I don’t usually open with a cheesy pun, but here goes: Reverend Peyton’s new album Honeysuckle is pure honey.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the good Reverend Peyton and his not-so-big but seriously badass band have been turning heads worldwide with a gritty blend of rural blues, filtered through a 21st-century lens.
Alongside other modern-day blues torchbearers—like the powerhouse duo Larkin Poe—Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is helping spark a revival of deep roots music for a new generation. Think raw, gospel-charged, devil-haunted, finger-pickin’, slide-slathered blues inspired by the ghosts of Charley Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson. This is front-porch music soaked in sweat and soul—and they’ve done it all on their own terms as fiercely independent artists.
But don’t take it from me, read their bio:
“The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band has performed in 38 countries and 48 states. They have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Living Blues, Elmore, donned the cover of Vintage Guitar Magazine, had #1 records on the Billboard Blues Charts, and have been nominated for three Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. The Indianapolis Star listed Reverend Peyton as one of the top 25 Hoosier musicians of all time.”
Honeysuckle steps away from the electric and dives into a raw acoustic experience—territory Reverend Peyton’s explored before. Back in 2011, Peyton on Patton, his tribute to blues legend Charley Patton, was cut live with a single microphone in just four hours, old-school style. And 2017’s The Front Porch Sessions also leaned into a quieter, stripped-down vibe, trading volume for vulnerability.
But don’t mistake the acoustic setting for anything tame—Peyton’s performances blaze with fire and brimstone. The closest modern comparison that comes to mind is the late, great Gary Floyd (The Dicks, Sister Double Happiness, Buddha Brothers). Full disclosure: I played with Gary in his last band and was a close friend, so I know this feeling up close. There’s no halfway with artists like Reverend Peyton—they throw everything into it every time: blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul.
The music manages to sound both modern and vintage at once—raw, immediate, and timeless.
I reached out to the good Reverend to ask about the recording process this time around. He confirmed it’s an all-analog session, primarily using vintage Altec preamps—along with some Gates and UA gear thrown in for good measure. The microphones were mostly classic vintage ribbons: an RCA Varacoustic, two RCA 74B Jr.’s, an AEA R92, and a Beyer M360. Naturally, his guitars are all vintage too. The album was self-produced and mixed by six-time Grammy winner Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton).
There are some killer new originals here, including the sweet, smoky title track and “Lookin’ For A Manger,” which features backing vocals from Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters—heirs to the legacy of The Fairfield Four. The album also delivers ripping covers like “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning,” a timeless tune recorded by everyone from Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt to Hot Tuna, Andrew Bird, and Tedeschi/Trucks.
You can score the vinyl of Honeysuckle at your favorite record store or at Amazon for an amazingly reasonable $17.46, which is even cheaper than it cost me at Amoeba! There are also CD options and I’m sure the album is streaming everywhere.
Do check out Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (see videos below!) and please support independent musicians!
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
Related Reading:
- Mississippi John Hurt Today! Vinyl Reissue Review
- Buddy Guy This Is Buddy Guy! & Scrapper Blackwell Mr. Scrapper’s Blues Vinyl Reviews: All-Analog Mastering, 180-Gram Pressings
- Thelonious Himself Shines In Craft OJC Reissue — A Must-Have For Jazz Vinyl Collectors
Honeysuckle (Official Video)
Looking For A Manger (Official Video, with The McCrary Sisters)
Like A Treasure (Official Video)
