The Struts & Dirty Honey Live in Cleveland + 4 Must-Hear Indie Rock Tracks
Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, where I dig into the best live concert experiences and new indie rock releases so you can spend less time scrolling and more time rocking out.
This week? I risked a brutal early morning flight for the chance to see The Struts live with Dirty Honey opening at the House of Blues Cleveland. Spoiler: zero regrets.
🏟 Concert Review — The Struts & Dirty Honey, House of Blues Cleveland
Some people collect stamps. I collect front-row rock memories. Dinner at the venue (pro tip: early entry access), quick seat maneuvering, and boom — I was right at the rail.
Dirty Honey — High-Energy Rock Revival
- Opened with “Gypsy” and kept the Dirty Honey setlist rocking through 11 tracks, including fan favorites “Rolling 7s” and “When I’m Gone”
- Premiered the unreleased “Too Good at Being Bad” — a guitar riff so filthy it should come with a warning
- Converted first-time listeners in minutes — textbook example of how an opening band wins over a crowd
- Picked up a signed vinyl & met frontman Marc LaBelle, who is just as cool offstage as on
The Struts — 10 Years of Everybody Wants
- The Struts Cleveland setlist started with “Put Your Hands Up” and “Primadonna Like Me” before performing Everybody Wants in full
- Encore: a sped-up cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, as well as “Body Talks”, “Pretty Vicious”, and closer “One Night Only”
- 19 songs total, with Luke Spiller proving once again he’s one of rock’s best frontmen
- The rest of the band — Adam, Jed, and Geth — delivered flawless performances from start to finish
Sleep? Four hours. Worth it? Every single second.
🎧 New Indie Rock & Alternative Songs You Need to Hear
1. Dust Bowl — Ethel Cain
A cinematic, brooding track from the concept album Willoughby Tucker I’ll Always Love You, a prequel to Preacher’s Daughter. If you like atmospheric storytelling and moody, emotional production, this one’s a gem.
2. Ghosts — Moving Mountains
From the piano-led intro to the dynamic chorus and masterfully layered bridge, Ghosts is indie rock craftsmanship at its finest. The tension between the drum groove and vocal phrasing makes it addictively unique.
3. Dreaming in Stereo — The Jellybricks
Imagine the 60’s British Invasion colliding with 90’s alternative rock (think Fountains of Wayne, Ben Folds). The harmonies and counter-harmonies make this track a vocal playground you’ll want on repeat.
4. A Day Off in Margaritaville — Liang Lawrence
A feel-good pop-rock anthem featuring slide guitar accents and an upbeat spirit. Perfect road trip soundtrack material.
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