Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
October 25, 2022
Featured as one of Rolling Stone magazine’s Artist You Need to Know, Dirty Honey recently completed their California Dreamin’ tour. Vocalist Marc LaBelle said it was great to be back on the road. “I had tours in America, Australia, Japan and Europe all canceled due to the pandemic,” LaBelle said from Seattle. “While on tour, I definitely like to experience what the places we’re (playing in) have to offer. So there’s quite a few places that we still haven’t been able to get to post-pandemic.” The Los Angeles-based musician said he hopes to visit more countries soon. “I went to Australia to record our first record and only really got to see Byron Bay and Brisbane,” LaBelle said. “I’d love to get back to Australia and see those places again, but obviously I need to see Melbourne and Sydney as well.”
Q: With travel limited in early 2020 due to the pandemic, how did you stay active?
A: I did everything possible to keep on moving during the pandemic and especially spend time outside. I frequently go on walks, bicycle rides, and motorcycle rides while at home and fortunately those were the things that kept me sane while dealing with a lot of the lockdown and restrictions. I went up to Big Sur a few times, went hiking in Malibu, camped in the Sierra Nevadas – but all of that is normal regardless of the pandemic.
Q: Out of curiosity, do you speak any foreign languages?
A: I studied and speak Italian pretty well and I picked it up somewhat easily having studied Spanish since I was about 10 years old. Both of those languages are beautiful, but it’s tough to maintain the ability to speak it if you’re not constantly immersed in situations that require you to think and speak in a new language.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: It’s tough to pick a favorite, but for the sake of the question I’d pick Italy. It offers most of what I like – beautiful mountain roads for my motorcycle, hiking trails in the Dolomites, wonderful vibrant cities with culture blossoming out of every corner, and incredible beaches in the south. It really is a special place and the people are so sweet and just really know how to enjoy life.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: I don’t know how untapped it is, but I recently just fell in love with Greece and the Greek Islands after our first tour of Europe. I spent a week in Greece and was shocked at how much I enjoyed myself. I went into the trip not knowing much about the country or the food and was really blown away. I will absolutely be back.
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: The first vacations I really remember were camping trips in the Adirondacks and going on a Caribbean cruise with my family. Those were always fun.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: Don’t speed in Switzerland.
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: Being in Jamaica a few years ago with my entire family was a really special memory. It gets harder to see everyone as people move away from home and have kids. I have a pretty big, but also unorthodox family, so it’s tough to get everyone together. Also sharing my first motorcycle trip with my dad all over the American Southwest was something I’ll remember forever. Getting arrested in Switzerland for an outstanding speeding ticket that I was completely unaware existed was definitely my worst vacation memory. Again, don’t speed in Switzerland.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: I’ve recently found myself escaping to Montana for long weekends to go tracking wildlife with a friend in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park (in Wyoming). I’m usually up for visiting any national park, but rock bands don’t have weekends off (so) I like to visit the parks when they’re most quiet.
Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A: My family lives in New York, so I always find my way home for Christmas. I don’t think there’s anything quite like a Christmas in New York or even Chicago or Philly. I found myself abroad in Florence, Italy, in mid-December a few years ago and it was also lovely, but there’s just something about New York at Christmas that’s magical.
Q: What are your favorite cities?
A: I’ve always said I want to have three homes. One (each) in Florence, New York and LA. I really love Chicago, Montreal, London, Paris, Milan, and Madrid as well.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: Being that home is L.A. it’d be really difficult to find a place that reminded me of Los Angeles. I tend to go places that really feel different because that’s what stimulates me. If I’ve been spending a bit of time in L.A., I tend to escape to the mountains and if I’ve been touring in the wintertime I’d find myself escaping to, like, the Amalfi Coast for a week to get a change of scenery.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: I want to go on safari in South Africa or Namibia or somewhere in Africa.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: My camera, my motorcycle helmet and a good pair of hiking shoes.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A: I just did it actually. A bit of motorcycling and hiking in the Italian Alps mixed with some good food and relaxing on the beaches in the Mediterranean for a few days.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: Pizza or gelato, especially in Italy. Whether it’s a hole in the wall or a five-star dining experience doesn’t matter. Great is great.
© 2022 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
