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Following in the traditions of rock 'n' roll,
rockabilly, country and rhythm & blues, Toronto's The Kat
Kings deliver their sophomore album on June 10, 2016
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Available on iTunes and Radio Submit
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 Listen to "Juke Joint Jimmy" on Soundcloud
"A high octane record that has nothing to offer other
than the message that the party better keep going, this jump blues/rockabilly
roots flavored set was made for good
times." - The Midwest
Record
Led by vocalist and
guitarist Kevin McQuade, The Kat Kings released their debut album The
Winning Hand in 2011 to critical acclaim and quickly became a favourite
among DJs in Canada. A cross-country tour was underway when McQuade was
sidelined with news of his daughter’s near-fatal traffic accident. Plans for
gigs and promo for the album came to a grinding halt and the devoted family
man headed home. "All of a sudden touring to support a new record
didn't seem that important”, McQuade recalls.
In this story of
second chances, McQuade and The Kat Kings have outdone themselves on the 13
original songs that make up Swingin’ In The Swamp. With swing being
the tie that binds jump blues, rock ‘n’ roll, country and
rockabilly music together, The Kat Kings deliver what can be described
as “bluesabilly” on Swingin’ In The Swamp. The album opens with the
danceable numbers “When I Say Jump” and “Poppin’ At Party Time”. “B Flat Kat”
is a rockabilly gem complete with doghouse bass. The love song “I Work For
You” was inspired by Wilson Pickett. “I wrote this song for my wife”,
says McQuade. “You have to work hard to keep the home fires burning!” The
rollicking “Juke Joint Jimmy” is the true story of a sharkskin-suited patron
of the legendary Toronto watering hole Grossman’s Tavern. On the swampy,
gospel-infused “Before I Found Him” McQuade takes a darker turn. “I wrote
this song about a guy on death row. They interviewed him on TV before his
execution and asked him if he had found God. He said he wished God would have
found him before he found God”.
The upbeat “Ridin’ In
Style” follows the familiar theme of hot cars, hot women and a fistful of
money to enjoy it with. “I’m Just A Shadow” is a soulful ballad of love lost.
Gritty and dark, “It Came From The Swamp” was written in about 20 minutes
while McQuade was sitting vigil in the hospital with his daughter. “Til It
Feels Alright” is about the things that folks sometimes do that feel wrong
and yet oh so right at the same time, is followed by the bluesy “I Got The
Fuse”. A straight-ahead New Orleans style rumba, “Late Night Thing” details a
man in love who can't get a handle on the girl he loves until it's late in
the night. The final track is the rockin’ “Baby You Can't Drink”.
In addition to the
exceptional vocals and guitar playing from bandleader Kevin McQuade, The Kat
Kings are comprised of an award-winning cast and “who’s who” on the Canadian
blues and roots scene including the album’s producer Teddy Leonard (Fathead,
The Maple Blues All Stars) on additional guitars, John Dymond (Blackie and
the Rodeo Kings, Bruce Cockburn, k.d lang) on bass, Chuck Keeping (Big Wreck,
Fathead, Suzie McNeil) on drums, and Wayne Dagenais (Joel Johnson) on keys.
The album also features Fathead’s singer John Mays on three tracks.
Swingin’ In The Swamp is an unparalleled album filled with originality,
thought-provoking lyrics and outright good times destined to elevate the band
to wider acclaim and recognition among fans of rockabilly, blues and soul.
thekatkings.com
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