Describe each of your band mates in one word…
ben - social
jon - determined
traey - intellectual
thomas - steady pimpin
What is the best thing about being in Honey Claws? Any great perks you've received so far, or anything that's made it all worth it?
Thomas:
making timeless music
Traey:
the free red bull we just received definitely makes it taste like success.
Jon:
The best thing about honey claws is all of the free beer. Loads of it. And the free candy at halloween.
If you had a list of things to do before you die (maybe you do?), what would the top 3 be?
Thomas:
Traey:
Jon:
Traey:
I've just discovered Sparklehorse and I definitely think Mark Linkous is a poet.
Thomas:
Jon's pretty good... I'd rate him up there with the best of them... maybe Glen Danzig also...
Jon:
My little brother Gabe would say Big L. I would agree.
How did you settle upon oxymoronic Honey Claws as a name?
Thomas:
Jon made it up as an MC name for himself and we decided it suited the crew
Jon:
I made a Sharpie t-shirt with a tiger drooling honey. nothing too complicated about it. I guess I am a bit schizophrenic too.
You're currently touring New Zealand, how has that tour been going so far? What brought the tour about, considering it's non-existent proximity to Austin, Texas? And, not that I'm biased, but how great is New Zealand?!
Thomas and Traey:
...its pretty wicked plus most of our families live there and our girls cant stand the heat of Texas. Tour was great. The fans were phenomenal. We had a crew of folks come out the last gig dressed as animals.
Jon:
New Zealand is rad and people dig our music. They have great beaches, a generally + mentality and lots of free beer. Also, we have a sick studio space in Auckland. There is something to be said about recording overseas. Environment is everything.
If you could do another job, other than being in a band, what would you want to do?
Thomas:
Stunt cock... definitely
Jon:
I would be an artist like my father. I am working on that one. Its good to have a few other eggs in z baskets.
Traey:
I've got a growing interest in becoming a international financier. Its got a ring to it.
According to Honey Claws, what is the worst song ever recorded?
Thomas:
Jesus Jones
Traey:
Hands down...Barbie song and I just heard that bitch translated into mandarin. It was still bad.
Jon:
It's hard to say really....I'm not really a hater. Nickelback 'Rockstar'. That was actually really easy.
Where will we find Honey Claws before and after a gig?
Thomas:
Puffin blunts, drinkin 40s, runnin up in the studio
Jon:
before a gig: at the bar. after a gig: at a strip club and then to church [in keeping with the bipolarity theme]
Traey:
Putting fools in an arm bar. And trying not to get choked out in jiu-jitsu.
How do Honey Claws approach a new song? Where does the concept for a new record start?
Jon:
Usually I will write a song, then we will add all of the dope shit together in some combination of members. Everyone in the crew has an awesome ability of interpreting, then spitting out dope enhancements. Inspiration is completely life based. Whatever is going on really. That is the reason we prefer to settle in new places for a few months at a time. Soak in the culture and experience exciting things. Also the girls are more receptive when you are foreign.
What are some hidden talents the boys of Honey Claws possess?
What is the last thing you saw that made you say 'holy shit'?
Thomas:
Glen Danzig getting knocked out by a bouncer
Jon:
MGMT's new record. When I saw the color of it.
What do you think people who look at you assume you're listening to on your iPod? What is it you're actually listening to?
Thomas:
My Ipod got jacked.. so nothing
Jon:
People would assume n.e.r.d. I am listening to Outkast and Madlib.
Traey:
When I haven't shaved for a while I think people would assume Devendra Banhart. It's really Aaron Copeland
Describe the perfect Honey Claws gig?
The first time we did rhythm and vines was pretty tight, might mighty was cool also.
Jon:
Good crowd with lots of girls singing topless
Traey:
I agree.
Top five songs to walk somewhere to?
Thomas:
Jon:
Traey:
Please use this space to promote anything that you want.
Check out the yeah clowns CD at sxsw!!! Got some hype shit on it...
ben - social
jon - determined
traey - intellectual
thomas - steady pimpin
What is the best thing about being in Honey Claws? Any great perks you've received so far, or anything that's made it all worth it?
Thomas:
making timeless music
Traey:
the free red bull we just received definitely makes it taste like success.
Jon:
The best thing about honey claws is all of the free beer. Loads of it. And the free candy at halloween.
If you had a list of things to do before you die (maybe you do?), what would the top 3 be?
Thomas:
- catch a lobster with my bare hands
- play piano
- 2 girls at one time
Traey:
- learn to sail (i'm on this one")
- Travel through Asia.
- Learn to speak chinese. They will be our masters soon.
Jon:
- I would like to get married,
- live on a spaceshuttle and
- eat floating cheetohs w/ my wife all day. At least once.
Traey:
I've just discovered Sparklehorse and I definitely think Mark Linkous is a poet.
Thomas:
Jon's pretty good... I'd rate him up there with the best of them... maybe Glen Danzig also...
Jon:
My little brother Gabe would say Big L. I would agree.
How did you settle upon oxymoronic Honey Claws as a name?
Thomas:
Jon made it up as an MC name for himself and we decided it suited the crew
Jon:
I made a Sharpie t-shirt with a tiger drooling honey. nothing too complicated about it. I guess I am a bit schizophrenic too.
You're currently touring New Zealand, how has that tour been going so far? What brought the tour about, considering it's non-existent proximity to Austin, Texas? And, not that I'm biased, but how great is New Zealand?!
Thomas and Traey:
...its pretty wicked plus most of our families live there and our girls cant stand the heat of Texas. Tour was great. The fans were phenomenal. We had a crew of folks come out the last gig dressed as animals.
Jon:
New Zealand is rad and people dig our music. They have great beaches, a generally + mentality and lots of free beer. Also, we have a sick studio space in Auckland. There is something to be said about recording overseas. Environment is everything.
If you could do another job, other than being in a band, what would you want to do?
Thomas:
Stunt cock... definitely
Jon:
I would be an artist like my father. I am working on that one. Its good to have a few other eggs in z baskets.
Traey:
I've got a growing interest in becoming a international financier. Its got a ring to it.
According to Honey Claws, what is the worst song ever recorded?
Thomas:
Jesus Jones
Traey:
Hands down...Barbie song and I just heard that bitch translated into mandarin. It was still bad.
Jon:
It's hard to say really....I'm not really a hater. Nickelback 'Rockstar'. That was actually really easy.
Where will we find Honey Claws before and after a gig?
Thomas:
Puffin blunts, drinkin 40s, runnin up in the studio
Jon:
before a gig: at the bar. after a gig: at a strip club and then to church [in keeping with the bipolarity theme]
Traey:
Putting fools in an arm bar. And trying not to get choked out in jiu-jitsu.
How do Honey Claws approach a new song? Where does the concept for a new record start?
Jon:
Usually I will write a song, then we will add all of the dope shit together in some combination of members. Everyone in the crew has an awesome ability of interpreting, then spitting out dope enhancements. Inspiration is completely life based. Whatever is going on really. That is the reason we prefer to settle in new places for a few months at a time. Soak in the culture and experience exciting things. Also the girls are more receptive when you are foreign.
What are some hidden talents the boys of Honey Claws possess?
- ben is great at online texas hold em
- jon is an ex boxer
- traey and thomas are neck and neck on the racquetball courts
- thomas can do 75 pushups with one arm.
- ben can yodel.
- traey can play any mozart song backwards.
- I can't do shit
What is the last thing you saw that made you say 'holy shit'?
Thomas:
Glen Danzig getting knocked out by a bouncer
Jon:
MGMT's new record. When I saw the color of it.
What do you think people who look at you assume you're listening to on your iPod? What is it you're actually listening to?
Thomas:
My Ipod got jacked.. so nothing
Jon:
People would assume n.e.r.d. I am listening to Outkast and Madlib.
Traey:
When I haven't shaved for a while I think people would assume Devendra Banhart. It's really Aaron Copeland
Describe the perfect Honey Claws gig?
The first time we did rhythm and vines was pretty tight, might mighty was cool also.
Jon:
Good crowd with lots of girls singing topless
Traey:
I agree.
Top five songs to walk somewhere to?
Thomas:
- Any of the HC stuff
Jon:
- Bombs over Bagdhad - Outkast
- Carrots - Panda Bear
- Pussyole - Dizzee Raskal.
- Every MGMT Song.
- Every Caribou track
Traey:
- Sparklehorse - Cow
- Brazilian Girls - Don't Stop
- Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
- Meshell Ndegéocello - Gentleman (cover of an old Fela Kuti Joint, this one has a bassline that definitely moves your feet in the forward direction)
- Gang Gang Dance - First Communion
Please use this space to promote anything that you want.
Check out the yeah clowns CD at sxsw!!! Got some hype shit on it...
