Honey Plant started with two musicians, Matthew Nist and Robin Lowe, in separate bands splitting rent for a studio space in Southern California. They joined forces to get the most bang for their buck and they weren’t necessarily expecting a band to form, and certainly couldn’t anticipate the friendship that would result in turn. Now, with both of them based in Reno and expanding the band with other musicians, more performances, and more passion than ever, it’s clear that funk is here to stay in the Biggest Little City.
Funk: how to describe such a genre? Music that is gravitationally groovy? Rhythms that incite a bodacious boogie? Alliterations aside, Nist sums up the genre with one word: fun.
Honey Plant drummer Matthew Nist with said strong margarita in hand. Photo By Vanessa Ribeiro.
Since establishing themselves in Reno, they have performed over 35 live shows at various local music venues including Cypress Music Hall, The Holland Project, and Matador Lounge.
“Reno has really shown up and shown out with their intimacy,” Lowe said. “Everyone that I’m meeting here, I feel like I can develop a real relationship with and it’s not just based on transaction.”
Honey Plant vocalist and bass extraordinaire Robin Lowe. Photo by Vanessa Ribeiro.
As Nist and Lowe found their bearings in Reno- a city with a thriving rock and punk scene- the opportunities to hone the sound of Honey Plant arose with the introduction of Noah Jeffery, a Reno local with saxophone skills, who had only flirted with the funk genre before. That didn’t stop him from coming in with a bang, performing with the duo for the first time in September of 2022.
The band has plans to add more members and work towards the eventual goal of touring the West Coast- and who knows, maybe the world one day.
Honey Plant can be found @honey_plantmusic on Instagram
Reporting for Our Town Reno by Vanessa Ribeiro