Black Joe and the Honeybears are relatively new on the music scene. Joe was a late bloomer musically and didn’t learn the guitar until the age of 20 while working in a pawn shop. The group out of Austin TX is reminiscent of bands gone by, no gimmicks, just good ole rockin’ blues. You can hear influences of James Brown, Howlin' Wolf, Lenny Kravitz, Rolling Stones, Sly & The Family Stone and a touch of Robert Johnson in their music. The funk fueled horns bring the 60’s/70’s/80’s kind of sound to the mix, like that of Chicago, and Blood Sweat & Tears. They blow the lid off what may be mundane music without the talented brass section.
The group just released their second Album SCANDALOUS out March 15, 2011. The eight member band consists of Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. They coordinate Detroit, Memphis, Chicago, and Texas blues into their style of blues rock and funkadelic sounds that get you on your feet to move to the music. It is a improvement from their first album TELL’EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS, out in March 2009, but this is only their 2nd Album, and one that is definitely notable.
Joe says “We play the music that we like to listen to, and it is always about the music first”. He writes music that reflects life experiences and not for the easily offended. Some of the stories that go with the tunes are equally as entertaining as the music, like the song “Mustang Ranch” about getting their ham glazed at a brothel they happened upon. The swampy sound of “Black Snake”, is not really about a snake either. “Messin” is a nice old style blues number with acoustic guitars and familiar drumming which Lewis’s vocals mimic that of Robert Johnson. “You Been Lyin” is wild and crazy funkadelic , “Jesus Took My Hand” drums pounding Lewis shouts “I ain’t scared to die”. Those are some of the 15 tunes on the SCANDALOUS album + more that are worth mentioning.
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are just getting off the ground with their music careers. It is just possible great things will come to them as they refine their art along the way. Hopefully they will stay true to the Rockin’Roll Blues genre as they believe they are right now with a little bit of soul and funk to make them unique, but only time will tell if they have longevity.
http://www.blackjoelewis.com/music.aspx
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