PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Multi award-winning, blues rock band King King have just released a lyric video for a new song “Waking Up” taken from the new album Reaching For The Light (out now).
There’s a definite buzz surrounding King King’s highly anticipated third studio album, “Reaching For The Light”. At a time when the shuffled playlist holds sway, along come nine hot tracks that defy you to press skip.
In 2015, “Reaching For The Light“ is the main event. “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.”
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. The influences were starting to show duringStanding 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.”
24 HOUR BOX OFFICE – 0844 478 0898
BOOK ONLINE – www.thegigcartel.com
BURTON UPON TRENT, BREWHOUSE
Wednesday 21st October 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.brewhouse.co.uk
The Maltsters, Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, DE14 1LS
www.brewhouse.co.uk
BURY ST. EDMUNDS, THE APEX
Thursday 22nd October 2015
Box Office: 01824 758 000
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
www.theapex.co.uk
HARPENDEN, PUBLIC HALLS
Friday 23rd October 2015
Box Office: 01582 767525
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PD
www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk
TAVISTOCK, THE WHARF
Saturday 24th October 2015
Box Office: 01822 611166
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
The Wharf, Canal Road, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8AT
www.tavistockwharf.com
COVENTRY, THE COPPER ROOMS
Sunday 25th October 2015
Box Office: 024 765 72777
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL
www.warwicksu.com/copperrooms
CARLISLE, THE OLD FIRE STATION
Tuesday 27th October 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Old Fire Station, Warwick Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8QW
http://oldfirestation.carlisle.city
HOLMFIRTH PICTUREDROME
Thursday 29th October 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Market Walk, Holmfirth. HD9 7DA
www.picturedrome.net
CLITHEROE, THE GRAND
Friday 30th October 2015
Box Office: 01200 421599
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
18 York Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 2DL
www.thegrandvenue.co.uk
GLENROTHES, ROTHES HALL
Saturday 31st October 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
16 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1XT
www.onfife.com
YORK, FIBBERS
Sunday 1st November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Address: 3 Toft Green, York YO1 6JT
www.fibbers.co.uk
CHESTERFIELD, REAL TIME LIVE
Tuesday 3rd November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
13 Marsden St., Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1JY
www.realtimelive.co.uk
HULL, FRUIT
Wednesday 4th November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
62 Humber Street, Hull HU1 1TU
www.fruitspace.co.uk
FROME, CHEESE AND GRAIN
Friday 6th November 2015
Box Office: 01373 455420
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Market Yard, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BE
www.cheeseandgrain.com
SHOREHAM, ROPETACKLE ARTS
Saturday 7th November 2015
Box Office: 01273 455992
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
90 High St, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DB
www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk
LONDON, ISLINGTON O2 ACADEMY
Wednesday 11th November 2015
Box Office: 0844 249 1000
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
16 Parkfield Street, London, N1 0PS
www.o2academyislington.co.uk
BROMSGROVE, ARTRIX
Thursday 12th November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, B60 1AX
www.artrix.co.uk
SALE, WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE
Friday 13th November 2015
Box Office: 0161 912 5616
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF
www.watersideartscentre.co.uk
MORECAMBE, THE PLATFORM
Saturday 14th November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Old Station Buildings, Marine Road West, Morecambe LA4 4DB
www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform
SHREWSBURY, THEATRE SEVEN
Sunday 15th November 2015
Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury SY3 8FT
www.theatresevern.co.uk
