Page: http://www.ameriblues.com/

NEW YORK: Black Joe Lewis' Tell 'Em What Your Name Is! - by J. Blake

Posted on 9/29/2009 by J. Blake


Despite the fact that Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears’ debut CD holds a place in the top ten of Billboard’s Blues Music Charts, TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS! is as influenced by the soul sounds of James Brown or Wilson Pickett as it is by artists like Howlin’ Wolf or Lightnin’ Hopkins. Blues band or soul band, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears is definitely a group with a bright future ahead of them.

Released on the Lost Highway Record label, TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS!, may only have a running time slightly over 30 minutes, but its horn driven sound is big enough to satisfy any music fan. Its 10 tracks (9 of which were penned by the band’s leader) create a soul sound that is at times so authentic, that even the most educated of ears may (depending on the track) easily mistake it for being either vintage Stax or late-60s experimental Chess Records (in the vein of ELECTRIC MUD or THE HOWLIN’ WOLF ALBUM).

Though it is difficult to single out a definite highlight from this fun and energetic major-label debut, Lewis and his band are perhaps at their best when they are channeling the souls of artists past. Sugarfoot is a clear homage to James Brown and The Godfather of Soul’s massive shoes are adequately filled by the seemingly fearless Joe Lewis. Tracks like Big Booty Woman and Master Sold My Baby could easily sound at home on greatest hits collections for artists like Howlin’ Wolf or even Mississippi Fred McDowell and with the ‘R’ rated Get Yo Shit, Lewis and band expertly cross influences by mixing and matching elements that are more than just reminiscent of Wilson Pickett, John Lee Hooker and Otis Redding.


During an age when dance hits like Boom Boom Pow and Paparazzi are taking the world by storm, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears hits the scene with an abundance of genuine soul and an album full of retro-grooves that are as easy to shake your hips to as any Britney Spears single. It is a promising turn of events for an otherwise bleak popular music future. Watch out world! Big things are definitely on the horizon for Mr. Lewis and his Texas band of heavy soul hitters.
Performing Sugarfoot on the Late Late Show:




People who liked this article also liked: The Tragic Tale of the Green God
Copyright © 2009 - J. Blake. All Rights Reserved



American Blues News Staff

What makes American Blues News unique is our coverage across America. Here is our lineup:

Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.

Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.

Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.

Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.

Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.

Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.

Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.

Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.

We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.

Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.

Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.

And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!

 
Internet Marketingdata recovery