The King Blues

Infobox musical artist
Name = The King Blues


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Origin = London, England
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Genre = Punk
Folk
Reggae
Ska
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Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Field Recordings
Island Records

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URL = http://www.kingblues.net
Current_members = Itch
Jamie Jazz
Fruitbag
Johnny Rich
Jim Parmley
Gumby
Past_members = Robin Guy (Temporary Drummer for Reading & Leeds, 2006)
Chris Goodman (Bass on Under The Fog, Live Bassist 2005-2006 and composer of "Come Fi Di Youth")
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The King Blues hail from London, UK. They blend a wide range of styles of music from acoustic to ska. Influences include King Prawn and The Clash.

History

The King Blues started off as a two man ska outfit, consisting of Itch playing ukulele/Vocals and Jamie Jazz playing acoustic guitar and contributing vocals. Current Member Jamie Jazz use 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 an 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" [See [http://www.lastgangintownuk.net/pgigs.html Last Gang In Town] ] or "conscious rude boy ska" [See [http://www.surfnewquay.co.uk/forum/surf-events/3675-rip-curl-boardmasters-beach-sessions-line-up-2007-a.html the Boardmasters website] ] .

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 4 gigs in one day. The King Blues managed seven [See [http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/releases/haus086.php Household Name Records: Mr Music Man single.] ] . 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 re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by two singles, "Come Fi Di Youth" and a new version of "Mr. Music Man". [See [http://www.kingblues.net KingBlues.net: Main Page.] ]

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 [See [http://www.kingblues.net/signup.php the sign up area of their website] ] . 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 [See [http://www.phillygirlabouttown.com/girl_about_town/2008/05/dig-the-new-b-1.html the Philly Girl About Town blog] ] . 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" is due to be released on October 20th 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).

"My Boulder" is due to be released as a single on October 13th 2008 in the UK. Zane Lowe has played this track several times on BBC Radio 1 and recommended it on air to Noel Gallagher [See [http://kingbluespress.blogspot.com the King Blues press blog] ] . "My Boulder" includes an excerpt from a reading of the poem "The Pied Piper Of Hamlyn" by Robert Browning.

Gigs

The King Blues opened the Lock-Up Stage in 2006 at Reading and Leeds Festivals and played the stage again, in progressively better slots, in both 2007 and 2008.

In February 2007 the band played on the inaugural Ruff and Ready Tour alongside Sonic Boom Six, Failsafe and Mouthwash. In August 2007 the band played the Empress Ballroom stage at Rebellion festival at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, alongside The Filaments, Neville Staple and Leftover Crack.

The band also had a monthly residency at The Purple Turtle venue in Mornington Crescent, London, which started in May 2007 and ran for six months, featuring acts such as Natty, Sonic Boom Six and Frank Turner.

On Wednesday 30th July 2008 they played their biggest headlining gig to date, selling out the 500 capacity venue Dingwalls in London. Their next London gig is bigger still, the 800 capacity Carling Academy Islington which they headline on October 22nd 2008.

On December 18th 2007 The King Blues played their biggest gig ever at Wembley Arena, supporting Hard-Fi. The band have also played support slots for the likes of Capdown, Gogol Bordello, The Slackers, Bedouin Soundclash and Anti-Flag.

Politics

The King Blues have "a commitment to politics and resistance" [See [http://www.kingblues.net/about.php the King Blues website] ] . 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" [See [http://www.kingblues.net/about.php the King Blues website] ] . Nonetheless, overtly political lyrics do feature in two live favourites [See [http://forums.readingfestival.com/tm.aspx?m=403134&mpage=2 the Reading Festival forum] ] that will appear on the new album. The title track includes the lyric "Going to war to prevent war is 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 [See [http://www.smashedo.org.uk the Smash EDO website] ] . The links on The King Blues' official website are almost exclusively political [See [http://www.kingblues.net/links.php the links section of the King Blues website] ] .

Band members

*Jonny "Itch" Fox: vocals/ukulele/melodica
*Jamie Jazz: vocals/guitar
*Fruitbag: vocals/guitar
*Johnny Rich: vocals/bass
*Jim Parmley: percussion
*Gumby: drums

Discography

Albums

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.kingblues.net Official Website]
*MySpace|thekingblues|The King Blues
*MySpace|thekingbluesresidency|The King Blues Residency
* [http://www.kingbluespress.blogspot.com press blog]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-King-Blues/7852483225 Facebook]
* [http://www.bebo.com/thekingblues Bebo]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/thekingbluesofficial YouTube channel]