The King Blues: Difference between revisions
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
*Jack Usher: Drums |
*Jack Usher: Drums |
||
Past: |
Past: |
||
* |
*Fruitbag: Guitar, Backing Vocals |
||
*Johnny Rich: Bass |
*Johnny Rich: Bass |
||
*Al Gunby: Drums |
*Al Gunby: Drums |
||
Revision as of 22:11, 4 May 2011
The King Blues |
|---|
The King Blues are a political band accredited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. They originate from London, England. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are challenging war-monger politicians and their courtiers'. [citation needed] Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash, The Specials, Black Flag and Minor Threat. Their third full length album, Punk and Poetry, was recently released on the 17th of April this year. Itch describes the music as 'a mixture of reggae, hip hop, folk, doo wop, punk rock..'
History
The King Blues started off as a two man ska outfit, consisting of Jonny 'Itch' Fox playing ukulele/vocals and Jamie Jazz playing acoustic guitar and contributing vocals. Current member Jamie Jazz used to work in a music/guitar shop called Rock Around the Clock up in north London in Crouch End/Muswell Hill, however Jamie realised that in order to put The King Blues at the top, he had to leave his job. Whilst this was going on they then expanded to include a second acoustic guitar and a bassist, before again expanding to include two full-time percussion members. Their sound was initially described as "soulful ska with raw folk and a punk rock attitude".[2] or "conscious rude boy ska"[3]
In 2004 they self released a demo EP entitled "All Fall Down" featuring 5 tracks recorded by Itch on guitar and vocals. The cover and CD body art was a stencil of a fuse bomb and the band's logo, each one was hand sprayed.
Under The Fog (2006/07)
In June 2006 their debut album, Under the Fog, was released on Household Name Records which coincided with increased touring and gigs. In November of the same year, "Mr Music Man" was released as a CD single, also on Household Name. The single was enhanced with a video chronicling the band's attempt to play more gigs in a 24-hour period than Status Quo's record-breaking four gigs in one day. The King Blues managed seven.[4] Their single "Mr Music Man" was voted Best Punk Song of 2006 by Radio 1.
In 2007 the band was signed to Field Recordings, a label co-owned by Rollo Armstrong and backed by Island Records. Under the Fog was partly rerecorded and re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by two singles, "Come Fi Di Youth" and a new version of "Mr. Music Man".[5]
Save The World, Get The Girl (2008)
In May 2008 the band released a single from their forthcoming second album Save the World. Get the Girl called "Let's Hang the Landlord" to all those signed up to their email list.[6] The song takes them in a slightly different direction, opening with a violin. The lyric is both autobiographical and true, detailing Itch's life as a teenage punk.[7] The track was also released on a split 7" single, alongside Mayday, the debut UK single by Flobots.
Their second album Save the World. Get the Girl was released on October 20, 2008 in the UK. The album was produced by Peter Miles, who produced Under the Fog, and Clive Langer (producer of Elvis Costello, Madness, Dexy's Mignight Runners, Morrissey, Teardrop Explodes, Bush and The Holloways). The album received positive reviews; “This is my favourite album of the year” Mike Davies- Radio One and “The best album you will hear all year” Last Hours Magazine.
"My Boulder" was released as a single on October 13, 2008 in the UK. Zane Lowe has played this track several times on BBC Radio 1 and recommended it on air to Noel Gallagher.[8] "My Boulder" includes an excerpt from a reading of the poem The Pied Piper of Hamlyn by Robert Browning.
Another track from Save the World. Get the Girl to receive Radio 1 airplay is What If Punk Never Happened, which has been played by Rob da Bank,[9] Mike Davies,[10][11] and Zane Lowe.[12] Songs from the album, including "What if Punk Never Happened?" and "Let's Hang The Landlord" also received air play from the Xfm punk show (X Punk) hosted by Pete Donaldson and Phil Clifton.[1] The band have also received considerable airplay in Australia courtesy of Triple R's punk program Bullying the Jukebox.
The band's single "I Got Love" from their 2008 album Save the World. Get the Girl was released on 4 May 2009. It was played at many gigs and tours before being announced as a single. Its first air time was on BBC Radio 1.
They also did a cover of Dizzee Rascal's "Bonkers" in Radio 1's Live Lounge in June 2009.
Post 'Save the World - Get the Girl' and Punk & Poetry (2011)
Over late 2009 and early 2010 The King Blues continued to tour their second album Save the World - Get the Girl, adding new songs to their setlist over time, such as Headbutt, Sore Throat and Five Bottles of Shampoo.
In mid 2010, The King Blues were dropped from Field Recordings. This coincided with the departure of band members Fruitbag, Johnny Rich, Al Gunby and Jim Parmley. A controversial message explaining the departure of was posted on the Punktastic forum by Fruitbag. The message proceeded to raise questions marks over the bands credibility amongst many fans. However, the band quickly found a new record Label, Transmission Recordings, and new members. Only a few weeks later, the new King Blues line up went on tour supporting Enter Shikari.
On the 23rd of March, Zane Lowe aired a new single, "Headbutt", as his hottest record in the world on his Radio 1 show. No release date was given, but Itch stated that the band had completely finished recording 5 or 6 new songs. On their recent tour of the United Kingdom, it was announced that their new single "Headbutt" will be released on 16 May 2010 and that Rou Reynolds of Enter shikari had remixed the track which is available to download for free.[13]
The King Blues departed on their "London Brawling tour" (10 April until the 5th of May) along with four different support bands: Mouthwash (all gigs), Moral Dilemma, The Meow Meows and Dirty Revolution. Most nights of the tour the band have invited someone on stage to speak, for example Sophie Lancaster's mum speaking for the foundation. The King Blues have S.O.P.H.I.E bands available on tour. The King Blues have also been playing love music hate racism gigs in-between gigs. On August 8, 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival near Folkestone, UK. During this time, the band started playing many new songs off the eagerly awaited new album 'Punk & Poetry'. A lot of this material, such as "Kissing Frogs" and "We Will Never Grow Old" is no longer on the album, due to the band finding new inspiration from the UK's Anti Cuts protests and riots, and the 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa Protests which has led to them writing new material such as "I Want You", "We Are Fucking Angry" and "Set The World On Fire"
On the 29th of August, The King Blues released their new single 'Holiday' along with 'I Got Hate' and an Acoustic version of the previous single 'Headbutt' which acted as B-sides to the single. On the same day, the King Blues played the main stage at Reading Festival.
On the 21st of January The King Blues posted a 40 second preview of a new song, 'We Are Fucking Angry'. It received radio play Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, a few days later a free download link to the song was posted on the internet by the band.
The first single off Punk & Poetry debuted on Mike Davies' Punk Show on the 7th of February, receiving more plays on the same show and Zane Lowe's show over the next few weeks. On the 26th of February, the official music video for the song was posted online. It will be released on the 10th of April on digital download with a Dr Meaker remix version of song acting as the b-side.
On the 1st of March, Itch co-hosted Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, previewing new songs The Future's Not What It Used To Be and Five Bottles of Shampoo, as well as new singles We Are Fucking Angry and Set the World on Fire. On the 5th of March, the track-listing for Punk & Poetry was announced, due out for the 18th April. It came as a shock to many that the single Holiday will not be on the album.
Politics
The King Blues have "a commitment to politics and resistance".[13] Itch writes a column for Last Hours magazine which generally focuses on resistance politics and protest. Several songs on Under the Fog are overtly political, including "Chimp in a 3 Piece Suit" and "Duck and Cover". The band's website states that Save the World. Get the Girl will feature "a much more personalized take on social ills" than Under the Fog.[13] Nonetheless, overtly political lyrics do feature in two live favourites[14] that will appear on the new album. The title track includes the lyric "Going to war to prevent war was the most stupid thing I ever heard", while The Streets Are Ours includes references to Indymedia and Tiananmen Square. "Smash EDO Dub", the B side to the re-release of "Mr. Music Man", features an interview with a campaigner from the Smash Edo movement.[15] The links on The King Blues' official website are almost exclusively political. On his formspring, he states that he is probably an anarchist. Judging from other quotes and lyrics, it is likely that the other members of the band are also anarchists.[16]
Band members
Present:
- Jonny 'Itch' Fox: Vocals, Ukulele, Melodica
- Jamie Jazz: Guitar, Vocals
- Dean Ashton: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Josie Dobson - Keys, Backing Vocals
- Kat Marsh - Bass, Backing Vocals
- Jack Usher: Drums
Past:
- Fruitbag: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Johnny Rich: Bass
- Al Gunby: Drums
- Jim Parsley: Percussion
- Chris Goodman: Bass
- George Lindsay: Drums
- Perkie: Keys, Vocals
- Ade Preston: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Charlie Wilson: Guitar
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Under the Fog | Household Name |
| 2008 | Under the Fog (Reissue) | Field Recordings/Island |
| Save the World. Get the Girl | ||
| 2011 | Punk and Poetry | Transmission Recordings |
EPs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2004 | All Fall Down EP |
| 2007 | Taking Over EP |
| 2008 | The Engine Room Acoustic Session |
| My Boulder EP | |
| 2009 | I Got Love EP |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK [17] | |||
| 2006 | "Mr. Music Man" | — | Under the Fog |
| 2007 | "Come Fi Di Youth" | — | |
| 2008 | "Mr. Music Man" (re-issue) | — | |
| "Let's Hang the Landlord" | — | Save the World. Get the Girl | |
| "My Boulder" | 156 | ||
| 2009 | "Save the World, Get the Girl" | 68 | |
| "I Got Love" | 96 | ||
| 2010 | "Headbutt" | 72 | Punk and Poetry |
| "Holiday" | — | ||
| 2011 | "Set The World On Fire" | — | Punk and Poetry |
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart | |||
References
- ^ "Transmission Recordings". Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ See Last Gang In Town
- ^ See the Boardmasters website
- ^ See Household Name Records: Mr Music Man single.
- ^ See KingBlues.net: Main Page.
- ^ See the sign up area of their website
- ^ See the Philly Girl About Town blog
- ^ See the King Blues press blog
- ^ "Radio 1 - Rob da Bank - Tracklisting". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "Radio 1 - Mike Davies - Tracklisting". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "Radio 1 - Mike Davies - Tracklisting". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "Radio 1 - Zane Lowe - Tracklisting". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ a b See the King Blues website
- ^ See the Reading Festival forum
- ^ See the Smash EDO website
- ^ See the links section of the King Blues website
- ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/king%20blues/
External links
- Official website
- Review of The King Blues' performance at Island Records' 50th Birthday Party at the Camden Crawl 25/04/09 on the Daily Music Guide
- Template:MySpace
- Template:MySpace
- press blog
- Bebo
- Video on YouTube
- Q&A with Jonny "Itch" Fox on politics, girls and making it big in America
- interview on music.virgin.com
- ChangeTheRecord.net interview - 01/08/09