Black Joe Lewis has already opened for both Little Richard and Barrack Obama, but the 26-year-old Austin soul shouter is still has ambition to spare. My dream is to be on the level of James Brown, Lewis told the Austin Chronicle in advance of his SXSW appearance in March. I want to be the black Elvis. Based on the evidence of his self-titled solo debut and a pair of blistering EPs and especially his high-octane live shows (both in Austin and on the road, touring with Spoon on the West coast last year) Lewis has the charisma, chops and raw mojo to make it happen. And with his latest lineup, the eight-piece, horn-powered R&B ensemble the Honeybears, hes got lots of wicked tight, funky muscle to back him up.