Review By Dan Rozman
Photos by Mark Raker and Dan Rozman
It was hot as blazes on July 30th, but nobody seemed to mind once the California Honeydrops hit the stage at Rocking the Docks. The setting and the band turned what could have been a sweaty, uncomfortable evening into something pretty magical at the Lewes Delaware Ferry Grounds.
There’s something about watching live music with the water right behind the stage that is special. Rocking the Docks is next to the ferry. By the time the sun started going down, people had their chairs set up, cold drinks in hand. The breeze coming off the water helped with the heat, and when the moon came up, it felt like the perfect summer night.
The California Honeydrops know how to put on a show. Lech Wierzynski leads this eight-piece band that mixes up R&B, funk, blues, and New Orleans jazz in ways that get people moving. What’s wild about them is they don’t use setlists. Each show is different because they go with audience requests and whatever feels right in the moment.
“This is a song nobody requested, but I’m going to play it because I want to play this,” Wierzynski said before they jumped into “Don’t Cry for Me,” which he mentioned was the very first song they ever wrote. That kind of spontaneous energy kept things interesting all night long.
These musicians started out busking in Oakland subway stations, which explains a lot about how they read a crowd. They know how to work with whatever energy people are giving them. Benjamin Malament on washboard and drums and Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone were locked in tight, while Lorenzo Loera switched between keyboards and guitar like it was nothing. Beaumont Beaullieu held down the bass, and the horn section with Oliver Tuttle, Leon Cotter, and Miles Lyons on trombone and sousaphone filled out that big, rich sound they’re known for.
People kept shouting out song requests, and the band played a number of them. They also did “Redwood Highway” from their new album that comes out August 8th. Tubtone Records is putting out the eight-song collection, so the Lewes crowd got a sneak peek at brand new material.
“We’re in Delaware with the California Honeydrops, don’t care what we’re doing tonight, as long as we’re having fun,” Wierzynski told everyone. “Kick off your shoes and dance.” Plenty of people took him up on that, dancing on the grass while the band cranked through song after song.
The whole thing wasn’t just high-energy party music though. During one quieter moment, Wierzynski talked about going “back to the early days of the honey drops when I used to play on the streets.” It gave everyone a taste of how intimate their street performances must have been.
When it came time to wrap up, Wierzynski wasn’t ready to let the night end. “We’ve had a very nice time here in Delaware, but it was time to go. But before we go, we’d like to remind you it’s your last chance to dance.” The crowd went nuts for that final song, and the band left everyone wanting more.
Rocking the Docks keeps bringing solid acts to this little coastal town. On August 14th they bring the Kelly Bell Band with Sweet Leda and Lower Case Blues, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe closes things out August 20th.
Johnny Bones seemed pretty impressed with the whole setup. “Rocking th Docks is great. East coast by the beach. I feel like I’m in the tropics. It’s perfect. Perfect. We love it. We love this beach tour. Man, this has been good,” he said.
If you’re thinking about catching a show, you can get either general admission or VIP. The VIP deal gets you in early at 5 PM, a shaded tent with air conditioning in the bathrooms, spots up front, drink tickets, food vouchers, and chairs. Regular tickets mean bringing your own stuff – blankets, chairs, sunscreen, the works.
The California Honeydrops have racked up over 200 million streams and gotten their music into TV shows and movies, but what really matters is what they do live. They proved that some of the best concerts happen when musicians trust their gut and let the music take them wherever it wants to go. That’s something you can’t fake, and it’s exactly what made this hot July night worth remembering.
Have FOMO? You can catch them at Ramblefest 2025, which takes place from October 10-12, 2025 at Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, MD. This marks the fourth year of the festival held during the Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day weekend, offering another chance to experience the Honeydrops’ spontaneous magic in an intimate festival setting.
