Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King - Fat Man's Shine Parlor (2015)

Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King are one of the most talented guitar tandems in any genre. Playing together for twenty-five years, they have become a dynamic musical tour de force, with Joe's flame-throwing guitar work complemented by Bnois' cool, jazz-inflected playing and soulful vocals. Their incendiary live shows feature two top flight guitarists intuitively locked in with each other and backed by a firepower rhythm section, making for a powerful and irresistible combination.

Said Kubek, "We are very excited to be back with Blind Pig. Some of the best stuff we perform on stage, the favorites that our treasured fans from all over come to hear, is material we recorded for Blind Pig. It's a label that always delivers the very best quality music to fans and radio, and we're all about giving our fans and blues radio our very best artistry.”

As a young musician in Dallas, Smokin’ Joe Kubek would venture in the wee hours to a declining, somewhat unsavory neighborhood in search of fried chicken. A commercial district for African-Americans, the area had been a hotbed for jazz and blues musicians from the 1920’s through the 50’s where you could also find gun and locksmith shops, tattoo studios, pawnshops, and pool halls.

Joe was fascinated by one remaining establishment called “Fat Man’s Shine Parlor.” Ostensibly a place to get your shoes shined, to those in the know, it was also a place for other activities such as gambling, drinking, and womanizing.

Joe sees this CD in a similar light – crack open the door, and inside you’ll find more than advertised. Only in this case, the pleasures will be musical.