BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS Tell 'em What Your Name Is

(2009/UMG) 10 tracks.
Debut album from Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. They are an eight-piece, garage-soul ensemble featuring groove- laden guitars, penetrating brass and a fiery frontman who exudes power and attitude. Experiencing the raw energy of Black Joe's performances, accompanied by The Honeybears' masterful backing is the equivalent of a kick to the stomach. Their gut-shot style, felt in such songs as "Gunpowder", "Master Sold My Baby" and "I'm Broke", draws directly from their classic soul, R&B and blues influences Inspiration from artists such as Otis Redding and The Bar-Kays, James Brown and Lightnin' Hopkins are clearly present in their songs and live shows, but Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears inject a full-tilt, unabashedly brash element to this old-school style.