California Dreamin' Tour: Dirty Honey w/ Mac Saturn and Dorothy

Dirty Honey with Mac Saturn and Dorothy

The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA

10/7/22

Mac Saturn

I feel I should start by saying I’ve been a fan of Mac Saturn’s music since the release of their second single “Mr. Cadillac” in March of 2022. “Mr. Cadillac” lives on the band’s EP Until The Money Runs Out; which is nothing short of spectacular, especially for their first release. With inspiration seemingly taken from many influential artists that have been loved for years and years preceding my existence, or any member of the band’s for that matter; Mac Saturn somehow manages to create a sound so familiar and nostalgic, almost like a love child between Bowie and The Rolling Stones, yet so unmistakably unique to them. It’s remarkable really, and undeniably groovy.

This leads me to that Friday night, 7:27 pm, running hand in hand with my two accomplices (Caira Jackson-Brooks and Max Jimenez) through the streets of Santa Cruz, weaving in and out of groups of people to catch the show at The Catalyst beginning at 7:30 pm. We had just made it through the doors when the all too familiar intro to “Diamonds” was heard throughout the venue, signaling the start of the show.

Mac Saturn is made up of 5 members: Lead vocalist Carson Macc, guitarist Nick Barone, Mike Moody on guitar and vocals, bassist Jive Moss, and Angelo Coppola on drums. Each member plays an incredibly important role in creating not only the music, but also in creating an atmosphere one could only describe as “hypnotic”. I wouldn’t think it’s unfair to compare lead singer Carson Macc to the likes of a young Mick Jagger. From style to stage presence Macc is absolutely everything you could possibly want in a frontman, and more.

Now, speaking on a personal level; I undoubtedly had the most fun during Mac Saturn’s set. They are, in my opinion, some of the best new artists right now; and I don’t say that lightly. They truly make me excited for the future of not only rock ‘n’ roll, but the future of music as a whole. I look forward to their prospective future endeavors, I feel that it can only go up from here for these Detroit Michigan natives.

Photo By: Kayleigh Payne 2022

Dorothy

Unlike Mac Saturn, I actually hadn’t heard any of Dorothy’s stuff until that night at The Catalyst; but man do I wish I had.

Many words come to mind when I think back on watching Dorothy for the first time; the one that sticks out to me the most is “cool”. For the majority of their set, the only thing I could say to my friends and the people around me was, “oh my god she’s so cool”. And it’s true; Dorothy Martin is undeniably fucking cool.

Killer vocals and Joan Jett-Esque charisma are what make her so compelling to watch. My eyes didn’t leave the stage once during their set, she drew me in like a siren to a sailor, she made me watch her; and I put up absolutely no fight.

Martin’s vocals are accompanied by guitarist Sam Koltun, drummer Jake Hayden, and bassist Mike Stang; all of which are incredibly talented individuals, but when you put them together, I’d say it’s about as close as you could get to magic.

As I said previously, I hadn’t ever listened to Dorothy’s music before seeing them live, however, “Rest In Peace” off their most recent album Gifts From The Holy Ghost really stood out to me. It’s raw, it’s powerful, it’s the perfect example of feminine rage; a woman scorned.

After seeing them at the Catalyst I can definitely say that I am a really big fan of Dorothy. They are a group that I’m very excited to have come across, and I would encourage everyone to keep an eye and an ear out for them.

Photo By: Max Jimenez 2022

Dirty Honey

I was quite familiar with the Los Angeles-based rockers, formally known as Dirty Honey well before I saw them at The Catalyst. I think some people would classify them as “dad-rock”, but in the same way that bands like Pearl Jam or even Led Zeppelin could be considered “dad-rock”. I see no problem with this though, as an avid consumer of the dad-rock subgenre, if you could call it that, I am a huge fan of Dirty Honey.

This band consists of 4 incredibly gifted artists: guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, drummer Corey Coverstone, and lead vocalist Marc LaBelle.

John Notto is nothing short of a guitar god, and I mean that with everything in me. Hearing Notto play live for the first time was comparable to the moment that I first heard Steve Vai. It’s all-consuming. John Notto has certainly solidified his place as one of my favorite modern guitarists.

The band as a whole exudes a certain Zeppelin meets Aerosmith energy, I mean that sonically and in terms of their own personal styles. It could be the hair, the clothes, or LaBelle’s vocal styling, but watching them definitely feels reminiscent of an early Aerosmith gig, and that is absolutely a good thing.

Dirty Honey has managed to make a place for themselves in the current rock scene, and I think it’s well deserved. As the years go on I imagine that this group of guys will become a household name amongst rock ‘n’ roll lovers young and old.

Photo By: Kayleigh Payne 2022

This specific group of bands brings together fans from all different walks of life. Contrary to popular belief, rock ‘n’ roll is certainly not dead. Seeing so many people of so many different ages and genders in the crowd surrounding me, sharing their love of music only further solidified this notion for me.

Rock ‘n’ roll was very much alive and well at The Catalyst that Friday night.

Photo By: Kayleigh Payne 2022

Kayleigh Payne 10/9/22