Kubek & King - Fat Man's Shine Parlor

2015 – Blind Pig Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb 21, 2015

Dynamic Blues duo Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King have teamed up again, to record and produce an album of the best down-home blues one can hear.  The title itself, Fat Man’s Shine Parlor, conjures up visions of seasoned bluesmen congregating in the neighborhood barbershop on a Saturday afternoon, exchanging stories of days gone by.

“Got My Heart Broken” is an excellent track to start off with its high energy and driving rhythm.  Eerie growls resembling the snores of a sleeping dragon emit from Kubek’s guitar and make this one even more fascinating.  Keeping that initial energy flowing, they dive into another favorite, “Cornbread”, a heavy blues ode to country cooking and soul food.  I love the groove on “Diamond Eyes”.  Heavily steeped in Seventies blues/rock, my mind wanders to artists like Robin Trower and Pat Travers when immersed in this song.      

As soon as I hear the beginning Zeppelin’esque riff from “Brown Bomba Mojo”, I get excited.  This is phenomenally played and hits on all cylinders. It really doesn’t get much better than this.  Kubek and King certainly deliver the goods once again, proving tasty guitar blues is their specialty.     

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Sena Ehrhardt - Live My Life

2014 – Blind Pig Records

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 13, 2014

Live My Life, the third studio release from Minnesota native, Sena Ehrhardt, is a true gem of an album.  Ehrhardt is backed by a tight new group of musicians fronted by guitarist/songwriter Cole Allen.  To top things off, the legendary David Z returned to his old Minnesotan stomping grounds, being called in to produce and mix.    

Ehrhardt reminds us how great the range is on her voice, as she lets loose on “Stakes Have Gone Up”, an energetic opener, blending contemporary country with blues.  Special guest, Smokin’ Joe Kubek breaks out the slide guitar on “Things You Shouldn’t Need to Know”.  I really like this track.  It reminds me of the early Jefferson Airplane years, with its sexy and sultry vocals riding atop lush bluesy guitar riffs and a splash of psychedelia.  Cole rocks out with intensity, as he throws down the gauntlet with heavy licks and head-banging riffs, ripping it up on “Did You Ever Love Me At All”. This one is blues rock at its best.    

Digging deep, Ehrhardt blows the dust off the old Leon Russell penned classic, “Help Me Through the Day”, recorded by Freddy King.  Modified slightly to switch the point of reference from male to female, this track is performed with perfection.  With Jimi “Primetime” Smith joining in on rhythm guitar and Bruce McCabe on piano, this sounds so good, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Being the amazing singer she is, Ehrhardt has once more outdone herself.  Based on this album, I’d be very surprised if she wasn’t nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist for the 2015 Blues Music Awards.