Artist Of The Week -- The King Blues

One of the UK punk underground’s most beloved bands is The King Blues, a London-based sextet whose reggae-tinged songs of political protest have won a fervent following in their native land. Carrying on with the proud punk tradition of such similarly minded acts as the Clash and featuring two acoustic guitars, a ukulele and a Melodeon, The King Blues’ sound is a marvelous mixture of ska elements, street poetry, working-class protest folk, dub bass lines and doowop melodies, all delivered with a snarling punk attitude that’s attracted the attention of some influential tastemakers. BBC Radio One’s Mike Davies stated that their initial full-length, Under the Fog, was his “favorite album of the year,” while fellow BBC Radio One jock Zane Lowe enthused, “A bit of summer ska for you, big with our chatroom, sounds great!” They even earned a fan in novelist/historian/political activist Tariq Ali, who raved, “This is rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians is challenging warmonger politicians and their courtiers (Bono, Geldof, et al). I hope these songs prosper.” Now signed to Field Recordings/Island, The King Blues are looking to spread their message beyond the UK to the entire world.



Download: "My Boulder"

www.kingblues.net