When we saw Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears at Austin City Limits in October, my friend described Lewis as a dude who looks like Allen Iverson and sounds like James Brown. That's not entirely wrong, but it leaves out the fact that he also rocks out pretty hard on his guitar (which BTW is covered with pictures of scantily-clad ladies.)
One of the Honeybears told me that someone recently called them a "jam band", but they won't be confused with String Cheese Incident anytime soon. Sure, there's plenty of jamming - they don't write down their set list and never play a song the same way twice - but this is straight up funk and old school blues.
Last night at Bowery Ballroom they hit many of the high points on their debut LP Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! (produced by none other than Spoon drummer Jim Eno!) including “Sugarfoot,” “I’m Broke,” and “Bobby Booshay” plus the hilariously titled “Big Black Snake. ” 
They brought out their tour mates, likeable Mississippi bluesmen Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm, for a few songs in the middle of the set and finished their encore with crowd favorite “Bitch, I Love You.” It was a tough New York audience, grumpy from days of snow and slush, but it was hard not to be won over by these guys. Definitely worth catching them whenever they’re in town.Words and Pictures by Chris Goldberg
More pictures at the HAD Archive
