HONEY REVENGE PLAYS AN ELECTRIFYING SET TO A PACKED CROWD AT CORNERSTONE IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
Photos provided by Nick Williams
Before I was a music journalist, I was a music fan, obsessively so. I would take risky trips from San Diego to Los Angeles, an unaccompanied minor on a Greyhound bus with $20, General Admission, and a dream. Eventually, this gave me a secret party trick; many thought I lived in Los Angeles, thanks to how many shows I attended there. I became a part of the local Los Angeles scene by the time I was in my 20s. Eventually, I got cast as an extra in a music video for ska’s finest, JER (aka Skatune Network), selected by simply replying to a tweet I saw on my feed.
With two friends in tow, we made our way to the set, an LA art studio. It was an intimate shoot, and I admittedly took a bit to warm up to the crowd after a long train ride to LA, but after meeting new friends, I felt right at home. One introduced themselves as Donny, the guitarist for a new band called Honey Revenge. After spending 3 hours at the Denny’s by the Wiltern, we were locked in, and Donny invited us to see Honey Revenge play the Shed—a literal shed in someone’s backyard. Little did I know that the same group would be selling out nationwide headliner shows just 3 years later. For full transparency, I was invited to Honey Revenge’s show at Cornerstone in Berkeley by the band.
This was my first visit at Cornerstone, a quaint bar/restaurant/music venue situation located right by my school, UC Berkeley. A late transfer student, I won’t get the traditional college experience, so these merry acts of kismet are appreciated. You have to go through the restaurant and bar area to get to the music venue, which, truthfully, is a smart marketing tactic. They slapped a Photo Pass on my wrist, along with one that said I was of legal age to consume a beverage, and sent me on my way. There was no barricade or photo pit in this venue, so I knew I was in for a treat. This is the exact kind of environment Honey Revenge thrives in.
First up was Nightlife, some friends I made online in my later fangirl years. Comprised of brothers Hansel and Allen Romero with Isaiah Walker on the drums, the soul punk group should be on your bucket list. After collaborating with Allen on both my and their music, I was jet set on seeing them live. I certainly was not disappointed; Nightlife not only has incomparable musical skill, but a penchant for making people feel seen and welcome. Their live set is not like anything I’ve ever seen before, lacking pretension and ego entirely. Instead, this group was entirely focused on establishing a community within a brief 30-minute slot, and they were successful at their goal!
Hansel told the crowd that they had an “open stage,” allowing everyone to come up on stage with them. They encouraged this, even, visibly aching for the moment they could share a packed stage with the crowd. It took a while for people to warm up, but once they got out of their shells, the stage was full of smiles and future memories. Live music is the best gift humans were given as feeble, often ungrateful creatures. Though I didn’t go up there, I felt so fortunate to be witnessing greatness like this. Truly great musicians aren’t always marked by technical skill, though nightlife is packed full of it, complete with a horn section—but it really is the soul that makes the punks.
Next, VANA took the stage. I had zero expectations going into the next two support acts. With no prior biases potentially clouding my view, all I had was admiration. Whatever you think VANA is going to sound like, think again. Their metal-fusion signature sound is absolutely divine; any act on this bill could have easily headlined, making me believe the headliners had a hand in curating it. Their performance was captivating thanks to its surprises, but also, its emotional intimacy. Aside from the guttural screams and gothic fashion, VANA presented a raw, nearly unhinged (/positive) self-expression.
Similarly to Nightlife, VANA articulately welcomed their crowd; though they didn’t invite fans on stage with them, the lead vocalist went into the audience instead. That’s one of my favorite DIY traditions. I entered the venue not knowing anything about VANA, and left a genuine fan. Their authenticity, marked by incredible gothic fashion choices and soothingly heavy guitar tones, was contagious to watch.
This was a four-band bill; typically, I’d gripe about this as the warmth of my bed at home becomes increasingly more desirable by the time 10 PM hits. However, the last support act, Wolf and Bear, took the stage. If VANA was a pleasant surprise, Wolf and Bear were a grand reveal. Their lead vocalist made their entrance on stage in a large sherpa coat and a pink bob wig. Appearances can be deceiving because Wolf and Bear were not unserious. Instead, they proved to be skilled musicians with a knack for hardcore performance. Many might not know the origins of Honey Revenge, but the heavier acts on their bill make perfect sense.
Wolf and Bear offer dueling vocals. Both performers do vastly different things, with one focusing on clean leads while the other harnesses the screams. Together, it’s a perfect chemistry that captivates new and existing audiences. Of the 3 acts, Wolf and Bear had the most prominent fanbase pre-established in the crowd. There were plenty of people around me singing along to every word, proving that Wolf and Bear’s clear aesthetic and sonic choices are working well for them. Again, the lead vocalist entered the crowd to join the mosh pit, ultimately earning my respect.
Finally, the headliners were on, and thankfully, it was not yet far past 9 PM, giving me plenty of energy to watch the set. This was my third Honey Revenge show, and the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen gathered for the little bee band. Seriously, Cornerstone was packed wall-to-wall. Moreover, this fanfare is deserved; Honey Revenge are incredible live performers, thriving under the spotlight instead of recoiling from its heat. The two are a match made in musical heaven, with pink glittery guitar riffs rounding out pop-rock hits.
Frontwoman Devin Papadol presents a magnetic charm, far brighter than the hues of her hair dye, though the purple era the band is in complements them well. The set included a mixture of greatest hits, deep cuts, and unreleased new songs. Of course, tracks like “Habitual” are crowd pleasers, but there are some gems in their unreleased vault. One included a vulnerable moment shared by Papadol and Lloyd, unveiling deep lore to the audience. Both performers had tragically and suddenly lost their fathers, resulting in both deeper shared bonds and a gorgeous, slower track. I felt my tear ducts well up multiple times throughout, honored to be a part of this moment.
The pace quickly kicked back up into high gear. I suppose I hadn’t realized how much Honey Revenge’s discography had expanded since the first time I saw them play a humble North Hollywood shed. Now, the band is bonified rockstars; they carry themselves gracefully, with a humility that outshines any fast-track towards success. Of course, they will only continue to grow their fanbase, selling out bigger venues over time. However, I can confidently say that Honey Revenge’s DIY ethos will stick with them for the duration of their career, perhaps being the driving force that saves pop-rock in the 2020s and beyond.
