the link to the website that taught me this wonderful skill. Step 5 was a bit tricky to start with but I got there in the end. We printed the artwork (see top of picture) on gloss paper, so it looks pretty professional. And if you can afford colour print it would look even better (it was going to cost $80 for 100 colour prints so we went black and white). We got the CDs printed and duplicated at Implant Media on Lygon Street who do lots of cool affordable cd/merch/vinyl printing and replicating/duplicating. We at Honeybone recommend their services.

So now that we have physical copies of the single, come down to our next gig and get one! They're free and handmade with love by yours truly. Our next gig is on Saturday 2nd March at the Dancing Dog in Footscray. Keep an eye out on our Facebook for more details.

Love
xxx

New Live Releases!

Hello friends

Today we released the live recordings from our very last gig in Dunedin, New Zealand. Recorded at XII Below by master of sound Iain Sweetman of Livesound Engineering, these are the first live recordings we have received EVER that sound great AND the playing of instruments isn't abominable.

You can download the bunch for free (or you can name a price, up to you. We recommend FREE) here:

http://honeybone.bandcamp.com/

Tell your friends, your mother, your baby and your cat. Share that link with everyone you can, because who doesn't like free stuff?!

For all my new readers, here is a blog I wrote about the gig itself:  

http://honeyboneandlife.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/fare-thee-well-dunedin-gig.html

The night was awesome, we had a huge jam at the end of our set with our wicked cool friends Kitten Surprise and we played Rockin' In The Free World by Neil Young (sadly we couldn't release that one as the license fees were a touch pricey). 

Here's a photo from the night:

Drew had SHORT HAIR

Have another:

Us kiwis sure know how to pash a guitar

It was one of our more unforgettable gigs, and we're forever thankful for all of you who came down and gave us your support. We'll be back one day Dunedin.

Anywho, onwards and upwards. On Saturday we played a gig at the Empress Hotel across the road from our flat. We drove our gear there. We are lazy (except Peter who carried his. Manly). We didn't get thrown out for being too raucous and loud-like, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun. Our mates came down, we made some cash at the end of the night, it was all rather swell. I didn't play so great, so now I endeavour to practise more and play better. No one likes a shitty drummer. Let's face it, no one really likes drummers.

What you all secretly think when we sit down at a drum kit

We've got some gigs coming up, 22nd of February at The Vineyard in St. Kilda and March 2nd at the Dancing Dog in Footscray. More details TBA.

So go download our music off bandcamp (here's that link again http://www.honeybone.bandcamp.com) and tell EVERYONE. The kids'll LOVE you for it.

This is a joke only a limited few people (New Zealanders) may or may not get.

Love to all xxx

A New Year

Well hello there my friends!

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season! Us kids in the Honeybone camp had a great time, Drew's sister and Mum and Grandma came to visit, Peter hung out with his sister and I drowned my sorrows in Lindauer (NZ wine ftw) to stave off the homesickness. It was a pretty top notch holiday season had all round, made all the more raucous thanks to our very first Australian New Year, jello shots and all.

Things have been busy as bees in the Honeybone House. We've already played this year at a great venue by the name of Bar Open with some great bands including Son of Set, whose drummer Tom sat next to me at my office job for a small while. Everyone were great, and there was even a mirror on the roof so everyone could see my mad drum skillz (too bad I didn't wear a lowcut top). I also broke a drumstick (badass) and didn't have a spare one. Rock 'n' roll indeed.

While still getting over the starstroke (starstrike?) of hanging out with The Datsuns last month (see last blog), we've been getting our shit together. This even included having a meeting about getting our shit together. Productive indeed. Our amazing business manager Ash sussed us  an ABN, so we can invoice people when we play, so now we also have to be all responsible and pay taxes. Honeybone is now all Grown Up. We've been doing heaps of overdubs for the album, and are on the lookout for recording studios to get the other 5 tracks recorded. If anyone knows somewhere good/affordable, let us know and we'll... I don't know.... bake you a cake or something. I can bake stuff because I am a Woman and Good At Life.

Upcoming in the Honeybone camp is a gig this weekend, playing at the wonderful venue Empress Hotel. The great part about playing here is that it's RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD from our house. Convenient! What may not be so convenient is that when I emailed their booker for a gig a few months ago, they knocked me back because we 'looked too loud'. I have a feeling it has something to do with this picture we had recently posted on our facebook:

They ALL go to 11!

They have a limit of 100 decibels, as they are in a residential area, so hopefully the boys control their toys.

(By the way I wasn't being sarcastic about this venue being wonderful, we've had some great nights there, it being our local and all).

We're playing with some great bands (headliners are City Sound) and we're on at 9pm, nice and early if you have to head to a party or something else like that (I don't really know... whatever normal people do on a Saturday night), so you can still catch our set. It's $6 entry also. Nice and cheap for all those on a budget.

We also had our first experience of Australia Day this last weekend, and I think I'm still recovering (nb. more jello shots were had). Here's a cute wee pic Tash the Jello Shot Queen took of us.

The Aussies put an Australian Flag on Drews forehead.

Rightyho Joe it's time to practice our slightly quieter set for Saturday.

See yas there peeps
xxx

Happy Holidays from Honeybone

Hey guys

The time of year has come to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. We've been rather busy in the Honeybone camp, with two of our fav bands playing within one week of each other, we're a bit worse for wear. Not too tired to write an entertaining blog however. Lucky for you.

On Friday, 14th Dec we headed down to the Espy in St. Kilda to see Shihad rock the Gershwin Room. This was the first gig we've been to there (apart from playing there ourselves), and the Espy really lived up to it's reputation. One thing I was quite excited/shocked to see when we arrived was the lack of crowd barriers before the stage. This was the first Shihad gig I'd been to (and I've been to about 7 or 8 now) where I was being pushed right up onto the stage and hanging onto the foldbacks so I didn't lose my place. Fucking awesome. Shihad rocked, and they played 20 songs (I know, because I got the bass player's setlist). My knees got all kinds of banged up, and I shook Karl and Jon's hands. No biggie.

That's Karl the bass player behind Drew.

We took another week to recover, then went back down to the Espy to see THE DATSUNS (one of our main influences and fav bands eva) play for FREE two nights in a row in the front bar. Wicked awesome tastic gigs they were indeed. On the first night, some guy tried to take my place in the front and I ended up ripping his shirt in two to get my place back. Sorry bro, if you're reading, but I'm like some crazy bitch when someone tries to take my spot. Don't, you know, mess with me, or whatever.

Drew brought his 'Death Rattle Fuzz' pedal along to the show on Thursday (which is a custom pedal made by Christian, gat player for Datsuns, it's the same fuzz they used on the new album) and was hoping to get it signed. We hung out for a bit after the show then casually walked up the stairs into the band's green room.

Drew and Dolf - lead vox and bass

Dolf and myself. Best pic ever in my opinion.

We got our stuff signed and had a wee chat, it was pretty cool. The next night (after about 2 hours sleep) we headed back down to St. Kilda to do it again. The Datsuns played amazingly again (even though half of them had food poisoning), and the crowd was incredible. I didn't stay up the front again, my poor knees couldn't handle the jandle and I didn't want to ruin another guys shirt. I snuck round the side and I had this awesome view:

Spot Drew

These two Datsun's gigs and the Shihad one were probably the best gigs I've been to all year. What a way to end 2012.

From all of us here at Honeybone, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Night of Idgaff (where everyone gave a flying..)

Thursday night the 22nd of November was EPIC!

We played at Idgaff bar, which I'm sure you all know is an acronym for 'I Don't Give A Flying Fuck', or my other favourite 'I Drink Goon And French Fries'. It's either one or the another...

The venue was dirty, the crowd was drunk and all the bands were wicked cool. We had Polygasm and The Naysayers on the bill with us, and they were both incred. Please check these two bands out, they are both destined for greatness. Polygasm also did a mega-jam and got their mates get up and play (they even did a drummer-swap) and Drew got to jam with them. So. Much. Fun.

Drew jams

Polygasm's facebook is here.

The Naysayers facebook is here

Check em out mother'uckers.

We finally remembered to bring the t-shirts we printed last year to the gig, and half-way through our set I dumped them on the front of the stage and watched the crowd go nuts for free t-shirts. Everyone immediately put them on, and suddenly we had a Honeybone Army. It was probably the coolest moment in Honeybone's career.

Totes Amaze, Kels^

We even got paid. Which was nice, and slightly unexpected. Oh yeah, and I did a drum solo, which was okay too.

We also unveiled a new song that I wrote a few weeks ago. I don't often write for Honeybone, so it was very cool when we pulled it off. The song is called 'Talk Back Baby' and is a duet between Drew and I, basically having a fight onstage. Unfortunately I still have to play drums so we can't make the fight physical, but it's still a cool song. Who knows, we may play it again at our next gig...


Which is:

23 Angles of Attack and Honeybone at the ROCHESTER CASTLE! Our good mate Tash's favourite watering hole, the Rochy is a perfect blend of $5 shots, hipstery cool kids and good tunes. We went there one Friday night and if you took a photo of the dance floor, it would have seemed like any other bar. Except they were dancing to Nine Inch Nails, the Rolling Stones and Joy Division.

It's this coming Thursday the 29th of November, come on down for a good time!

Facebook event is here

xxx

Competition!!!

Hey guys

We posted this on our facebook page the other day, but I thought I would make it just that extra bit more official and post a blog.

As you might know, we have a gig on Thursday night at Idgaff Bar on Hoddle Street. The lineup is sussed (Naysayers and Polygasm), the sound guy is booked and the posters are up. So, the competition is thus:

The deal: We spent the weekend doing a 'ninja-style' poster run with the help of our amazing mates, Paul and Ashleigh. We went round shops and (in the midnight hours) postered up quite a few lamp-posts around Brunswick/Carlton/Fitzroy/Northcote. We reckon we put up HEAPS, so hopefully some people should see them, right?

We want YOU to let us know if you've seen a poster round! So, the first person to post a picture of a coloured copy of the gig poster on our facebook page, we'll BUY YOU A DRINK at the gig, AND give you a free Honeybone t-shirt.

There are posters up in Melbourne CBD, Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick and Northcote!

Here's a pic of what you're looking for:

We're also unveiling a NEW SONG, so don't miss this gig, it's going to be wicked cool!

xxx