PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Multi award-winning, British blues rock band King King will release their third studio album, “Reaching For The Light”, in the UK on Tuesday 5th May.
Released by Manhaton Records, the album features 9 tracks of new material and a stellar line-up, featuring Alan Nimmo (vocals/guitar), Lindsay Coulson (bass), Wayne Proctor (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards).
King King start their Nationwide UK Tour on February 19th at The Brewery Arts Centre Kendal. Due to phenomenal demand, an album launch show has been added at The London Jazz Cafe on Wednesday May 6th. Tickets for the album launch show are available from thegigcartel.com and 0844 478 0898.
The wait is over. There’s no denying the buzz surrounding King King’s highly anticipated third studio album, Reaching For The Light. At a time when the shuffled playlist holds sway, along comes nine hot tracks that defy you to press skip.
In 2015, “Reaching For The Light” is the main event. Released May 5th on Manhaton Records, this third studio album is set to rubber-stamp King King’s status as the boldest creative force in the game, and dashes the hopes of rivals out to take their crown.
“We’re really proud of this album,” says front man Alan Nimmo. “It’s faster, louder, more energetic and more exciting. It’s got the potential to blow the roof off.”
Don’t call it a comeback. King King has never been away. Two years may have passed since the Glasgow outfit’s all-conquering second album, Standing In The Shadows, established them as pack-leaders of the British scene, but Alan Nimmo (vocals/guitar), Lindsay Coulson (bass), Wayne Proctor (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards) have barely cooled their heels or left the headlines.
There were the five triumphs at the 2014 British Blues Awards (including gongs for ‘Best Album’ and ‘Best Band’). The nods came from top media tastemakers, from DJ Paul Jones to the Classic Rock: Blues Magazine. The blood and thunder of their international headline tours, and recent support slots with John Mayall gave the British blues-boom godfather a tough act to follow.
“We couldn’t settle with another album that was only as good as Standing In The Shadows,” says Alan. “We’d have got crucified for it. We’ve made a rod for our backs, because now we need something a few steps above. We’re always trying to improve – and I think we’ve managed it.”
Opening with a gunshot drum fill, a stinging funk-blues guitar riff and a rabble-rousing opening gambit – “I’m in trouble!” – King King’s third album bursts out of the blocks and raises the bar.
“It’s short, sharp and exciting,” notes Alan of opening track Hurricane, “and it’s got that edge. Starting an album with that song, you know that we mean business.”
Indeed, Hurricane sets the tone for an album that hits hard. “I’d say there’s a natural progression from Standing In The Shadows,” explains Alan, “but on this album, we were delving more into a classic rock style. I grew up listening to bands like Free, Bad Company, early Whitesnake and Thunder. All of those influences were starting to show during Standing In The Shadows and now they’re really coming through. We’ve always had tunes that were smoldering and soulful. Now, there’s stuff that’s a bit faster-paced, too.”
This new album is no one-trick pony. Tracking at the Superfly Studios in Nottinghamshire, snatching days between tour commitments, the band’s group songwriting ran the gamut, from the gospel-inflected beauty of Lay With Me to the funk-rock flavours of Crazy.
“Everyone puts in their input and influences,” says Alan. “Bob is a big Janis Joplin fan, Wayne likes Genesis, and Lindsay comes from the background of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and all these obscure country bands. So there’s a great mixture in there. And after spending so much time on the road together, we’ve got real chemistry too. This band is like a gang. And that’s how it has to be.”
The dynamic musicianship, meanwhile, is bolstered by lyrics that are heartfelt and raw.
“Each song has a personal meaning, drawn from my own experience,” explains Alan. “I actually wrote the lyrics to Rush Hour when I was sixteen, about the pressures of life, but then I didn’t touch it again until now, when I tracked it down and finished it off. Hurricane is about when someone comes in to your life and leaves again, leaving you feeling like you’ve been bulldozed and you want more! You Stopped The Rain is a sadder story: I wrote the lyrics when my brother had cancer in his throat a few years back, and had an operation. The worry that came with that for everyone was distressing. Obviously, you find a way to ease things, and luckily enough, I get to write about these things through songs.”
In 2015, with so many bands seemingly content to settle for transient throwaway pop, Reaching For The Light is real music: an album to soundtrack the good times and soothe you during the bad. Of course, King King will take all the plaudits, sales and awards statuettes you care to sling their way – but that’s not the objective.
“We all want to take this band as far as we can,” says Alan. “You want to sell as many albums as possible, and anyone who says they don’t enjoy five-star reviews is lying. But most important is that we’ve got a great album that people can listen to and enjoy. That’s what really matters – and that’s the truth.”
MUSICIANS
Alan Nimmo – Guitars, vocals
Lindsay Coulson – Bass
Wayne Proctor – Drums
Bob Fridzema – Keyboards
REACHING FOR THE LIGHT – TRACKLISTING
01. Hurricane
02. You Stopped The Rain
03. I’m Waking Up
04. Rush Hour
05. Crazy
06. Lay With Me
07. Just A Little Lie
08. Take A Look
09. Stranger To Love
NEW DATE – ALBUM LAUNCH:
LONDON JAZZ CAFÉ
Wednesday 6th May 2015
Tickets: £16.00 / Box Office: 0207 485 6834
Book Online: TicketMaster.co.uk
5 Parkway, London, NW1 7PG
www.thejazzcafelondon.com
KENDALL BREWERY ARTS CENTRE
Thursday 19th February 2015
Tickets £15.00 / 01539 725133
Book Online: www.breweryarts.co.uk
122a Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4HE
www.breweryarts.co.uk
LINCOLN DRILL HALL
Friday 20th February 2015
Tickets: £15.00 / Box Office: 01522 873894
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EY
www.lincolndrillhall.com
CHESTER LIVE ROOMS
Saturday 21st February 2015
Tickets: £15.00 / Box Office: 01244 317171
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
1 Station Road, Chester, CH1 3DR
www.theliverooms.com
NOTTINGHAM RESCUE ROOMS
Sunday 22nd February 2015
Tickets: £15.00 / Box Office: 0115 828 3173
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
25 Goldsmith Street, Nottingham NG1 5LB
www.rescuerooms.com
WORTHING PIER SOUTHERN PAVILLION
Wednesday 25th February 2015
Tickets: £16:00 / Box Office: 0800 093 5337
Book Online: www.wegottickets.com
Sea Front, Worthing, BN11 3PX
www.worthingpier.co.uk
LEAMINGTON SPA ASSEMBLY
Thursday 26th February 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 0844 854 1358
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Spencer St, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3NF
www.leamingtonassembly.com
NEWBURY ARLINGTON ARTS
Friday 27th February 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01635 244246
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Mary Hare School, Newbury, West Berkshire RG14 3BQ
www.arlingtonarts.co.uk
MILTON KEYNES STABLES SOLD OUT
Saturday 28th February 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01908 280800
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17 8LU
www.stables.org
READING THE BOWERY DISTRICT
Sunday 1st March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01189 595 395
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
110-117 Friar Street, Reading, West Berkshire, RG1 1EP
www.thebowerydistrict.co.uk
SOUTHAMPTON TALKING HEADS
Wednesday 4th March 2015
Tickets £15 / Box Office: 02380 678446
Book Online www.thetalkingheads.co.uk
320 Portswood Road, Southampton. SO17 2TD
www.thetalkingheads.co.uk
LONDON BORDERLINE SOLD OUT
Thursday 5th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 020 7734 5547
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Orange Yard, Manette St, London, W1D 4JB
http://mamacolive.com/theborderline
EXETER PHOENIX
Friday 6th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01392 667080
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
BILSTON ROBIN
Saturday 7th March 2015
Tickets £15 / Box Office: 01902 401211
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
20-28 Mt Pleasant, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 7LJ
www.therobin.co.uk
CARDIFF THE GLOBE
Sunday 8th March 2015
Tickets £15 / Box Office: 08444 780 898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
125 Albany Road, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3NS
www.globecardiffmusic.com
NORWICH EPIC
Thursday 12th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01603 727 727
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
112-114 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1JD
www.epicstudiosnorwich.com
SHEFFIELD CITY HALL BALLROOM
Friday 13th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01442 789 789
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Sheffield City Hall, Barkers Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA
www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
MANCHESTER BAND ON THE WALL
Saturday 14th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 0845 2 500 500
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
25 Swan St, The Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 5JZ
www.bandonthewall.org
LEEDS WARDROBE
Wednesday 18th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01133 838 800
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Leeds Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH
www.thewardrobe.co.uk
GATESHEAD SAGE
Thursday 19th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 0191 443 4661
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR
www.sagegateshead.com
STOCKTON ARC
Friday 20th March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01642 525 199
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Stockton Arc, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL
www.arconline.co.uk
GLASGOW O2 ABC
Saturday 21st March 2015
Tickets: £17.50 / Box Office: 0141 332 2232
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
300 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JA
www.o2abc.co.uk
ABERDEEN THE LEMON TREE
Sunday 22nd March 2015
Tickets: £15 / Box Office: 01224 337 688
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
