Give us the skinny on Tasty Wax:
Tasty Wax Recordings is the real world manifestation of the dream of a bootlegger. I am eternally captivated, motivated, regulated and stimulated by music, particularly music presented in a live format. When the band is kicking and they tap into that universal energy, I get swept away, eyes closed into the stratosphere.
My initial goal was to capture those live music moments so as to be able to access that prism at any time. Over time, as I began collecting more local music in particular, I would share my recordings with the musicians. As such, I needed a pseudonym by which to operate. Anonymity, as it turns out, has some advantages. The feedback I would receive would generally be that those recordings became invaluable tools for band growth. When you’re playing live, as I understand it, the band really has no idea what the audience hears or experiences. Since live music is a conversation between the band members and the audience, or as I prefer to describe it, like a battery with energy flowing out from the band to the ears and back to the band thru audience response, it’s always helpful for the band to visit the other party’s perspective.
So what started out as a selfish act of wanting to capture lightning in a bottle to power my own cells, morphed, because I am a talker and a business man, into relationships with various musicians and artists whereby I occasionally assist with various aspects of motivation, negotiation and transaction, so that they are free to concentrate on the music, which ultimate benefits me, because I want to hear great music.
I think of myself as a conduit between the real world of bookers, promoters, venues and artists, or between artists and the virtual realm (if they have no interest in such non sense).
In addition, I am a country without a flag. My allegiance is (with the exception of my family and some artist in particular) to art itself. As the “scene” has become splintered and tribal, I like to think of myself as an intermediary. I have the ability to insinuate myself into various situations and relationships and make connections in an attempt to be an agitator for unity.
1. Tasty Wax Recordings in based in Southern California. What is the operating climate like in the world’s capital of entertainment?
The operating climate of Southern California is at once thoroughly exhilarating, with so many talented artists and musicians lurking in every dark alley way, and oppressively competitive. With all that exceptional talent behind every door, there is a feeling of competition mixed with some camaraderie. We live in an intensely tribal creative community. So, while you may find like-minded cohorts with which to bond and share inspiration and aspiration, the greater creative community is always, in some way, looking to tear you down. This environment is particularly enhanced by club and venue owners and promoters who are simply trying to capitalize upon your creative energy which is all well and good, but the idea that “building a scene” is in and of itself a worth while venture for everyone involved. Everyone always wants to know,”what’s your draw?’ That is a flawed way of thinking. The venue should be the draw and the band an enhancement. That has traditionally been the operating standard, but sadly it appears that those days are gone. Well crafted music is NO LONGER enough to access the stage.
2. Can you tell us about The Honkys? What are the group members like and where does their inspiration for folky rock come from originally?
The Honkys!, Northern San Diego’s indie roots stalwarts, have been forging original Moonshine Music long before the current trend towards “Americana” developed. Originally formed in Huntington Beach amid the Rockabilly Rebellion of 1982, as the Bel-Aires, the current line up of brothers; Bret & Broy Hazzard along with their childhood friend Sean McCarty, create propulsive, musical innovations at every stop on their never ending tour.
While [the Bel-Aires &] the Honkys have a long history of nonstop touring, playing with national and international acts alike, they have spent the past few years focused on capturing their weighty cannon on a series of analog recordings. In the studio with Thomas Yearsley (of the Paladins) at the helm, the Honkys’ sound has turned to a burnished country hue. The general tone of the Honkys sound has matured with age and even their classic Honky standards have taken on the antique luster of well worn saddle leather.

While Sean carries the rhythmic weight of the band, momentum is often guided by Broy’s box car strum, which gives participating listeners a musical framework to build upon. The result of Sean’s Stand Up Bass line is a slap, click and thump to the chest. Often Sean will build understated patterns which will lull the ear, only then will he pounce upon the crowd with a thick wallop, all without losing time.
The structure built by Broy and Sean is set ablaze with the fire-hot fretwork of brother Bret. Using no effects or other technical wizardry, Bret is a true master of emotion. His bright, clean guitar strokes can turn dizzyingly turbulent in a moment; like a roughneck out on the weekend.
All three Honkys! take their turn at the mic, each displaying his own unique style. Bret’s menacing yowl strikes granite terror on tune’s like “Moonshine,” the tale of an ugly bender turned deadly. Broy’s fractured tenor, on the other hand, brings to mind the balmy blissful splendor of a Hilly Billy Neil Young. He can warm a room with his easy smile on tunes like the crowd pleasing sing-along “Emerald Treasure.” Sean, the crooner of the group, conveys goof ball charm on brawny cruisers such as ‘Reno” or the party starting “Bring it On”.
While most bands wouldn’t dare to fill the room with a live set of simple straight ahead music without the back bone support of a drummer, the Honkys! go one step further. Every night when the band plays out, they distribute; shakers, wash boards, tambourines and cow-bells to the tipsy patrons across the West. The effect is an improvisational whirlwind which enraptures listeners and draws them into the mix.
Even though nearly 30 years of polish have buffed the Honkys! sound to a fine sheen there is still enough loose jangle to keep things interesting. While each night’s set may contain many of the band’s original favorites spiked with selected new compositions, covers and attic-dusty rarities, the result is an adventurous trek through new melodic territory. The tuneful travelogue includes passage through flashes of dread and joy, sorrow and elation. The Honkys play good time music for hard luck times.

Over the years, the boys have learned to pilot a stuffed road house through the highs and lows of an arousing set. One minute they may batter the listeners with the caveman stomp of “Walk Tall”, scaling the heights of ecstatic splendor and the next they will entrance the horde and provide soul stirring relief with “The Lesson”. But they will always bring you right back home with the locomotive jooglin’ and rocking chair comfort of “Front Porch”. The wonder is listening as the introspection of the studio as it has strengthened and sharpened the songs themselves, transforming and infusing them with new poignancy. There is a theatrical quality to the recorded music of the Honkys. At times it feels as if they have composed the soundtrack to the movies of your mind.
3. Does the name Tasty Wax refer to a scented candle, or a delicious ear?
Tasty Wax is a throwback reference to the Jazz age when someone might listen to a particularly hot record and say, “Man, that’s some tasty wax!”
4. What do you think about what the internet has done to music, has it been more of an enabler for you or a scourge?
The internet is the wild west. Anyone with a gun (decent music) and some balls (knowledge of how to traverse the virtual terrain) can manifest success for themselves. I am first and foremost a fan of music, so I love having access to all kinds of sounds. Old Dead Shows, Traditional Milawi throat singers, New Orleans funk, fresh young bands and out of print rarities. However, from a music marketing stance, a band or manager needs to be creative to draw and maintain interest in their sound. There is so much access to a wide variety of sounds and perspectives that one needs to find their own success. But it is achievable, as is anything else when you put your energy into a single goal, that goal become achievable.
We certainly agree with you there! Make sure you subscribe to Tasty Wax on Whyd, listen to their tracks on SoundCloud, Like their page on Facebook, and learn more about them at ReverbNation.