KING SNAKES BLUES BAND: Issues Up Top

King Snakes Blues Band

Issues Up Top

© 2004 Ned's a Case

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

Stripped Down Delta and Hill Country Blues with an intensity that just knocks peoples heads off.

notes

The King Snakes have been known as one of the top blues bands in the Midwest for the past 2 years. They were selected as the best blues band in Kansas in the 2003 Wichita Blues Challenge. Moreover, the band's core Aaron Moreland and Dustin Arbuckle won the same event in 2004; only this time with there stripped down raw delta blues duo know as 'Moreland & Arbuckle'.
The band plays approximately 120 shows per year throughout the Midwest. Their debut album "Issues Up Top" has sold hundreds of copies off of the stages of shows. It has received rave reviews and accolades. The album is very primal and live sounding. The best part about this record is that it sounds like the King Snakes Blues Band really sounds. No Cover Ups, No Overdubs, Just in your face authentic blues. With some contemporary jammy type twists.
Listen to the sound clips.. and you will see.

Reviews:
Vincent Abbate, Blueswax 3/17/05-

"There are Blues bands all over the world using this name, so let's start with the basics. These King Snakes hail from Wichita, Kansas, where Issues Up Top was recorded, and see themselves as a place where traditional Hill Country and Delta Blues meets early Chicago and more contemporary Jam band sounds. After forming two years ago, they went on to represent the region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Of the 14 listed cuts on their debut CD (there's also a hidden track), nine were written or co-written by harp player/vocalist Dustin Arbuckle and guitarist/vocalist Aaron Moreland. Covers include Charlie Patton, Fred McDowell, and an excellent, rough-and-tumble version of Bill Withers' "Use Me."
If you were to catch the band on a Saturday night somewhere in the Middle Western United States, none of that information would matter much - except maybe the rough-and-tumble part. The no-frills Issues Up Top makes it easy to hear that these guys deliver the goods. What they do isn't fancy, but neither was the music from most of their heroes. With Moreland's mean guitar growl playing off Arbuckle's smart, workaday vocals and harp, and the efficient groove laid down by bassist James Hocutt and drummer David Floyd, the quartet brings more untainted Blues feeling across than many bigger name artists on bigger name labels.

The band manages to mix electric and acoustic sounds liberally, plow several Blues fields, even toss in a surf song, and still come up with a cohesive sounding album. On the electric side, both "Stormy Outside" and the aforementioned Withers cover are standout cuts, with Moreland working a slide guitar tone big enough to eat you alive. Unplugged tracks like "Tell Me Why" and Fred McDowell's "Kokomo Blues" are spread throughout the CD, more joyous than they are respectful of tradition, though the respect's there, too. Another great slide cut is Robert Johnson's "Preachin' Blues," with all four cogs in the groove machine greased and purring on the down the road. Bad ass, boys!

OK, but what are the chances of actually getting to Wichita to see The King Snakes kick it live, right? Here's hoping they hit it big and start touring the world - but never lose the small-town, do-it-yourself sound they do so well on this promising debut."

Jedd Beadoin, F5Weekly
" With surf, elements of jam music, straight-up blistering blues and even a mind-altering reading of Neil Young's "Cortez The Killer," Issues Up Top is a clear case of mission accomplished."

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  • This is a great album if you like the blues period.
    author: Glenn B.

    These guys have got the sound I like and listen to regular. Raw in your face blues from the past and now present. Good beats for everyone to enjoy. You have country blues, damn good harmonica blues, a little bluegrassy blues, and last electric blues on this CD. Buy it you'll love it if you love the blues.

  • These guys sound awesome
    author: Scott Edwards

    This CD is great. I usually listen to hard rock, or heavy metal, but I had this CD in for about a week and a half after I got it. I alternated between this one, and Moreland and Arbuckle's Caney Valley Blues. Both are great.

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