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King Johnson Billy G’s: FRIDAY, May 25 If Pink Floyd can do it, I suppose King Johnson can, too. “It” is taking the name of their funky blues ensemble from legendary blues men (B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King; Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, etc.) and proceeding to become more than just another run-of-the-mill This Atlanta-based band sounds more like a New Orleans outfit on their most recent CD, Luck So Strange. With their horn section and insistent, Meters-derived funk, they resemble a bluesier Subdudes or a greasier The band comes with an impressive resumé, too. Guitarist/vocalist Oliver Wood logged many miles in Tinsley Ellis’ band, and contributed to Ellis’ Storm Warning album. His younger brother is bassist Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, and his father was a folk and bluegrass guitarist who recorded with Joan Baez. Bassist/vocalist Chris Long is an accomplished songwriter as well, with his tunes recorded by Tinsley Ellis, Delbert McClinton and Francine Reed. The band’s horn section of Adam Mewherter and Marcus James have played with everyone from Ray Charles to Al Jarreau, Steve Allen, Don Henley and The Ringling Together, Wood, Long, drummer Greg Baba and their two-piece horn section cook up a bluesy stew of influences that will satisfy both blues fans and those looking for something a bit more |