The California Honeydrops
An Oakland band that started busking in BART stations and still plays like the crowd is three feet away — second-line joy, coast edition.
The California Honeydrops trace back to 2007, when singer, guitarist and trumpeter Lech Wierzynski and bandmates began playing impromptu sets in Oakland's BART stations. From there the group built a sound drawing on New Orleans second-line rhythms, Delta blues, gospel and 1960s soul and R&B.
The lineup has shifted over the years; early member Nansamba Ssensalo, who was dating Wierzynski at the time, eventually left the group. Longtime members since have included Benjamin Malament, Yanos 'Johnny Bones' Lustig, Lorenzo Loera and Beaumont Beaullieu, alongside Wierzynski, joined at times by other guest musicians.
Their debut album, Soul Tub!, appeared in November 2008, about a year after the band came together, and they have released thirteen albums in total since, all independently. Live, they favor abandoning the setlist, playing without barriers between stage and audience, and moving into the crowd mid-song, while touring heavily across the United States.
The California Honeydrops at a glance
Where is The California Honeydrops from?
The California Honeydrops is from Oakland, CA.
What kind of music does The California Honeydrops play?
The California Honeydrops is tagged soul, blues and new orleans.
What festivals has The California Honeydrops played before?
The California Honeydrops has played BottleRock 2026.
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