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The California Honeydrops
[edit]Before Lech Wierzynski had the band as his primary source of income, The California Honeydrops as they are known today, busked for money in BART stations (Train Stations) in The Bay Area. He played alongside Ben Malament, his current drummer who would also washboard occasionally during live and recorded performances. Lech also acts as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and lead trumpet when he is not singing or playing guitar. Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Leara and Beau Bradbury on brass. They refer to their music being influenced by Bay Area Rhythm and Blues, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line. They have been on nine European tours since the band was first formed in November 2007. Having played at music festivals such as Monterey Jazz, High Sierra, and Outside Lands since they started, The California Honeydrops have also been involved in shows with other artists such as B.B. King, Dr. John, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. The California Honeydrops have ascended from Bay Area Bart Station success, to playing for an international audience and following. They have predominantly toured the United States, also having toured Australia and Europe.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, bandleader and frontman Lech Wierzynski started playing blues and jazz as a teenager at after-hours jam sessions in Washington D.C. Lech studied trumpet in high school with Vince McCool and then with Marcus Belgrave, a renowned Detroit musician, who played with the likes of Ray Charles and Charlie Mingus. Wierzynski launched his own career in Oakland busking in BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Stations. Having accompanied artists such as Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, and Jackie Payne, Wierzynski has grown equally adept as a trumpeter, singer, and guitarist.
The rhythm section of The California Honeydrops comprises the barrelhouse style of Oakland piano veteran Chris Burns, Johnny Bones on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on piano and keyboard. Rotating between tub bass, jug, washboard and drums are Nansamba Ssensalo and Ben Malament.
In October 2008, The California Honeydrops set off for their first European tour to play the Rawa Blues Festival in Katowice, Poland as well as shows in Poland, Germany and The Netherlands.
Their first album, Soul Tub!, with all original songs was released in November 2008.[1] Their second album, Spreadin' Honey was released in the summer of 2010. The California Honeydrops played a U.S. & Spain tour in 2012 including appearances at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. In April 2012 they released an album of a live set recording from a show in San Francisco called Honeydrops Live. They released their Like You Mean It on April 19, 2013. The band followed the release by embarking on their eighth European tour, a West Coast tour, and a performance at New Orleans Jazz Fest.[2]
They released their fifth album on September 11, 2015. The band sold out two nights at The Fillmore in San Francisco in support of the album, and then embarked on a United States tour. They will tour Australia for the first time in November 2015.[3]
In the spring of 2016 they opened for Bonnie Raitt during her US tour and will do so again during her fall US tour.
The band’s birthplace and home is the Bay Area, The California Honeydrops will be seen in the Bay Area when not on tour, they played at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in 2016 during an interim period of their time touring with Bonnie Raitt. From humble beginnings the band has launched into international fame. Although they have grown immensely they cease to stray from their classic views, way of life, and performing style. The band has refrained from acquiring a record label and prefers handling their operations in similar fashions to when they were less renowned. This true to heart attitude allows people who are dedicated to music to be able to experience an un-altering authentic style that The California Honeydrops provide.