SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING

"Roadhouse Research"

Blind Pig Records

Some nicknames just seem to fit a person. "Smokin'" Joe Kubek has one of those nicknames. And while the pre-fix "Smokin'" may tend to get a bit overused, in Kubek's case, it has truly been earned. Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King team up once again for "Roadhouse Research", their aptly titled latest release on Blind Pig Records. From the sound of things, their extensive research project has paid dividends, as Kubek and King offer a healthy dose of beefy, straight-ahead, no nonsense blues music from start to finish, never staying too far from the blueprint yet mixing things up with enough variety to showcase a complete blues package. The combination of guitarists' work well together; Kubek's strat offers the driving punch and King's Gibson providing a smooth vibrato, together creating a cohesive rhythm section supported by bassist Paul Jenkins and drummer Ralph Power. Their 10 track effort has a little of everything; "Cryin' Shame" and Got To Get Paid", for example, are uptempo movers, while "Running Blind" has the band slowing things down, while still showcasing an enthusiastic dual-guitar attack. "Tell Me Why" is my personal favorite track; it's the perfect soundtrack to establish that "smoky roadhouse bar on a Saturday night" type of sound. While the straight-ahead blues tracks offer the best opportunities for Kubek and King to demonstrate the guitar prowess, it's the more melodic tracks like "Tell Me Why" and "Make It Right" that we hear King's soulful vocals and some catchy, uptempo rhythms.

Overall, Kubek, King, and company crank out some strong music on "Roadhouse Research". You can bet that if the bar is crowded, the beer is cold, and Smokin' Joe Kubek, Bnois King, and the band are playing on stage, chances are the crowd will go home satisfied.

- Don Sikorski