If you go
Who: oNe
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 7
Where: Oh Shucks Seafood Bar, 401 Meade Ave., Cocoa Beach
Admission: No cover
Information: 321-783-4050
On the Web: youroneband.com/who_is_oNe.html
When: 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8
Where: Captain Hiram’s, 1580 U.S. 1, Sebastian
Admission: No cover
Information: 772-589-4345
Local musician Shain Honkonen is known as one of the area’s premier guitarists, first as a member of the classic rock cover band Vintage, and then as a traveling musician as part of the Classic Albums Live tour. Now, with a new band and sound, Honkonen is reemerging with oNe. oNe includes Honkonen (vocals/guitar), Jake Hogeland (drums) and Craig Jenkins (bass) and draws upon a multitude of influences to generate a distinct style.
Honkonen, who just completed tour dates with Classic Albums’ Live — Pink Floyd (“The Wall”), called to check in. I spoke with him about the band, his split from Vintage and the band’s future. So let’s Shake, Rattle & Know: oNe.
SRK: You built your reputation with Vintage. What made you want to break from that and start a new band?
Honkonen: There were a couple of different reasons really; there wasn’t just one single reason why. I always listened to very guitar-oriented music, stuff like Dream Theater, and technically proficient stuff. When I started writing my own stuff, it just wasn’t their thing. They weren’t into it the way I am, so I just started jamming with some friends of mine on the side, and it really took off from there.
SRK: With the exception of Green Day and The Police, there aren’t a lot of three-piece rock bands. What made you decide on that format?
Honkonen: I don’t think it’s really something we decided on, it just happened that way. I had been friends with these guys since I was a kid, and we jammed together throughout the years. We often talked about the three of us forming a band, but just never did until now. After our musical differences with Vintage, it made sense to pursue this further, so we got together and spent the next six or seven months just writing new material.
SRK: What style do you think best defines your band?
Honkonen: It is hard to pick just one style and say that’s who we are because it closes the door on so many other styles that influence our sound. It’s pretty much alternative rock ’n’ roll. Some songs are hard hitting and some are a little more ambient. It’s safe to say a lot of our music is in the hard-rock vein.
SRK: You started performing as a classic rock cover band. How much of those early influences are evident in your own music?
Honkonen: Most of those influences are evident if you know where to look. I can’t change who I am or what first influenced me. I guess if you listened closely you could spot some influences, but those came out subconsciously and not with the intent to sound like them.
SRK: How difficult has it been to make it as an original band as opposed to a cover band?
Honkonen: A lot harder in this area especially. We have 40 or 50 of our own songs, but we have to do a large amount of cover songs to get the gigs. We have about 50 regulars that follow us, so when we have a good turnout, it’s a little easier to work the original songs into the set.
SRK: With each member writing and contributing music, how do you decide what songs will become part of your shows and CDs?
Honkonen: Someone comes up with an idea and we write around that. I spend a lot of time writing in between shows and doing demos in my home studio, and I will pass that on to the guys, and they work in their own instrumentation with it and we build from there.
SRK: Do you have plans to record a CD soon?
Honkonen: In a few weeks we should be going into the studio and start recording. It will be a hard-hitting CD and towards the end will calm down some and show people other sides we have and our diversity.
If you have an artist/band you’d like to recommend for review, contact Nunez at www.myspace.com/shakerattleandknow or fantasyforecaster2005@yahoo.com.
