BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS with the MERCY NOW at the Horseshoe (370 Queen West), tonight (Thursday, March 31). $17.50. HS, RT, SS, TM. See listing.
Playing SXSW can be like a (modestly) paid vacation for many visiting bands, but not for Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears.
“It kind of feels like work,” says singer/guitarist Joe Lewis – yes, that’s his real name – over the phone from New York City. “We’re actually from Austin, so it’s a lot like usual except it’s really busy out. We try to avoid the city centre during that week.”
It makes sense that the band wouldn’t mythologize the festival the way others do. Beyond the free tacos and beer lines, SXSW has the feeling of an industry event. Already signed to Lost Highway (a subsidiary of Universal), Lewis and his eight-piece band care much more about having a good time than they do about impressing A&R reps.
“That shit don’t matter,” he drawls. “We’re just trying to make some good music, you know?”
Their new album, Scandalous, exudes that same laconic swagger. Recalling blues and soul legends Otis Redding and Howlin’ Wolf, it solidifies their reputation as an old-school party band, albeit with a gritty rawness courtesy of producer Jim Eno (also known as the drummer for Spoon).
Scandalous also aligns them with soul revivalists like Robert Randolph and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, whom they’ll tour with in May. But Lewis insists they’re not part of any bigger movement.
“We’re just playing what we like listening to, putting our little spin on it,” he says. “We’re a rock band, not a neo-soul band or anything like that. But that’s just what I think. That’s for people who listen to the music to decide.”
Still, it’s easy to hear generations of soul and funk heritage in the band’s tunes, and though they shy away from the term “throwback,” they’ve opened for such legendary rock and roll figures as Little Richard and the New York Dolls.
They’ve even helped uncover some musical history. Their song You Been Lyin’ features backing vocals by the Relatives, a semi-obscure Dallas gospel group from the 80s who’ve since reformed and had their catalogue reissued.
“It’s really cool to get to play with them,” Lewis says. “It’s all pretty badass.”
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