Girl at the Rock Shows

Back in June, I found myself at a show I knew little about. It was headlined by Trevor Hall & The Great In-Between. I knew as soon as opening act The California Honeydrops took the stage that night that I was way out of my element but there was something about the entire night that had me captivated. Although it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, there was something so pure and exciting about both acts so, when The California Honeydrops announced that they would be covering an entire night at the legendary First Avenue mainroom, I knew I had to go and experience it all over again.

I was a bit nervous about The California Honeydrops covering an entire night just by themselves. It’s not that I didn’t think they were capable of it because, deep down, I knew they were, but it was more that, prior to Saturday night, I knew of this band as just an opening act. From vocal harmonies to stunning horn solos and an unmistakable high-energy show, as soon as they kicked into their set, any fear of this band not being able to fill a full night on their own fell to the wayside.

Hailing from, you guessed it, California, The California Honeydrops are not a new band in any way. They formed back in 2007 and started by playing in the subway stations of Oakland, California. Over the years, they have released eight full-length albums that span all sorts of genres but seem to really focus on roots, r&B, and soul. That being said, to call this band a roots band would not be fair. Part of me wants to call them a jam band just due to the creative juices that clearly flow on stage during each song and the way each track has a very organic flow to it but even that doesn’t seem to fit this band. They are a melting pot of genres which reflects so perfectly in not only their sound, but the audience that had gathered for their show on Saturday night.

The audience in attendance on Saturday night mirrored the “all-over-the-place” feeling of this band in a truly beautiful way. The age range throughout the audience was stark. I saw kids younger than me and people old enough to be my grandparents. This is no way a judgement of any sort rather it enhanced the experience. The group’s music bridges gaps between genres and eras with some songs having a big band vibe to them and others bringing a more 70s psychedelic feeling to the table. I loved the way that these bridged gaps were reflected so perfectly in the audience and, on top of that, those gaps seemed almost non-existent looking back. It didn’t matter what the audience looked or felt like or what the band sounded like when it comes down to it. Long story short, The California Honeydrops is one of those bands that truly has something for everybody.

The craziest part of the set on Saturday night for me was the fact that I recognized a couple of songs throughout their lengthy two-set performance even though all I knew about the band was that fateful night when I saw them open for Trevor Hall. This goes to show just how unique of a sound this band has while also the lasting impact of hearing this band just once. Those songs that I recognized blended perfectly with the ones that were foreign to me. Vocalist and frontman Lech Wierzynski has this sense of familiarity about him. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is but he seems like such a relatable human while also having a bit of a larger-than-life stature about him. This could have helped with this whole feeling of this band being a band I had been listening to for years but I’m honestly not sure.

Lech is absolutely a captivating personality in this band but The California Honeydrops is one of those groups that, although a huge group with eight touring members, everything would change if one member wasn’t available. I was in awe as my eyes darted from member to member. Although they all came together to create a wholly comprehensive sound and vibe, each member brought something a little different to the stage and sound. Without all of these members doing their own thing, I have to wonder what this band would be like but also don’t want to know because what they have going on is so perfect.

The California Honeydrops gave the audience all they had on Saturday. It was back to back epic sets full of music that both got the audience moving and made them feel something. The passion that came off the stage was immeasurable but so was the passion and love that was radiating from the audience back to the stage. Although it wasn’t a sold out show, everytime the band would ask for a cheer or for clapping to the beat, the audience would oblige without hesitation and with a sense of excitement and power that would easily fool you into thinking that it was a sold-out show.

The California Honeydrops are not a metal or pop-punk band which, as you may have caught onto, is my bread and butter but there’s something about this band that has me hooked. I was stoked to have another chance to witness their genius on a stage right in front of me and even though it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since it happened, I’m already waiting for a chance to do it all again.

Line Up:

The California Honeydrops

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 45 (but it was really all over the place!)

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability- 9 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out Kids- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Irritated I Was With The Audience – 0 out of 10

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

The California Honeydrops – 1

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score –8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals / Jack Moves

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