The Honest Liars

THE HONEST LIARS play original, hard rocking, guitar-based pop nuggets about love and loss and pathological dishonesty with a 60's psychedelic tinge. They were formed in 1993 by rhythm guitarist Dylan Joniper and twin brothers John and Bob Bohacek [lead guitar and bass, respectively.] The group was rounded out by Darren Costello on drums, who promp... tly quit and was replaced by "Teddy Boy" Wallingford, who was kicked out and replaced by the enigmatic percussionist known only as Gypsy, who mysteriously disappeared and was replaced by some guy with a drum machine, who was replaced by another guy with a drum machine, who was replaced by mail carrier-turned-backbeat provider Kurt Hildebrant. I wish I were kidding. "It's not us, really," Dylan Joniper protests, "It's just some weird drummer thing." They began playing in and around Detroit, as far away as Lansing and some garage-friendly clubs in Chicago. Mostly they hung out in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck at Paycheck's Lounge and Lili's 21. There was virtually no response from a crowd heavily versed in Mainstream Alternative [a classic oxymoron] and the burgeoning Nü Metal Rap/Rock scene. But the LIARS kept at it. Eventually, they scraped enough money together to record a demo CD. Released in 1994, "Differentiation" is a dramatic statement of purpose: it aims at nothing less than to bring rock music back to its roots. Seven tracks of blistering music and emotional lyrics clocking in at less than 20 minutes. Detroit's independent music magazine, JamRag, had this to say: "Guitar based songs with sappy lyrics is what rock is all about." THE HONEST LIARS sent the demo out to as many companies as they could, without a letter of introduction or a release notice or anything. It was returned without even being opened. So they slogged on, played some clubs, replaced some drummers, got their first single "All The Time b/w Lose Your Smile" on Ontario's 89X Homeboy Show and in local college radio in Chicago. They recorded a second demo, mostly with Dylan and John dubbing ...Read More