Blackheart Honeymoon
Seattle, Washington, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013
Music
Press
With the impending release of their full-length debut, the members of Seattle’s Blackheart Honeymoon — Ian Prebo (Vocals/Acoustic Guitar), Wesley Amundsen (Bass), Steve Andrea (Guitar), Adrienne Marie Pollock (Vocals/Keys), and Dusty Hayes (Drums/Vocals) — deliver an easy-to-love collection of melodious alt-country, distinguished by the sterling harmonies of Prebo and Pollack.
Produced by Ben Jenkins (Hobosexual, Walking Papers, Young Evils) at Kill Room Studios, Mountains Speak comes out August 7. It’s our great pleasure to preview it for you today! - The Big Takeover
Seattle-based Blackheart Honeymoon crafts expansive and moving alt-country songs, bringing in elements of indie and post-rock in order to leave quite the impression. “Mountains Speak” is the title track from the band’s forthcoming record, an aimless road trip kind of a song with a big, epic sort of vibe. Mountains Speak is out on August 7, and the title track can be downloaded below. - Magnet
Usually when half a band quits, it’s pretty bad news, and it’s unlikely the group will pull through. For Seattle’s Blackheart Honeymoon, that trial was nothing but an excuse to work harder, reforming as a quintet and hitting as many stages as they could around town. Now, Ian Prebo, Wesley Amundsen, Steven Andrea, and their newer additions Adrienne Marie Pollock and Dusty Hayes are triumphantly preparing to release their full-length debut, Mountains Speak, in early August.
“Bodies,” a track from the upcoming album, premiering exclusively for Elmore, proves that reinventing can be a great thing. The addition of vocalist Adrienne provides a dynamic range, especially when paired against the raspy low tones of lead vocalist Ian Prebo. The contrast evokes a bassline of classic Americana influence, from the Byrds to Fleetwood Mac, yet the bittersweet wistfulness of the lyrics grooves against an upbeat, hand-clapping melody, lending the track a dash of modern alt-twee, reminiscent of the New Pornographers.
Give “Bodies” a listen below, and be on the lookout for this summer’s Mountains Speak. - Elmore Magazine
With a sound that goes back n forth between Band of Horses and New Pornographers, Seattle’s Blackheart Honeymoon hit a sonic sweet spot on their debut album Mountains Speak. From the more modern indie jangle found on “Bodies” and “Love It All” to the increased folk outpouring on “Can’t & Won’t” and “Rapid Mutation,” the band shows a diversity that makes Mountains Speak a strong listen. Overall, Blackheart Honeymoon creates catchy and likeable layered melodies which pull you into the record. Their folk side is very buried in this album so don’t let that tag scare you off as Blackheart Honeymoon have debuted one of the better self-released records I have heard this year. - The Fire Note
Discography
“Nothing and Everything Else” EP (released May, 2013)
“Mountains
Speak” LP (released August 7th, 2015)
Photos
Bio
Ian Prebo (vocals & guitar) and Wesley Amundsen (upright bass) are best friends going all the way back to Boy Scouts and have always shared a passion for American folk music. When Ian began writing rootsy, alt-country songs and hitting the open mics during his stint in film school, it made perfect sense to team up with his old scouting buddy. They added Steve Andrea on lead guitar and a few more guys, then recorded a six song EP at Kill Room Studios in 2013.
The CD was well received by fans and critics. Then, suddenly, half the band quit.
So, Ian, Wes & Steve tracked down Dusty Hayes (drums) and Adrienne Marie Pollock (keys & vocals), and for the past two years, the quintet has been rapidly entrenching itself in Seattle's roots-rock/Americana community, regularly gigging at favorite clubs such as The Crocodile, Tractor and The Sunset with other up & coming local hopefuls.
Blackheart Honeymoon returned to Kill Room Studios last February to record twelve new tracks for their debut full-length, “Mountains Speak� (released 8/7/15), with producer, Ben Jenkins (Hobosexual, Walking Papers, Young Evils). The record has been charting on radio stations across the country and the title track was included in CMJ's July Mixtape. Flattering reviews from such notable press as Magnet, The Big Takeover and Elmore magazine continue to filter in as the band prepares for a Fall/Winter West coast tour.
The group is keeping busy in the mean time, they shot two music videos over the Summer to accompany their album. Currently in post production, the videos should go live any time now. And, the band recently made a trip to Bear Creek Studios to record a single with Jerry Streeter (Lumineers, Brandi Carlile), the resulting track, "Rest in Bone" turned out incredible and will be released later this Fall on Lost Hymn Recordings.
Blackheart Honeymoon are already writing new material for their sophomore album which promises to include more of their heart-felt song crafting, but with even more expansive production techniques. With so many new stories and experiences under their belt, there can be no doubt that their next record will turn even more heads, prick more ears and melt more hearts.
Band Members
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