The outside view of The State Room on State Street. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Marquee and the outside patio area at the venue. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Black Joe Lewis merchandise. “Bitch, I love you” is the title of one of his more well-known songs. It also looks funny on a T-shirt. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
A State Room employee checks the early birds’ IDs. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Andrea Washburn and Amy Batchler hang outside of The State Room and read the awesome September Local Food issue of SLUG Magazine. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Katie Hawley and Alex Lazar enjoy beverages and good company prior to the music in the bar/hang-out area. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Some people might call this a hallway, but I call it a corridor. It leads to the stage and is filled with past State Room show posters. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Guests lounge on the church pews and old movie recliners and socialize prior to the music. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Blank Range, out of Nashville, started with some country psychedelic rock tunes. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Like mad scientists, Blank Range successfully mixed a mashup of melodies. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
At the request of a BR band member mid-song to “get that disco ball going,” The State Room light technician lit that bad boy. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
During and after Blank Range, more Salt Lakers trickle in and get refreshments from the fully stocked bar. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
The State Room began to fill up with people before the Black Joe Lewis performance. The entry area is a great place to congregate and socialize. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Jen James and Ty Lopez were stoked to catch another Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears performance. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Blank Range T-shirt for sale at the merch booth. A close-up of what the guys look like at their very best. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
David Brito, Haley Munger and Ben Robson were excited for the show. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Attendees checked out the merch. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Jim Katsilometes celebrated his birthday with pal Will Cleary and his brother, Orie. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Blank Range band members Will Brown and Taylor Zachary got silly at the merch booth during a meet and greet. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears’ energy was high from the get-go. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
All the band members listen to one another carefully and play as a well-tuned team. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Black Joe Lewis laughs during his performance as a guy takes a selfie of himself and BJL “hanging out.” Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
The soul in Black Joe Lewis’ voice can be seen. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
BJL matches and plays an add-on game with the saxophonist during a little jam sesh. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
BJL during one of his Jimi-style guitar slams. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
The groovy brass section. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
A crowd member has a genuine smile of happiness as he hears Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears at The State Room. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
Full house, great music and good vibes for Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears at this gem of a venue. Photo: JoSavagePhotography.com
I got a taste of home on Tuesday night at one of my favorite venues in Salt Lake. The Austin-based Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears made Salt Lakers dance until the sweat was dripping at The State Room.
Austin is a land of musicians and bands, and successful acts like Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears emerge and spread their talent beyond Texas, throughout the world. The high energy and perfect execution of a diverse and eclectic instrumental sound throughout the entire performance screamed swagger.
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears’ sound is full-bodied: heavy drums, an euphonious bass line with a horn section and some Jimi-like playing from Joe on the guitar. It is a little rockabilly, a little funk, a little James Brown and a lot of other rad stuff mixed in between. Joe and his sax player played a form of some groovy add-on game, dueling back and forth and matching riffs mid-song.
Blank Range out of Nashville got the crowd primed with what I would classify as country psychedelic rock. The country genre does not typically so bravely encompass the progressiveness or experimental sound of Blank Range, who were pleasingly innovative and unique. Blank Range incorporated Nashville-type tunes with a hint of The Beatles’ upbeat harmonies and that old-school California surf rock.
The State Room is a Salt Lake gem and one of my favorite spots to see shows. It has consistently solid lineups. There is a generous floor area where dancing is encouraged.There are church pews in the upper deck for folks to lounge in. It’s an intimate venue that helps attendees get close to the performers, and after performances, it is common to mingle with musicians and have drinks on the outdoor patio with them after they are finished graciously signing merchandise.
The laid-back and intimate feel of The State Room is the reason I attribute many of the performers’ tendency to linger after the show and have a drink with their fans. Blank Range, The State Room and Black Joe Lewis were a triple threat of a wonderful music experience at a cool venue with good vibes on Tuesday night.Texas Tea, anyone?
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