Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears is an Austin, Texas group active from 2007. Its core members are Black Joe Lewis, Jason Frey, Derek Phelps, Bill Stevenson and Joseph Woullard. The band works in blues, funk, soul, rhythm and blues, and rock, with influences that include Howlin’ Wolf and James Brown.

Origins and early activity

Joe Lewis starts out playing guitar while working in a pawn shop in Austin. He then becomes part of the city’s Red River blues and garage scene, recording and performing with local musicians including the Weary Boys and Walter Daniels. The group forms in Austin in 2007.

Recordings and label history

Before the band’s wider breakthrough, it releases the Brian Salvi-produced Black Joe Lewis and The Cold Breeze EP in 2005 and the album Black Joe Lewis in 2007, both on the Italian label Shake Yo Ass Records. These releases lead to broader critical attention. The band later signs to Lost Highway Records in 2008.

After signing, the group performs at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2008 and releases a four-song EP in 2009. Its debut album, Tell ’Em What Your Name Is!, follows in 2009 and is produced by Spoon drummer Jim Eno.

Recognition and live work

The band opens for Spoon and Okkervil River in 2007. In 2009, Esquire includes the group among the “Ten Bands Set to Break Out at 2009’s SXSW Festival.” Its festival appearances include Bonnaroo, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Bumbershoot, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival, Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, Musikfest, Latitude Festival and Splendour in the Grass.

Media appearances

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Show with David Letterman, Austin City Limits and Later... with Jools Holland. The band is also featured in Echotone, a 2010 documentary about the Austin music scene.

Name use

In 2013, Joe Lewis says he is trying to drop the “Honeybears” part of the band name, having not intended it to last as long as it does.