Steve Honoshowsky is a professional musician raised in Basking Ridge, NJ. He began playing drums at the age of ten, inspired by the likes of Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, and Terry Bozzio. In 2008, Honoshowsky represented the United States at the YMCA Europe Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, giving two solo drum performances on the center stage. Honoshowsky studied briefly under Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria) and is currently studying under percussionist Billy Martin (Medeski Martin and Wood). He has performed with Cyro Baptista and Billy Martin's Student Bodies, with Billy's Mystery Riddim Band (featuring Kato Hidecki and Shahzad Ismaily), as well as Billy's Fang Percussion Ensemble. He is also featured in Billy's DVD entitled "Life on Drums", which was released on October 8, 2010. Honoshowsky is most commonly known as the founder of No Use For Humans (NUFH), an avant-garde electronica band from New Jersey, and he's also the founder of the drumming collective Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick. Honoshowsky has performed and recorded with many metro New York City/ New Jersey bands, from hip-hop band Universal Rebel to world/avant-garde group In Petto, has toured the United States with hardcore band Hungry Housewives, and also performs solo sets under the name Soul Amputation. In addition to performing, Honoshowsky teaches private lessons, hosts drum workshops, and is a facilitator The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) program for therapy and to increase coordination and motor skills for physically and mentally disabled people. In addition, Honoshowsky plays bass and a variety of keyboards/electronics/vocals.
Background
Steve was born on February 7, 1979, in Morristown, NJ. Growing up, he had aspirations to play the electric guitar, but was dissuaded by his parents who informed him he could not play guitar in the high school concert band, which like his older brothers he intended on joining. Drums were the next best thing in his mind, so he picked up the sticks and began practicing his rudiment every day while listening to bands like Rush, Yes, and Frank Zappa. Beginning in middle school, Steve performed with guitarist Jay Sorce and bassist Rob Gorman in the band Pigs In Space. Pigs in Space gained a cult following in central New Jersey in the early 1990s until eventual breakup in 1995. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas College, graduating in 2001.
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
In 2008, Honoshowsky founded the drumming collective Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick. Speak Softly has opened doors to what can be created in the medium of "percussion only music". Each guest drummer was asked to record a drum piece. They were given no parameters as to what to play. Upon receiving each recording, Honoshowsky would listen to them just once and then record a duet piece over top of it. The idea was to keep it sounding as "in the moment" as possible. On Valentine's Day 2008, Honoshowsky and Amir Ziv performed their drum duets at the Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, NY, as part of Billy Martin's Week of Drums and Percussion.
Volume 1
Amir Ziv (Droid, KOT KOT) Tim Kieper (Cyro Baptista's Beat the Donkey, Banquet of Spirits) Steve Dans (Daylow) Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria) Ben Ross (Mothguts) Pete Andrews (Big Mechanical Bull) Ben Clapp (Skeleton Key) Charlie Zeleny (Behold...The Arctopus)
Volume 2
Ches Smith (Marc Ribot, Secret Chiefs 3) Brian Wolinski (117, The Loose Roosters, Joe Harvard Band) G. Calvin Weston (Lounge Lizards, Ornette Coleman, Marc Ribot) Bob Vaccarelli (Skeleton Key, Miss TK & The Revenge) Amir Ziv (Droid, KOT KOT) Chuck Treece (McRad) Mike Wojik (Bonk, Trio of Madness) Mike Noordzy (Mothguts, Intense Men) Brian DeMello (Montagna & The Mouth To Mouth, Strange Things Done in the Midnight Sun) Tribal Groove