Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears hit the ground running in 2009 with their excellent major-label debut, Tell ’Em What Your Name Is! Lewis’s manic guitar playing, James Brown-like shrieks, and the unhinged energy of his live performances showed promise in the new artist. Since then, however, we haven’t heard a whole lot from the Austin, Texas native. He and his band released Scandalous in 2011, more or less repeating the same garage-soul and blues-rock formula of their debut. In 2013 they dropped “the Honeybears” from the band name and released Electric Slave, transitioning away from their earlier sound in favor of heavier, sludgier rock. Seeing as how three years have passed since Electric Slave, who knows what to expect next from Black Joe Lewis, or even what brings the band on the road now. But if their live show has remained any bit as maniacal as before, that’s ultimately all that matters. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY