Under San Francisco's current street tree policy, having a tree in front of your building can be costly. Listening to Lech sing, it can be a surprise that he was born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised by Polish political refugees. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. We continued the Honeydrops album tradition of bringing special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic, adds drummer Ben Malament. When John Prine passed away last month it seemed like it was time to make the idea come to life as tribute to one of the great song writers of our time. But I cant say I enjoy it. And we did a CD release for two nights in September at the Fillmore. A contemporary soul-blues band that is grounded in tradition and also boasts a modern flair. glise Saint-Jacques in Lunville was established by him in 1745. MM: I was going to ask about that because I did read that, but to me it sounds like one of the best produced albums of the year. Although Chicago is very Polish. California Honeydrops bring their dance party back to Asheville When Lech Wierzynski was a youngster in Warsaw, his parents listened to American music with the volume turned way down and the radio pressed to their ear. LW: Well, actually, first we made a bootleg album thats not available that we used to sell on the street. Nowadays we have management and stuff but we're still independent and want to keep it that way. And we've had the opportunity to play in front of these huge audiences who've never heard our music before. The California Honeydrops, The Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon Were going out with her for about two months. Then I would just bring them to the band. This record is all about love and good lovin and other things that matter, says frontman, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski of the new LP, which exhibits the Honeydrops unique musical style that draws from roots, Bay Area R&B, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second line. ", And their performance style can only be described as trying to get a party started. And it keeps it interactive. He played with Ray Charles. Wadysaw oziski z oziny herbu Lubicz, ps. The Leszczyski family obtained the title of count of Leszno in the Holy Roman Empire. And that was the second to last album. It's been great. March 25///Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center///Philadelphia, PA* Whether in those high-profile performances or in more intimate venues where the band can leave the stage and get down on the dance floor themselves, the California Honeydrops shared vision and purpose remain: to make the audience dance and singand to give back. Spreadin' Honey arrived in 2010, followed by Honeydrops Live in 2012. Website - https://www.thebrotherscomatose.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thebrotherscomatoseInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/broscomatose/Twitt. And we did a Kickstarter. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The only time he's not listening to music is when he's watching television shows and movies or reading, usually music magazines. And Ive gotten better at it. Spent a lot of time there, but, no, I did not actually grow up in Poland. The California Honeydrops frontman and founding member Lech Wierzynski may seem like an All-American Blues singer and player, but he was born in Warsaw, Poland. We get to watch her every night and she's such an amazing performer. LW: The last two albums ago we crowd funded it. Are you the one who writes all the songs or do you co-write them with the band? Singer/trumpeter Lech Wierzynski, a native of Warsaw, Poland, formed the California Honeydrops with drummer Ben Malament in Oakland in the late 2000s. Wierzynski built on his early base while studying ethno-musicology at Oberlin College. LW: I had just started writing songs. When It Was Wrong. They came through with us for that. They've taken the party all over the world, playing festivals of all kinds and touring widely across North America, Europe and . Its hard out there. Its a part of the country that we havent gotten to hit that often. This band was started about two years after moving here [in 2007], and it was because I really wanted to get back to street playing. People love to party, people love to sing along, and it's easy to get people loose and having. Friday Night Livestream Sessions with Lech Wierzynski of The California Honeydrops!25% Of All proceeds donated to our charities at www.cahoneydrops.com/sprea. His friend Yanos Lustig composed the soul-blues ballad 'Let It Go.' The disc's only 'cover' is of Johnny Adams' classic 'Hell Yes, I Cheated.' "name" : "Lech Wierzynski", Facebook.com/Cat-Tracks-100964685701970Filmed on location in Irwin, Colorado with Eleven Experience and Irwin GuidesLech Wierzynski - Guitar/VocalsSteve Heig. You know, the Bay Are awas significantly cheaper then, so we could pay our rent just kind of busking. That recorded our album, Spreadin Honey. LW: I write most of them. So, that started right away. Those are the primary influences it's good music to dance to and have a good time to. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. MM: Do you have any particular memories of Boston? I studied. March 26///The Kennedy Center ///Washington, DC* In 1473, Rafa Leszczyski obtained from Emperor Frederick III the title of count. Things We Used to Do. Years active. I recently had a chat with frontman, guitarist and trumpet player Lech (pronounced Lesh) Wierzynski about the making of A Rivers Invitation and the bands tour with Bonnie Raitt. Thank you John Prine and all the musicians that came before us for the gift of music, now as precious and needed as ever. Wierzynski is now free to sing and play American musicand how he does. Why are you guys still playing here? And we were like, man, you know, we dont have a record label or nothing. Modeled afterBrooklyn Comes AliveandDenver Comes Alive, Quarantine Comes Alive was conceived as a way to celebrate and support musicians, provide fans with unique musical experiences from the comfort of their couches, and raise money for comprehensive COVID-19 relief during this time of uncertainty. That was our first date. The California Honeydrops | Vilar Performing Arts Center (And, despite the band's party-making ethos, the Bonnie Raitt crowd necessitates a sit-down show, so sadly the floor at the Fox won't be open for bouncing around.). Leszczynski History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms - HouseOfNames The band's performance featured a condensed lineup of Lech Wierzynski, . March 24///Tin Angel///Philadelphia, PA A pizza cooperative. Wierzynski traded his semi-hollow body acoustic guitar for shakers to add a percussive element to the 1964 R&B classic . The California Honeydrops Cover Chuck Berry, The Drifters At - L4LM We started playing on the street, mostly. May 8///Park Tavern ///Atlanta, GA Inspiration for the guitarists duet take alongside a bassist of John Prines beloved country tune made famous byBonnie Raittwas inspired by The California Honeydrops tour alongside Raitt a few years back. Sign in / sign up and request update access to the Lech Wierzynski page. The second album that we didnt record at home, the place that we used to play threw us a fundraiser. Their first album, Soul Tub!, with all original songs was released in November 2008. Although he plays a wide variety of genre, theres no mistaking guitar, harmonica, banjo and ukulele player Taj Mahal. That gets expensive. So, I played a lot of Louis Armstrong stuff on the trumpet. }. Right now you can catch the band opening for Bonnie Raitt most nights, though theyre still headlining some club dates on their nights off from her tour. Suffice to say, Im very much looking forward to seeing the Honeydrops live next week on the 29th when they play the Boston Orpheum with Raitt. The family had its greatest importance in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when they were ardent supporters of Calvinism and turned their estates of Leszno and Baranw Sandomierski into major centres of the Polish Reformed Church. "But I always think, 'Hey, I'm probably going to do it a slightly different way.'" 2005-2023The California Honeydrops, All Rights Reserved. Led by dynamic vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski, and drawing on diverse musical influences from Bay Area R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues and New Orleans second-line, The California Honeydrops bring vibrant energy and infectious dance-party vibes to their shows. Born in Warsaw, Poland, band leader and front man Lech Wierzynski started playing blues and jazz as a teenager at after-hours jam sessions in Washington D.C. After studying trumpet with Marcus Belgrave, Wierzynski launched his own career in Oakland. The California Honeydrops - SFGATE June 30July 1///High Sierra Music Festival ///Quincy, CA, https://www.youtube.com/user/californiahoneydrops, Tags: 2016, blues, Bonnie Raitt, California, feature, features, interview, interviews, jazz, New Orleans, San Francisco, soul, The California Honeydrops. Feb. 12, 2009. the California Honeydrops are from left to right: Ben Malament, Lech Wierzynski, Nansamba Ssensalo, Chris Burns Courtesy California . We never did anything with the idea even though it sounded cool and until the times of quarantine i never had the time to work it out. We want crowd involvement, to make people become a part of the whole thing by dancing along, singing, picking the songs and generally coming out of their shells. ET. April 29///Bayou Theater ///Houston, TX* Under the Boardwalk | Lech Wierzynski/ California Honeydrops Keeping 'em separate so they don't get mad at each other. Our solo shows, the main thing that I like about that is that I get to play for as long as I feel like it. We didnt get too deep into that but we kind of loved and respected all of that stuff. A modern blues band that tempers its retro inclinations with a contemporary flair, the California Honeydrops carved out a following on the international blues circuit in the 2010s. Since 2019, the band has used its Spreadin Honey Project to partner with local nonprofits in each city they visit on tour, raising awareness and funds for causes such as food banks, homeless shelters, youth centers, disaster relief efforts, and social justice initiatives. Well, I really appreciate that. It keeps the audience involved. That was an old band from the twenties. Weve been getting better at it. We want requests. What are the advantages to being her opening act as opposed to headlining? That came probably about two, three, four years into my stay in the Bay. June 18///Live Oak Music Festival///Santa Barbara, CA Related: The California Honeydrops Share Live Video Of Live Learn From 2020 Denver Performance [Premiere]. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. And, yeah, that was how it all began. While frontman and trumpet player Lech Wierzynski sings and plays trumpet, he's joined by Johnny Bones on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keys, and Beau Bradbury and Ben Malament on tub bass and various percussion, including washboards, jugs, and drums. When we started we literally made an album on garage band. Their rhythms are punctuated by trumpet, piano riffs, and bluesy vocals. The California Honeydrops: American Band, Polish Roots | KUNC Born in Warsaw, Poland, band leader and front man Lech Wierzynski started playing blues and jazz as a teenager at after-hours jam sessions in Washington D.C. After studying trumpet with Marcus Belgrave, Wierzynski launched his own career in Oakland. From BART to the big-time, the California Honeydrops stay in touch with Every crowd has different energy. MM: I understand you spent your childhood in Poland. The last couple shows were at the New Parish and at the Freight & Salvage one show for the partying children and one for the sit-down crowd, you know. They've taken the party all over the world, playing festivals of all . Thanks also to Nick Mallchok at Sacks & Co. for setting it up! Lech Wierzynski Music - Facebook Boyce and Lightnin Malcolm, when Johnny our sax player said hey i can hear Angel from Montgomery over this groove, you should try singin it. So, we did a few three day sessions until the end of the year. Kind of like the jazz ambassador of Detroit for many years. King, Allen Toussaint, Buddy Guy, and Dr. John. We dont make setlists. MM: You play guitar and trumpet. March 12///Palace Theatre///Albany, NY* They were magnates in the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth and later became royal family of Poland. March 17///White Rabbit Cabaret///Indianapolis, IN MM: How did you finance the new album? MM: How many dates are you doing with Bonnie Raitt? Those Days. 1959-2007. This is a jazz music websitespammers will be deleted. LW: I ended up in the Bay after I finished school at Oberlin and we went out there with the band and my girlfriend at the time, who was one of the co-founders of the Honeydrops.