King Johnson
Legendary Blues

Atlanta, Georgia's King Johnson, named in homage to blues legends with the surnames King (B.B., Albert and Freddie) and Johnson (Robert, Blind Willie, Tommy and others), began as a straight-ahead blues outfit back in 1995. The band (Oliver Wood, Chris Long, Greg Baba, Adam Mewherter and Marcus James) has since been making a name for itself with its innovative and intoxicating blend of blues, New Orleans funk, jazz and soul. The result is one of the liveliest and most exciting good-time roots bands around. There's some great songwriting and strong vocals (all five members add vocals), as is evidenced by the band's most recent release, Luck So Strange (Steamtrain). The 13 tracks on this album were recorded mostly live in the studio. Like the band's music, which is a blend of the old and the new, the group aims to play to audiences of all ages. It's recently expanded to playing the college circuits as well as opening for the likes of Gov't Mule, Derek Trucks and the Funky Meters. And yes, the band encourages taping!   —Mick Skidmore