From way down South, here come The Nouveaux Honkies. This violin, guitar, bass and drum quartet are Roots and Roll that Rocks.
“If Johnny Cash and Freddy King had a baby it would be the Nouveaux Honkies,” said the Sun Sentinel online. Their 2007 self titled
cd won best roots band in Palm Beach County. Their 2008 cd “Where Do I Go” hit 3 on the roots country chart, “Roots Music Report”
and 48 weeks later was still on the charts when their 2009 cd “Live at Sun” was in the top 30 on the roots blues chart.
Blues Review Magazine linked their sound The Stones, with hints of Dire Straights, Curtis Mayfield, Hendrix and Howlin’ Wolf.
Singer/guitarist, Patrick Timothy O’Donnell’s vocal style was said to be “an amalgam of Van Morrison and Willy De Ville.”
Add in violinist, Rebecca Dawkins with her crafty lead lines and poppy rhythms and their unique blend of blues, swing and country
is described as a reinvention of the musical wheel. The group has been touring since July of 08’. Thier live show is an elegant display
of frenzied mayhem. Their summer tour of 09’ put the band through the northeast with Elmore magazine naming them their favorite
new comer at Rhythm and Roots in Rhode Island. 2010 started with work on their upcoming LP entitled “Your Town”.
Honkies hit the road again in the summer so don’t miss show.
Singer/Guitarist Patrick Timothy O’Donnell was born in NYC. His father was diesel mechanic for the city and relocated to South Florida
and had his hand in the boat business. O’Donnell took piano lessons for a short time but gave that up after learning “the entertainer”
by ear and being yelled at by his teacher. His passion for music had him playing drums in church to rockin’ guitar in a high school
punk band. He also built boats, laid tile, shaped surfboards, was a carpenter, and built custom guitars in his own guitar business.
O’Donnell relates on a blue-collar level. His songs, whether humorous or serious relate in that way as well. His early music career
had him touring with various punk rock bands on the east coast. He got a job with an Atlanta based gospel band in his early 20’s
and his focused studying of American Music was in full swing. He put music as a profession down for a few years until meeting
Rebecca Dawkins in 2005. Rebecca had moved down from South Carolina and was looking for work as musician. Florida had
just been pummeled by a brutal 2004 hurricane season and O’Donnells personal and professional life had been turned
upside-down. His eclectic blues and jazz improvised style met Rebecca’s trained classical style and the music began making
itself. In 06’ the Nouveaux Honkies were born. Their first gig as a duo in a small wine bar turned into a full band at a small cafe’.
Since then, with the help of their fans and friends, the band has been playing some great venues and festivals throughout the
east coast with acts like Asleep at the Wheel, The Duhks, The Waybacks, Stix, Randy Bachman, Cedrik Watson, Tab Benoit, Randy McCalister, Hot Tuna, the Lee Boys, JoeBonamassa, The Insomniacs, The Lovell Sisters, and many more.
Hearing the Honk at the Tonk is a must must.
