 DSHT Symbol |
|
Member(s) |
| Victor Amour |
| Vincent Amour |
| Instrument(s) |
| Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Vocals |
| Genre/Influences |
| rock |
| Website |
| http://www.darkstarhoneytree.com/ |
| Established |
|
2010 |
Dark Star Honey Tree is an American indie rock band from the music town of Denton, TX formed in 2010. The band’s line-up consists of brothers Victor and Vincent Amour.
History
Formation and early years (1998-2010)
As teenagers, Victor and Vincent, on bass and drums respectively dabbled in several local bands such as Joyful Plague and Nerve Gas Cult. Vincent and Victor Amour wrote songs based on many journals of their poetry. They played clubs in both Denton and Dallas with various other band members garnering a small following before finally disbanding and going their separate ways in 2008.
They got back together in 2009 and attempted to find new band members as a three or four-piece band, to no avail. Vincent suggested they go at it alone as a duo and Dark Star Honey Tree was born.
Cape Meckko (2010-2013)
As they honed their songwriting skills, they made several demos in various studios such as Indian Trail and Brittany Hill for sonic experimentation. Victor suggested the concept “Cape Meckko” as their first studio album and they quickly went to work on the songs. According to Victor, the concept is about a vicious assassin who comes to a town plagued by a group of sinister serial killers. What follows is mass pandemonium as the assassin interacts with these killers in the Cape, exterminating them one at a time.
In March of 2012, they went into Brittany Hill Studios to record their debut album. Given that there are only two members of the band, it was a tedious process of going back and overdubbing many tracks. The concept album about serial killers invading a small coastal town presented a dark side synonymous with rock but typically absent in the Denton, TX scene.
Released on September 3, 2013, “Cape Meckko” was met with little fan-fare. Sean Dennison of the Equal Ground wrote that the brothers Amour "write tripped out, stoned up rock songs with lots of guitar...channeling early shoe gaze though lyrical repetition and gurney vocal harmonies. Dark Star Honey Tree also get into some punk and progressive moments, changing up tempos while dropping some technically impressive scales."
Sol Secondus (2014-2015)
Sophomore Album, Sol Secondus
As soon as Cape Meckko was released the brothers decided to finish working on their long gestated dream album, Sol Secondus. Parts of which were actually recorded before the first album. Going for atmospherics, they decided to broaden their sound with more use of keyboards and experimentation. While the first album relied on a fictional plot, their sophomore album tells a more personal story of life from birth through death.
Released on December 4, 2015, “Sol Secondus” was given a wider release and met with a pretty good review. Jamie Funk of Divide and Conquer called it “ambitious” and stated “the brothers really pull off exceptional harmonies.”
3rd Album (2016-present)
Still interested in making a penultimate album, the brothers Amour have gone back into the studio again to hammer out their next album release. Asked if we’ll see a 2017 release date for the album, Vincent said, “The album will be out after it’s done. Could be 2017, could be 2018, don’t know yet. We want it to blow away our first two albums, so that could take more time.”
Musical style and influences
Morose, catchy rock fills their live presentation which includes character theatrics unique to each performance. No two shows are the same, with varying set lists of their expansive catalog of original songs with an occasional cover tune thrown in for good measure.
Preferring to stay in shadows, the brothers Amour have chosen to put the music center-stage. "We don't control the music. It controls us", states Vincent. "We are just its players." Brothers Amour grew up listening to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Police, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and The Smashing Pumpkins to name just a few. Their songwriting approach is sullen rock wrapped in yearning optimism foregoing standard cliches, yet compelling.
Band Members
- Victor Amour is the chief singer/songwriter and producer, playing the guitars, keys, and sometimes bass and percussion.
- Vincent Amour is the main singer/lyricist, playing the bass, drums, and a little guitar and keyboard.
Discography
Albums
- Cape Meckko (2013)
- Sol Secondus (2015)
