Hail to the Kings
From Chicago comes the latest album from the Cash Box Kings, ‘Hail to the Kings’, a dirty blues album with oodles of soul. Listening to it, you can tell these guys are at the top of their game.
Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist Oscar Wilson and harmonica giant and singer Joe Nosek, also credited as songwriters on the album, this band are bonafide blues royalty. The extraordinary ensemble playing between Nosek, Wilson, guitarist Billy Flynn, bassist John W. Lauler, drummer Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith and their friend, pianist Queen Lee Kenehira, is a true force of nature.
The birth of English Rock music came from people bringing old blues records back from the States. Artists like Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and Hubert Sumlin were discovered by young guitar players like Keith Richards and the rest is history. These guys have all that and then some. They have a real rawness with their playing, flawless vocal performance and electrifying instrumentation.
The album opens with a 12 bar blues that is more rock n roll honkey tonk meets blues rock than straight down the middle blues. With call and response toward the end and a harmonica line that sounds more like a lead guitar, this is a great track and fantastic opening song. The music stays hot with the next song, ‘The Wine Talking’. Cue yet more harmonica to die for, plus Special guest Shemekia Copeland. She turns the heat up as she joins her friend Oscar Wilson for the mischievous duet. What a vocal powerhouse Copeland is.
The musical delights keep coming; special mention has to go to ‘Joe, You Aint From Chicago’. This is a light hearted song, showcasing the bands sense of humour. With a sing along ‘Joe, You Aint from Chicago’ running all the way through, I imagine this will become a staple part of any live set.
On Bluesman Next Door, Nosek and Wilson bring socially conscious truth to power, shining a light into some of society’s darkest corners. “Blues music is used to transform and to find relief,” notes Nosek. “Our songs are all about real life topics that matter—good times, tough times and some bad situations. We’ll raise our voices when we have to, and we’ll have a good time doing it.”
The entire album is a foot tapping, head bopping affair, with extraordinary musicianship all the way through. I have to mention the harmonica again. I have never heard harmonica played quite like that before. Absolutely outstanding. It really does give you a lesson in the blues. The Cashbox Kings are a throwback to a golden age of music and I can’t wait to see them play live. There is talk about a European tour, so watch this space…
