Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears w / Shane Guerrette at The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS (2024-03-13)

Blues and barbecue are often paired together, as both seem to go mix well and both are unique American-born art forms, that help to define a culture. Additionally, both seem heavily influenced by their region, which can determine a very different variant, of the same basic product.

The BBQ may have been missing, but downtown Lawrence certainly had the weeknight Blues, as Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, supported by newcomer Shane Guerrette, made a tour stop at The Bottleneck.

The evening began with a generous opening set of almost an hour, from upstate New York relative newcomer Shane Guerrette, who is still in his early 20’s, but has been prolific and playing for nearly half his lifetime.

As one does, he began posting covers of his blues favorite songs on YouTube and then TikTok, eventually releasing his first self-titled EP in 2018; with two albums, more EPs and singles since. His tight-knit four-piece band is composed of his brother on drums, childhood friend on guitar, and a New Hampshire friend on bass.

Guerrette gushed with excitement to be on the road with his full band, following a prior solo acoustic run supporting Lewis, and their blend of Blues, which melds hook-laden roots rock with some smooth soul, simmers with a satisfying finish. Latest release is the stomping single, “Are We?”, played mid-set and which gives them momentum heading down to Austin for SXSW and playing multiple shows per day, to help broaden their audience even wider.

For Austin, TX’s own Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, they really need no introduction, already known for playing their own blue-collar, maverick style of Texas Blues since 2007, with a cache of eight albums and EPs and a handful of singles already under their belt.

The band seemed everywhere a decade ago, as we saw them headline the 2014 Tour de Fat Festival in Minneapolis, after seeing them the previous Fall at First Avenue but the band had stepped out of the spotlight the last several years, as a result of behind the scenes controversies, litigation, and label issues.

Lewis has thankfully returned to post-pandemic live touring (despite their latest single being 2020’ “Five Dollars”) with original and longtime bassist Bill Stevenson in tow, who is interesting to watch play, on his own. He and the drummer mostly stood back from Lewis during their 82-min set, giving Lewis all the room he needed to shred, and even though Lewis mostly kept to his stage left front corner.

Lewis has always sung and played with a raw gritty, street-level sound, tinged with Texas mesquite and as a soloist, is like a pitmaster firmly in charge of his instrument and surroundings.

Now, when he sings songs like 2008’s “I’m Broke” and 2018’s exploitation-themed “Suit or Soul” with an additional fierceness, we believe it even more, knowing even a little of the trials and tribulations they recently endured, to be able to keep playing live.

Through it all, there’s still a certain relaxed contentment when seeing him play, on this night wearing a vintage Springsteen t-shirt and ballcap from a local Austin venue – written setlists seem to be gone in favor of what feels best next to play, there’s a wry smile from Lewis after a satisfying solo, or a favored crowd response, and he still clearly has fun playing the highly danceable James Brown-inspired “Sugarfoot” or the rough but compelling early hit, “Bitch, I Love You”.

We’re grateful that Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are still out playing and singing their blend of uniquely blended Texas Blues (and bringing along new talent like Shane Guerrette to showcase) and through all of his music business issues, is playing like an act re-born and eager to again prove their own place, much like they did over a decade ago.

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BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS at The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS (2024-03-13)

BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS at The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS (2024-03-13)

SHANE GUERRETTE at The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS (2024-03-13)