The King Blues
Coming from different sides of the pond but with shared beliefs about social issues, Flobots and The King Blues, have much in common. In a world where few artists have little or anything of interest to talk about, Flobots and The King Blues certainly do.
Flobots are a rip roaring 6 piece fighting force who hail from Denver, Colorado who formed in 2005 in the aftermath of the previous years Presidential election. Compared to and a mix of The Roots, Rage Against The Machine and Linkin Park, they quickly elevated their shows to “socially aware†happenings and used their songs to express their aims and views. The single “Mayday†is an example of all the members spiking the explosive song with their own makings.
Says Brer Rabbit, one of the two MCs of the band: “It’s one of our favourites. It seems to mean something different to all of us. I remember when writing part of the song I was thinking about how people are often caught between systems. The kids I worked with – caught between school pressures and the social worries – they always seemed to fall between the cracks so they’d have to carve out their own system.â€
The King Blues evolved from the squat scene in Hackney and are fronted by Johnny “Itch†Fox. The band themselves are outspoken on a number of social issues which have affected them in the past and are affecting people every day. The single “Let’s Hang The Landlord†is an auto-biographical track about Itch in his youth and the struggles he went through.
The King Blues’ music is punk music as it was intended – engaging, forward thinking and all-encompassing. The new as-yet untitled second album will be released in October and reflects the evolution of a band who have gone from being threatened with ASBO’s for guerrilla performances at Canary Wharf and Westminster to shows at Wembley Arena. These days they’re viewing the bigger picture – and searching for solutions. “Initially we just wanted to be a soundtrack for the movement but now we feel that we have explored our art and opened our hearts,†says Itch. “As a result, our political ideas carry a lot more weight now.â€
Never has there been a better time for a band like The King Blues than now. Politically-sussed, constantly active but never dogmatic, they are the latest in a long tradition of well-read, well-intentioned British refuseniks representing the disenfranchised youth from the ground up. With war in Iraq still raging, a right wing leader in charge of their home city and an economy in decline, the world needs bands like The King Blues more than ever.