Product Description

A soul-charged blast of fresh, original Texas blues highlighting the chemistry between Smokin' Joe's blistering fretwork and Bnois' savvy singing and jazz-inflected guitar playing. A party-starting blend of muscular blues-rock, butt-shaking shuffles and slow-burning blues. "Raucous, high-energy Texas roadhouse blues-rock. Blistering guitar solos, irresistible shuffles and subtle ballads"--LIVING BLUES

Review

"A great combination...Kubek's powerful, big-as-Texas guitar gets down and dirty. King delivers sharp and potent guitar and warm, soulful vocals." -- Blues Revue

"An electric blast of twelve-bar heaven...they blow the roof off." -- The Dallas Observer

"Raucous, high-energy Texas roadhouse blues-rock. Blistering guitar solos, irresistible shuffles and subtle ballads." -- Living Blues

"the band plays hard-hitting, original blues. Kubek is one of the fiercest Texas blues guitarists...his fiery leads are complemented by King's adroit rhythm guitar and classic vocals." -- Billboard

From the Artist

"I've been listening to this album over and over again," he says, "and I don't get tired of it. In fact, I've become a big fan of it, and I start thinking, 'man, I wish we had made this record.' And then I remember we did." Kubek agrees. "We challenged ourselves, went into new territory both musically and lyrically, and came out the other end with something we're extremely proud of."

About the Artist

Joe Kubek was born in Pennsylvania in 1956 but grew up just outside of Dallas. He was leading his own bands and gigging in clubs all around Dallas when he was only 14. Bowled over by the blues a short time after first hearing Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, Kubek soon discovered the music of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and other early blues masters including Freddie King, Johnny Copeland and Lightnin' Hopkins. By the time he was 19, he was backing many famous blues players in the area, including legend Freddie King. In 1976, Kubek was about to head out on tour with King when King died suddenly of a heart attack.

Kubek next worked with R&B singer Al "TNT" Braggs and made a host of new friends, including Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan (with whom Kubek became close), B.B. King and many other icons. He often found himself jamming with these larger-than-life blues stars, while playing constantly around the Dallas area. He not only learned tips and techniques, but also soaked up stories and the lessons of being a professional touring musician. One night, he even had the chance to play B.B.'s guitar, Lucille.

In 1989, Kubek met guitarist/vocalist Bnois King at a Monday night Dallas jam session. The two became fast friends, and melded their seemingly divergent styles - Kubek a rocking and fierce picker and slider, King a subtle, fat-chord rhythm player whose solos are spontaneous and unpredictable - into one of the most potent guitar combinations the Southwest had ever produced. Kubek explains the relationship succinctly, "Bnois fires me up. We are constantly pushing each other higher, complimenting each other's solos. But it's not planned. We never know what we're going to do until it's done. I pull the blues out of him, and he pulls the jazz out of me."

Bnois King was born in Delhi, LA in 1943. He was inspired to play guitar by his high school music teacher. Before long, Bnois was playing blues cover songs with a local band. He traveled through Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado, finding local bands to gig with and also performing with carnival tent show groups. King made his way to Dallas in 1979, gigging with jazz combos until he hooked up with Kubek ten years later. A master storyteller, King didn't start writing and singing until he joined forces with Joe, when both duties fell on him.

On the strength of their huge local following, Kubek and King signed to Bullseye Blues and released their debut CD, Stepping Out Texas Style, in 1991. After conquering the Dallas scene, the band began touring clubs, concert halls and festivals. Following a successful series of eight Bullseye releases, they signed to Blind Pig Records in 2003. As their popularity continued to build on the strength of their recordings and the energy of their live shows, the band's touring schedule grew to over 150 dates per year all across the United States, Canada and Europe, solidifying their place in the blues world with one jaw-dropping show after another.

Kubek and King signed with Alligator in 2008 and released Blood Brothers. The fresh approach, the smoking hot playing and the original, slice-of-life lyrics all added up to a blues lover's delight.

More than anything else, Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King love to perform live. With Have Blues, Will Travel and another massive tour planned, the band will hit the ground running as they gig from coast to coast, bringing their no-holds-barred brand of soul-charged, rockin' Texas blues to old fans and newcomers night after night. Have Blues, Will Travel is not just the name of the new album. For Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King, it's a way of life.

• Language : English
• Product Dimensions : 5 x 5.67 x 0.39 inches; 3.1 ounces
• Manufacturer : Alligator Records
• Original Release Date : 2010
• Date First Available : March 28, 2023
• Label : Alligator Records
• Country of Origin : USA
• Number of discs : 1