Meet Ben Malament | Co-founder & Drummer of The California Honeydrops

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Malament and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
A decade ago in Oakland, CA. The band came together between me as a percussionist and Lech Wierzynkski, a songwriter, guitarist, and trumpeter. We started busking in the Oakland subway stations and very quickly our holistic sound, which embraces several American musical forms such as soul, jazz, and blues began to take shape. It was an instinctive coming together of playing styles that shaped the group into what is The California Honeydrops today. Each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own rite — Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums, Miles Blackwell on bass, and we’re regularly accompanied by Oliver Tuttle on trombone, Leon Cotter on saxophone/clarinet, and Miles Lyons on trombone/sousaphone — navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what helps set us apart from a lot of acts these days is the fun we have on stage and the fun we have with the crowd. It’s what has helped us do what we do for this long. We don’t make set lists, but we know so many songs, original and not. We play to the energy of the building, of the people. We have really worked our hardest to keep that fun energy, even when you miss your people at home, or the thousands of miles on the road start to get at you, or your bandmate stops believing in showers and soap, it’s the drive to make a good show and play fun music together that keeps the engine burning hot for our band and the whole crew. And we are forever grateful to the crazy people who keep coming back. We love you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The best places in Denver are usually our friends’ houses. Good people host us all the time! If you want to get stuffed on some dank BBQ, go to Piggin Out SmokeHouse (in Lakewood) and tell them the Honeydrops sent you! For real, we usually just hang out with friends and new friends in Denver because most people out there are so cool.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We’d love to shoutout our team behind and on the scenes! With their hard work, it helps us get to do what we love.
Management – Thomas Cussins, Reid Foster, Shelby Rios, John Sacala & Ineffable Music
Road Manager – Garren Volper
Agent – Jerry Lima & MINT Talent Group

Website: https://www.cahoneydrops.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cahoneydrops

Twitter: https://x.com/cahoneydrops

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cahoneydrops/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@californiahoneydrops

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21t0aavYGSGFkYYFhu6urk
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cahoneydrops
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-california-honeydrops/299946363

Image Credits
Angelle Peace
Charla Harvey
Armando Chavez II
John Bender
Brady Cooling
Matt Honnies