Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears at Bowery Ballroom in NYC

Last night, Trop and I had the opportunity to check out Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, a primal blues, soul, and funk band hailing from Austin, Texas. Before taking the stage, we chatted with lead-singer Joe Lewis, a soft-spoken gentleman who waxed poetic about life in Austin and how he could never get used to living in the big city - like New York.

But, when Joe took to the stage he transformed into a full-fledged showman -- reminiscent of likes of James Brown, Little Richard, and Sly Stone. He's a soul-shouter, with the ability to ignite the audience at the drop of a hat while his backing band, The Honeybears, complete with horn section, had the crowd dancing wildly. Their lyrics are gritty, at times blatantly misogynistic, but in such an exaggerated way that they come off as entertaining -- such as the show-stopping "Bitch, I Love You," a tune that would clearly make Ike Turner proud.

If you're looking for something fresh to check out - I highly recommend seeing Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears in action. Their debut album, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is, is currently available for purchase.

Check out clips of "Sugar Foot" and "Big Booty Woman:"

Sugar Foot:


Big Booty Woman:




[photo credit: cambria harkey via Black Joe Lewis myspace]