The California Honeydrops

Description

Digging deep into the roots of American music, The California Honeydrops embrace the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Second Line New Orleans Jazz, and early R&B. With stellar performances of traditional material as well as their own innovative music, The California Honeydrops get people out of their seats and onto the floor, dancing, sweating, and singing along.

Since their formation 4 years ago in the subway stations of Oakland, CA, The California Honeydrops have completed 6 European tours, spread honey on crowds throughout the US, and recorded 2 full length albums of original music, all without the help of a record label or major booking agency. Their secret? An irresistible sound that blends the energy and intimacy of a street performance, undeniable talent and musicianship, and the soul and fervor of a spiritual street parade.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, band leader and front man Lech Wierzynski began playing blues and jazz as a teenager at after-hours jam sessions in Washington D.C. After studying trumpet with Marcus Belgrave (Ray Charles), Lech continued his career after moving to Oakland, honing his craft with some of the biggest names in American music, such as Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, and Jackie Payne, allowing Lech to grow equally as a trumpeter, singer, and guitarist.

The vibrant rhythm section of The California Honeydrops is fueled by the unprecedented energy of saxophonist Johnny Bones (Eddie Palmiere, Nell Carter, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums), and drummer Ben Malament (Terry Reid, The Marvelettes, The Jelly Roll Souls). Currently touring with The CA Honeydrops is Doug Stuart on bass, and Charles Hickox on keys.

See them perform once, and you won’t be surprised why they were voted the SF Bay Area’s “Best Soul/R&B Band”. Nominated for “Best New Artist” by the National Blues Foundation (2009), and recently receiving 5 East Bay Express Reader’s Poll awards (2011) including “Best Band”, “Best Album”, and “Best Musician”, with a highly anticipated live album due to release in late 2011 and an upcoming East Coast tour, consider The California Honeydrops to be unstoppable!

Proclaimed as "rewriting the rules of alt country" by the Austin Chronicle, The Lonesome Heroes have emerged as a singular talent out of Austin's music scene. Songwriters Rich Russell and Landry McMeans founded the Heroes in 2005, and the pair has cultivated their Brooklyn and Texan roots into a unique sound that unites Indie Rock, Folk, and Country.

The Heroes' songs evoke a Western Americana landscape littered with broken hearts, abandoned shopping malls, and crooked highways. Lonesome, yet hopeful, the songs call upon a wide list of influences to step beyond the alt country moniker. McMeans' lilting voice, meshed with Russell's drier vocals sits atop a multilayered nest of acoustic guitar, reverb-laden steel, and atmospheric sounds. The result is a haunting city-meets-country feeling that has been compared by Flagstaff Weekly as a "chance meeting between Yo La Tengo and Patsy Cline."

The Heroes launched their first full length album Daydream Western on June 23rd in Austin, TX at the Spider House Ballroom, and will do a world wide release November 8th, 2011. Recorded at The Space in Austin, and produced by Gary Newcomb, Daydream Western is the culmination of many highway miles..

To celebrate McMeans’ feel good hit of the summertime, “Highway 287,” The Heroes released Daydream Western along historic Highway 287. The 1,974 mile journey along the National Park Highway stretched from The Gulf of Mexico to Glacier National Park, MT. Equipped with a 1967 Shasta camper and a film crew, the Lonesome Heroes brought their daydream to life. Video shorts of their great Americana escapade are available online, as well as a soon to be released tour documentary.