I had the opportunity to see Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and Anya Marina open for Spoon at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland, Oregon last week!

First off, let me just say if you’ve never heard Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, go buy their album Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! now. Based out of Austin, TX (like Spoon), they have a bluesy rock sound with vocals very definitely influenced by James Brown.  They were awesome live and the album is great from start to finish.

Anya Marina had a very short set, but it was great. She performed a song from the “New Moon” soundtrack called “Satellite Heart” that was pretty catchy. Check it out!

And of course, there was Spoon! They pretty much rocked the house and had backup from Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears’ horn section on songs like “The Underdog“. They had a great setlist incorporating a very upbeat mix of their material. Among their set, they played my favorite, “I Turn My Camera On” and their new single, “Got Nuffin“, from their upcoming album Transference. Two words: AWE SOME.

Some obligatory bad cell phone photos:

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

Spoon

Next concert: Cake, playing The Moore Theatre in Seattle, Washington on NEW YEAR’S EVE!