Gateway

Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Entertainment

From left to right: Matt Carroll, Sara Bertuldo and Robert Little of Honey & Darling. (Photo courtesy Honey & Darling) [Click to enlarge]

Honey & Darling are on a mission to make people happy.

The Omaha-based pop-rock trio has just released their debut EP, "What Became of What I Love," and is playing shows to support it, drawing fans by the droves with their well-crafted rock songs.

Though lead vocalist Sara Bertuldo only jokes that rock 'n' roll can save the world, if the earnest power of her band's music is any indication, she really believes it. From the energetic opener "Little Coats" to the acoustic guitar and xylophone ballad "MPC," the band's first release heralds greatness and good taste.

Guitarist Matt Carroll attributes Honey & Darling's uniqueness to the band's wide-ranging musical inclinations. Each member cites a distinct set of influences from Led Zeppelin to Cibo Matto to Pavement, but the old standby everyone can agree on is The Beatles.

Like the Fab Four, Honey & Darling's music covers much ground. The band handles infectious pop tunes, hard-driving rock ditties and mellow acoustic songs with grace and honesty. Lyrically, the band explores territory such as love, work, loss and anguish.

"Generally, we try and write good rock songs that aren't trying to be more than what they are," Carroll said.

Bertuldo said she wants to come up with a name better than hodgepodge rock, but that that is an accurate description of the band's sound.

"I want to sound like everything," Bertuldo said. "Eventually, I want to hit all the genres."

Beginning in the summer of 2007, Bertuldo's stripped-down bedroom pop project Honey & Darling grew. But it wasn't until earlier this year that drummer Robert Little joined, forming the band into its current noisier incarnation. Little also plays bass for local progressive indie band The Stay Awake.

"Robert changed us," Carroll said. "Having a good, solid power drummer that plays solid beats sort of makes us play differently."

The band has gained favorable ink from the local music press, appearing in the Omaha City Weekly, The Reader and the Omaha World-Herald. The band hopes to tour and release a full-length album next year.

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