by Nick Fallon
Black Joe Lewis made their return to New York this week, playing to a packed house at Irving Plaza Wednesday night in support of their latest album, Electric Slave. The rock-and-blues six-piece band—Joe Lewis, vocals and guitar; Bill Stevenson, bass; Derek Phelps, trumpet; Jason Frey, tenor saxophone; Joseph Woullard, flute and baritone saxophone; and Eduardo Torres, drums—played a show that would have made you feel as if you were dancing on sawdust in a Southern blues bar, and not in the middle of New York City.
Some of the true surprises of the night came during lead man Joe Lewis' solos. The crowd was constantly on their toes trying to see what he was going to do next: would he solo behind his head, or pull one out of the Jimi Hendrix book of tricks and solo with his mouth?
One thing is for sure, whenever Black Joe Lewis comes to town, make sure to check it out—you will not be disappointed.
More photos after the jump; full set available on the photo page.