Innovative and whimsical bubblegrunge band Honeypuppy recently completed a Southern tour that led the band to SXSW in Austin, TX and back to Athens, where it’s not afraid to fill out a lineup at any location with any blend of genres and just have a good time. Now the band is getting ready for another short run of shows in celebration of its first full-length album, Dirty TV, to be released by Indecent Artistry Apr. 11.
At the beginning of last year, Honeypuppy released its nostalgic, nursery rhyme-inspired EP Nymphet, and although the band continues to walk an unexpected line between ‘90s noise rock and a feel-good innocence, it has a more defined sound now while also being more comfortable to experiment.
“The first EP, I kind of felt like the songwriting was a lot more straightforward and the structures were not as weird. With this album, there was a lot of me making really crappy demos in my room on GarageBand, which that’s like my normal process for writing, but I also took time to write a few of the bass lines myself and things that I hadn’t really previously done,” says lead songwriter Josie Callahan. “… That’s sort of more like what I was going with is exploring what do I want this to feel like, rather than what should come next in the structure of it?”
Bandmember and Indecent Artistry label head Adam Wayton produced the album, and Callahan says the two of them spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas and figuring out how to add experimental elements she was inspired by into their songs. For example, Callahan was adamant about incorporating an EBow on the “Dirty TV” title track after listening to ‘90s shoegaze band Should’s “Spangle.” In this case the structure of the song was built around a vibe that Callahan felt strongly about.
Callahan has also taken a lot of inspiration from alternative rock band Babes in Toyland, and in particular the members’ style of dressing in babydoll dresses and tights but having smeared, distorted makeup. Taking a traditional grungy aesthetic then cleaning it up and making it “more sparkly” is something that Callahan naturally gravitates toward.
“I really just kind of love the flow of a nursery rhyme sounding song because I think it’s catchy. It’s easy to remember, and I think it’s cool to hear a song where you’re like, ‘I feel like I’ve heard this before,’ but in a good way,” says Callahan. “I don’t think we have any curse words in any of our songs now that I’m thinking about it… I want to be a band that anyone can listen to.”
Having a captivating and chameleon affect, Honeypuppy had a viral moment in December performing a virtual concert on a Club Penguin Journey server. It all goes back to a late-night moment watching YouTube videos when Callahan caught the cult classic song “I’ve Been Delayed” by TAS 1000 and went down a rabbit hole as she remembered the song from playing the original Club Penguin. Obsessing over the song and listening to it on repeat, Callahan realized the mysterious Canadian band wasn’t on Spotify or any streaming services.
“Basically we covered that song, and I was just obsessed with the story,” says Callahan. “I found the private [Club Penguin Journey] server and went on there and just had a little nostalgia trip… I noticed that they still had the newspaper section, and I was like, OK, I’m just going to email these people, and it’d just be kind of funny to have a little shout out in the newspaper because I know that there’s people who are obsessed with that song… They immediately emailed me back, and they were like, ‘Hey, so actually, how would you feel about doing a virtual concert?’”
Penguin avatars of the Honeypuppy band members—Callahan, Wayton, Will Wise and Seth Parker—were mocked up and performed an ongoing 24-hour virtual concert in the Lighthouse, with in-game merch available like a customized igloo background and a playable track of “I’ve Been Delayed.” People messaged the Honeypuppy account saying how much they loved that song, followed the band’s social media and have even reached out asking Honeypuppy to come to their country to perform.
“It was super duper nostalgic. I think a lot of people love that song because of how it makes them feel. That’s sort of why I wanted to cover it, and the story is like the coolest thing that I’ve ever heard,” says Callahan.
“I’ve Been Delayed” closes out Dirty TV, which will have vinyls available distributed by Cloud Recordings and at the album release show on Sunday, Apr. 13 at Hendershot’s. Honeypuppy will be joined by Austin, TX band Being Dead and Athens’ own Penny Loafer.
Touring and performing so often has made a big impact on where Honeypuppy is today, because Callahan says seeing what so many other bands are doing has reduced her anxiety with songwriting and playing in general. She’s gained a lot of confidence to step outside her bubble as a musician, and Dirty TV is all the better for it.
WHO: Being Dead, Honeypuppy, Penny Loafer
WHEN: Sunday, Apr. 13, 6 p.m. (doors)
WHERE: Hendershot’s
HOW MUCH: $12 (adv.), $15
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
