headphones are on

Originally posted in 2011

In just under three short years, Honestly went from playing local shows around their hometown of Atlanta to being one of the top unsigned bands in the country.

With music placement on numerous television channels, including MTV, UPN, and ABC Family, and chart rankings on several radio stations and websites, the band was poised to become a major independent hit.

Forming in the spring of 2003, Justin Land and Joe Thibodeau of the band Mary’s Eyes, combined forces with Rob Attaway, Matt Dashner, and Matt Melton.  The band released their debut album, Have A Nice Life, in September 2003.

Singles “Strange Way” and “I Don’t Know” gained radio play on the eastern seaboard, with “Strange Way” added to the soundtrack for a Disney movie.  The band later released “All We Are,” “Nine til’ Midnight,” and “This Perfect Thing,” all receiving air time, with “This Perfect Thing” featured heavily on MTV’s reality shows, including “The Hills.”

Opening for Third Eye Blind in late 2003, the band toured extensively in support of HANL, crisscrossing the country.  With infectious hooks, high energy songs, and relatable lyrics,  combining with Honestly’s stage presence, they quickly garnered a large fan base.

I discovered Honestly in late 2004, through another well-known Southern band, Ingram Hill.   Gearing up for a February 2005 Ingram Hill show in NYC, I took a listen to the other bands on the bill.  In what ended up being an incredibly life-changing lineup, which I will write about in its own post some time,  Honestly stood out to me.

Have a Nice Life became my soundtrack, my anthem, my escape.  Land’s vocals paired with the band’s heavy pop/rock sound and roaring guitars was a heaven-sent mix.

I fell in love with the band even more so seeing them live, watching the guys jump around the stage at the now defunct Tribeca Rock Club, belting out the songs in quick order.  Standing three rows from the stage, I sang word for word with every song, getting a shout out from Justin Land for singing along.

The band released their second album, the EP Ghosts of  a Brilliant Past, in May 2005.   Heavier than HANL, the short, but aptly titled, brilliant record exploded with its single “Answer.”

Honestly hit the road again, playing alongside well-known indie artists such as State Radio, Greg Raposo, and Boston’s Averi.

Rumors floated across the internet about Justin Land leaving the band, and on July 29, 2005, Land posted a letter to his fans on the band website.  Citing personal reasons, he stated he had decided to move into a different direction with his wife, and amicably leave Honestly.

I was fortunate to have seen the band several times throughout 2005, including their final NYC show, an opening slot for the Gin Blossoms, at B.B. King’s that August.

I was more fortunate to have worked with the band at a couple of the shows, talking music and writing with Land; a mutual friend with Melton; crazy stories of touring with Dashner.

We were all young and trying to figure out our paths in life, where it would all lead.  While it was incredibly sad to see Land leave the band, knowing that more than likely we would never hear another record out of Honestly, in a way it was fitting.  The youth, energy, and hope at the band’s core would always live on in a positive way.  The songs wouldn’t be marred by animosity between band members, ruthless searches for fame, bad covers by popular performers.

Have a Nice Life and Ghosts of a Brilliant Past will forever remain in my mind as scenes from the summer I was 19, watching the sun set before a show, living late nights in Manhattan, carefree and listening to a band of my youth.

In Justin Land’s words: “I hope you always feel free to rock out to our stuff – forever.”

*Both records are available on iTunes.  I have a couple of unopened copies of Ghosts of a Brilliant Past – if you are interested in a hard copy, please contact me.