Blind Pig Records artist:Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Fat Man's Shine Parlor - New release Review

I just received the newest release (February 3, 2015), Fat Man's Shine Parlor by Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King. This reunion release with Blind Pig is long overdue and really grooves. Opening with boogie track, Got My Heart Broken, King and Kubek keep it simple (like Hooker intended) with only Shiela Klinefelter on bass, Eric Smith on drums and Kim La Fleur on guitar taking it above a basic two man boogie. Very cool. On Cornbread, a quick paced boogie, King leads the way on vocal and Kubek rips some really tasty riffs trading with King and LaFleur. Diamond Eyes slows things down a bit to a basic blues rock ballad with a nice guitar bridge. Crash and Burn has a cool early rock beat and structure. Clean simple guitar solos and drum riffs carry this track. River Of Whiskey is built over a "Crossroads" like riff and each man steps up with his own guitar riff. Don't Want To Be Alone has an R&B sway and King always shows his best vocal work on tracks like this. Kubek lays out a real nice bluesy guitar solo making this one of the best tracks on the release. On Brown Bomba Mojo, Klinefelter and Smith lay down the basic riff giving King and Kubeck free space to cut it loose. With a bit of twin guitar lead this track hits solid. How Much also has a number of the characteristics of early rock music with hints of R&B. I particularly like the drum breaks which give the track some extra flair. Hot flashy guitar riffs spice up the track just right. One Girl By My Side is a blues rocker with just a taste of country. Cool guitar effects give it extra texture and soaring guitar solos mixed with King's solid vocals make this a track to hear. A standout track, Lone Star Lap Dance is a real cool shuffle with guitar riffs all around. Excellent! Done Got Caught gets down and dirty with a solid, slow blues. King shines on vocal and extended guitar solos make this a definite must hear. Returning to the basic rock beat for the closer, Headed For Ruin, King sets the stage and Kubek closes with tasty guitar riffs. Cool closer for a cool release.

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