Reverend Horton Heat and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

The Reverend Horton Heat are undoubtedly one of the most popular rockabilly and psycobilly bands, helping to popularise the genre after The Cramps first brought it into the fore. His wild showmanship, wicked sense of humor and tales of debauchery and excess make Jim Heath and his band exciting and entertaining, helping to explain their loyal and enthusiastic fan base.

Having worked as a sound engineer around Dallas and Austin, Jim Heath became inspired by the growing punk and roots rock scene. Having made an impromptu performance of "Folsom Prison Blues" at one of Dallas' clubs, Heath decided to commit to music and form a band. Naming themselves Reverend Horton Heat, an ode to Johnny Horton, the band began playing music at various venues around the Southwest, especially in Oklahoma City, in 1985. Building a loyal following and creating hype after selling out venues across the midwest and west coast, the band were soon at the centre of a bidding war in 1989, with Sub Pop becoming the chosen record label. By this time, the band had solidified their lineup to include bassist Jimmy Wallace and drummer Patrick "Taz" Bentley.

The band became an underground hit through their Sub Pop releases, with 1991's "Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em" and 1993's "The Full Custom Gospel Sounds of the Reverend Horton Heat" building an enthusiastic fan base. The band then drew the attention of major label, Interscope, beginning with 1994's "Liquor in the Front." Their next two records, 1996's "It's Martini Time" and 1998's "Space Heater," were highly profitable for the label. Although the band soon left Interscope for independents, maintaining a huge following on the live circuit. The band continued to release records regularly, achieving their highest chart position with 2014's "REV," which peaked at 111 in the US Billboard 200 and number two on the US Heat chart.

Frontman Joe Lewis first learned to play the guitar whilst working in a pawn show in Austin, Texas. He later became immersed in the Red River blues and garage scene, later making a name for himself by recording and performing in Austin with local heroes Weary Boys and Walter Daniels. In 2005, Lewis and his band released the EP “Black Joe Lewis and The Cold Breeze”, and later the full-length “Black Joe Lewis” in 2007. Both were issued by the Italian label Shake Yo Ass Records. Following the release of the self-titled album, the band embarked on a critically acclaimed tour in support of Spoon and Okkervil River.

The tour significantly grew Lewis popularity and led to the band signing with Lost Highway Records and playing the Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festivals in 2008. After returning to the studio, the band reemerged to release the EP “Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears” in January 2009. Lewis continued to draw inspiration from artists including James Brown and Sam Cooke, and a wide range of influences from vintage blues, soul and R&B.

The band’s next full-length arrived in early 2009 entitled “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is!” and was produed by Spoon’s drummer Jim Eno. After a year-long touring schedule that can only be referred to as relentless, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, returned to the studio with Eno, to record the edgier “Scandalous” in 2011. The same year the band released the single “Boogaloo on Clark Street” in a collaboration with The Soul Distibuters, released on Papa Bill Records. After signing with Vagrant Records, the band released their third full-length album “Electric Slave” in 2013.