By Peggy Phillips
(The Hollywood Times) – September 18, 2025
Durango’s Bel-Aire Backyard lit up as the perfect stage for a party, setting the scene for a night of unapologetic rock and roll as The Struts brought their Everybody Wants 10th Anniversary Tour to Las Vegas, with Dirty Honey as the special guest. The poolside venue created an intimate yet electric atmosphere—more like a private party than a stadium show, but with all the polish of a major production.
Dirty Honey
Los Angeles-based Dirty Honey, formed in 2017, quickly built a following on the local rock scene. In 2019, they made history when their single “When I’m Gone” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart—the first unsigned band ever to do so. Since then, they’ve toured with legends like The Who, The Black Crowes, and Guns N’ Roses, proving they can hold their own alongside giants.
I first saw Dirty Honey last year at The Troubadour, and I was thrilled to experience them live again. That night, Marc LaBelle owned the stage, scaling the iconic venue like a gymnast while pouring his voice over the sold-out crowd, as John Notto shredded guitar lines while body-surfing through the fans. Since then, the band has become one of my all-time favorites, carrying the torch for blues-soaked, classic-tinged rock and pushing it boldly into a new era.
- Marc LaBelle – Vocals
LaBelle stormed the stage in Las Vegas with a voice of pure rasp and bite, the kind that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. His mix of grit and soul gave every song a sense of urgency, while his fearless stage presence pulled the crowd into his world. - John Notto – Guitar
Notto’s guitar solos were the fire in the spotlight—blues-rooted runs fused with hard-rock fierceness, each one climbing from tight riffs to soaring, melodic peaks. His tone was biting and saturated, cutting cleanly through the mix, and every solo felt like a conversation with the crowd: tense pauses, fiery bends, then explosive climaxes that left the audience erupting.
- Justin Smolian – Bass
Smolian’s bass lines carried both weight and melody, locking tightly with the drums while weaving counter-lines that gave songs depth. His grooves grounded the band, adding grit and attitude to every chorus. - Jaydon Bean – Drums
Bean’s confident drumming anchored the set, providing a rock-solid backbone that kept the grooves tight and the energy high. His dynamic fills and steady momentum pushed each song forward.
The crowd erupted for “California Dreamin’”, “Too Good at Being Bad”, “The Wire”, and “Heartbreaker.” It was the perfect warm-up, cementing Dirty Honey’s reputation not just as openers, but as headliners in their own right. With sold-out tours across Europe, Australia, and North America, the band’s momentum shows no signs of slowing.
The Struts
This was my second time seeing The Struts, following their standout set at BeachLife Festival earlier this year (review published in The Hollywood Times, May 2, 2025). The British glam-rock quartet is:
- Luke Spiller – Vocals
Spiller was magnetic, a mix of Jagger confidence and Mercury flair. His theatricality isn’t mere spectacle—it’s the engine that drives The Struts’ live experience. He strutted, slinked, and commanded the crowd, who sang along word for word to anthems like “Kiss This,” “Could Have Been Me,” “Primadonna Like Me,” and “Body Talks.” His charisma made the audience feel like part of the show, not just spectators. - Adam Slack – Guitar
He balanced groove and flash, while adding the shimmer that defines the band’s glam-rock sound. Slack’s riffs drove the songs forward, giving fans the hooks to sing along to and the pulse to move with. His guitar work was the steady spark behind The Struts’ larger-than-life energy. - Jed Elliott – Bass
Elliott’s bass thundered through the Durango poolside setting, thick and melodic, locking with Davies’ drums to drive the band’s massive sound. His playing gave weight to the anthems, ensuring the choruses landed with force. - Gethin Davies – Drums
Davies kept the momentum surging with unyielding drive. His open, pounding beats and crisp fills added drama to every song, giving the performance a stadium-sized pulse even in the intimate setting.
Together, they delivered not just nostalgia, but a reminder that Everybody Wants remains one of the strongest debut albums of the last decade. For this 10th anniversary tour, the band performed the record in its entirety, alongside other fan favorites. From start to finish, it felt like reconnecting with an old friend—the kind of night that brought back memories while creating brand new ones.
Enjoy the music here:
Pairing with Dirty Honey made the evening feel like a double-headliner event. It was rock and roll the way it’s meant to be—raw, powerful, and unmissable. For me, it was the kind of night that reminded me why I fell in love with live music in the first place—bands giving everything on stage, crowds completely locked in, and that electric connection only live rock and roll can create.
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