by photojournalist Wyatt Combs
On January 8, 2026, the genre-blending bunch known as The California Honeydrops arrived at Jannus Live in downtown St. Petersburg to perform for their fans. With elements of blues, soul, funk, and just about everything else mixed in, they create a sound that is appealing to almost anyone. If you like singers like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, you’ll like them. If you like upbeat, intricate music with horns or more simple, street-performer-style songs, you’ll also like them. If you just want to dance, you’ll like them. And if you just want to have a straight-up good time, you too will enjoy The California Honeydrops. With no opener and no wasted time, the band took the stage and got the party started right from the jump.
Formed in Oakland back in 2007 by frontman Lech Wierzynski and drummer Benjamin Malament, the Honeydrops have always blurred the line between concert and party and this Tampa Bay stop was no exception. The energy was high, to say the least, and the people wanted to dance. The band delivered two extended sets, each one unfolding organically without a setlist, a hallmark of their crowd-pleasing philosophy: what the people want, the people get. This likely stems from the band’s early days of street performing. Wierzynski has previously remarked that those days were pivotal in learning the art of grabbing people’s attention and controlling a crowd. It’s obvious that they are masters of this art. Call-and-response moments popped up throughout the night, and the crowd eagerly followed every cue singing, clapping, and dancing without hesitation.
Instrumentally, the band brings a lot to the table. Two drummers with an array of percussion, bass, guitar, keys, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, and their trademark washboard all come together to create a rich sonic landscape. The result is a group that shifts effortlessly from driving, boisterous full-band arrangements to broken-down, low-key songs that evoke the sounds of their busking roots. Improvisation is clearly an important element of their style as well. All the members of the band were given ample opportunity to let their instruments take the spotlight, and every member showed they are true masters of their craft.
The show was obviously a great night for the band. The smiling faces of the crowd and their sometimes peculiar but definitely enthusiastic dance moves said everything. It was just a downright good time. By drawing from their cornucopia of musical influences and adding their own modern flair, they don’t just recreate the traditions we all know and love; they remix them into something vibrant and new. Their Jannus Live performance was a reminder that the tradition of great American music isn’t frozen in time. It’s not lost to the past—it’s a living, breathing thing. We can emulate and celebrate what has come before while still making it fresh and new.
