The California Honeydrops’ New Album Soft Spot Is All Soul, All Groove, And All Love; All At Once

Article Contributed by IVPR | Published on Friday, October 7, 2022

“This record is all about love and good lovin’ and other things that matter,” says The California Honeydrops’ frontman, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski of the band's brand new LP, Soft Spot. Released today, Soft Spot finds the band drawing deep from the soulful well of the great rhythm and blues acts that came before them—from roots rock to classic Bay Area R&B, to Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second line. “We continued the Honeydrops’ album tradition of bringing special musical guests to bless the studio with their magic,” adds drummer Ben Malament. “Sousaphones, strings, space echoes…it’s all here.”

The Honeydrops have come a long way since Wierzynkski and Malament started busking in an Oakland subway station, but the band has stayed true to that organic, street-level feel. Listening to Lech sing, it can be a surprise that he was born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised by Polish political refugees. He learned his vocal stylings from contraband American recordings of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong, and later at Oberlin College and on the club circuit in Oakland, California. With the additions of Johnny Bones on tenor sax and clarinet, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards, and Beau Beauilleu on bass, they’ve built a powerful full-band sound to support Wierzynski’s vocals.

Fans can purchase or stream Soft Spot today right here as well as vinyl for pre-order here and CD for purchase here. The Honeydrops will continue their nationwide Lil Bit Of Lovin’ Tour at Tempe, Arizona’s Marquee Theatre on October 14th. A complete list of tour dates can be found below or at cahoneydrops.com.

Catch The California Honeydrops On Tour:

Oct. 14 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Oct. 16 - Flagstaff, AZ - Yucca North

Oct. 18 - Durango, CO - Animas City Theatre - SOLD OUT

Oct. 19 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Oct. 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom

Oct. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

Oct. 23 - St. Louis, MO - The Big Top

Oct. 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club - SOLD OUT

Oct. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct. 29 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex

Oct. 30 - Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag

Oct. 31 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery

Nov. 2 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov. 3 - Portland, ME - Aura

Nov. 5 - New York, NY - Sony Hall - SOLD OUT

Nov. 6 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston

Nov. 8 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

Nov. 9 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

Nov. 11 - Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson Theater

Nov. 12 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Nov. 13 - Highlands, NC - Highlands Food and Wine Festival 2022

Jan. 15-22, 2023 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Sandy Beaches Cruise 2023

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