Delta Groove Music artists: Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Road Dog's Life - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (September 17, 2013), Road Dog's Life, from Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King and it may be their best yet! Opening with Big Money Sonny, King tells the story sounding more and more like Curtis Mayfield (a high compliment from me) and playing a high stepping R&B style blues track, Kubek plays some really nice riffs joined by Willie J Campbell on bass and Jimi Bott on drums. On Come On In, King plays a cool double stop rhythm under the melody and Kubek slips in some crisp blues riffs making this a cool track. On Nobody But You, a cool shuffle tune, Randy Chortkoff joins on vocals and Kim Wilson trades riffs with him on harp. On the title track, Road Dog's Life, the band sets up a more straight forward blues rock track with riffs traces to the Yardbirds. Kubeck steps forward and spits some hot riffs on the guitar adding quite a different flavor for a nicely rounded track. On one of my personal favorites on the release, K9 Blues, King belts out a real swaggering blues with Wilson and Kubek each contributing particularly hot riffs. The story line of this track will certainly stick with you as well... "you call me a dog". That Look On Your Face has a bit of a Latin feel to it and a blistering guitar solo from Kid Anderson highlights a really strong track. On shuffle track Face To Face, Kubek sends stinging guitar riffs a King and King sends them right back. Nice dual. On I Ain't Greasin', a Chuck Berry like rocker, the band gets things kicking and Kim Wilson adds some nice harp work as well as vocals to the mix for a real nice jam. On a Morganfield style track, Talkin' 'Bout Bad Luck, I particularly like Kings vocals as well as a cool steel guitar solo from Kubek. This particular rhythm pattern has been used by everyone from Duane Allman (No Money Down) to ZZ Top. Each band gives it's own twist and flavor and this is a particularly cool one. On the final track of the release, That Don't Work No More, a happy blues rhythm (like " It's All Over Now) leaves you tapping your feet and wanting more. Overall I think the entire body of music presented on this release is better as a whole than the other releases that I have heard by this duo. Individually, I also believe that some of the singular tracks stand among their best. Super job!

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This track is not from the new release but is representative of their work.