the honest liars [some lies about us.]
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THE HONEST LIARS play original, hard rocking, guitar-based pop nuggets about love and loss and pathological dishonesty with a 60's psychedelic tinge. They were formed in 1993 by rhythm guitarist Dylan Joniper and twin brothers John and Bob Bohacek [lead guitar and bass, respectively.] The group was rounded out by Darren Costello on drums, who promptly quit and was replaced by "Teddy Boy" Wallingford, who was kicked out and replaced by the enigmatic percussionist known only as Gypsy, who mysteriously disappeared and was replaced by some guy with a drum machine, who was replaced by another guy with a drum machine, who was replaced by mail carrier-turned-backbeat provider Kurt Hildebrant. I wish I were kidding. "It's not us, really," Dylan Joniper protests, "It's just some weird drummer thing."

They began playing in and around Detroit, as far away as Lansing and some garage-friendly clubs in Chicago. Mostly they hung out in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck at Paycheck's Lounge and Lili's 21. There was virtually no response from a crowd heavily versed in Mainstream Alternative [a classic oxymoron] and the burgeoning NĂ¼ Metal Rap/Rock scene. But the LIARS kept at it. Eventually, they scraped enough money together to record a demo CD. Released in 1994, "Differentiation" is a dramatic statement of purpose: it aims at nothing less than to bring rock music back to its roots. Seven tracks of blistering music and emotional lyrics clocking in at less than 20 minutes. Detroit's independent music magazine, JamRag, had this to say: "Guitar based songs with sappy lyrics is what rock is all about."

THE HONEST LIARS sent the demo out to as many companies as they could, without a letter of introduction or a release notice or anything. It was returned without even being opened. So they slogged on, played some clubs, replaced some drummers, got their first single "All The Time b/w Lose Your Smile" on Ontario's 89X Homeboy Show and in local college radio in Chicago. They recorded a second demo, mostly with Dylan and John dubbing multiple guitars over artificial drums. The finished product, released in 1996, is called "My World," a heavier, slightly aggravated record which picks up where Differentiation left off. Six short bursts of pure rock. JamRag called it "Another brilliant collection of Blues-Based Rock'N'Roll. THE HONEST LIARS are a group to watch."

They sent out another round of demos and received another batch of unopened envelopes. In the meantime, the real world reared its ugly head, and real world responsibilities intruded upon the boys. They got new day jobs, new drummers, and even new children. Dylan bought a home 8-track machine and began recording Lennon-esque ballads accompanied by his brother on keyboards. Time went on. Good music, even good 'Alternative Music' seemed to go away for awhile, as a new group of youngsters quenched their desire for shoddy, pre-manufactured, soulless pop music. It was pretty dire. Suddenly, out of nowhere, music caught up with the LIARS' sound, and Garage Rock exploded in Detroit and across the country. It was time to return.

John, Bob and Dylan dug up a new drummer, quickly scraped up some dough, and ran headlong into the studio. In two four-hour sessions they wrote, recorded and mixed "Sometimes Down the Road." Released in 2001, they considered it to be their best, and they weren't alone. In 2005, they released a compilation of the best of these tracks and a handful of others in the collection "Outside the Distance" which was favorably received in John's new home town of Nashville, Tenessee. Though they are separated by distance and work schedules, you can't keep twins [or their ex-nephew-in-law] apart for long. John, Bob and Dylan have recently recorded more home demos; intricate, Stones-ish blues rock, tentatively entitled "Beyond and Back." Whenever they all get together a new slice of musical heaven will be born.

Honest Liars live at Paycheck's