The King Blues

The King Blues – Mr Music Man Demo (mp3) via KingBlues.com

This ukulele kills fascits.

In a world where popstars fly halfway around the world in their private jets to tell us not to leave our TVs on standby, you’d be forgiven for dismissing any musician with political pretentions. The King Blues are a polemical, left-wing, ska-punk band who have been mainstays of the London squatter scene. They have three advantages over these acts: they seem to practice what they preach; they have songs called Fuck You Bono and Fuck Bob Geldof; they have a ukulele.

Their political credentials are boosted by the support of, left wing activist and writer of Pirates of the Caribbean, Tariq Ali. According to Ali, The King Blues make, “rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country.” I’m not sure exactly how much weight Gordon Brown places on the opinions of the UK’s ska-punk squatter scene when setting policy, but I did hear he consulted with Ramraid the Offy on the decoupling of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Buy Under the Fog (if you can stand to do something so capitalist)

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15 Comments

  1. DK Nixon August 28th, 2007 2:05 pm

    I’ve seen them live XD One of my top 5 bands.

  2. Woodshed August 28th, 2007 8:36 pm

    I’m jealous. The live videos look like they’re loads of fun live. It must be so much better in the flesh.

  3. DK Nixon August 29th, 2007 12:11 am

    It is Woodshed, I got to actually touch the ukist and after the show we had a chat about ukuleles. And he signed my album. Really nice dudes, if you ever get the chance you should go see them. If you want, I can post some of the tabs I’m working on of their stuff :D

  4. Lee December 20th, 2007 8:21 pm

    My mate was support act for them in glasgow and i was hanging around with them afterwards,they area way good laugh!!

  5. Woodshed December 21st, 2007 6:42 pm

    Who’s your mate, Lee?

  6. skaninja December 29th, 2007 12:56 pm

    ive seen these live twice and they are incredible itch (the frontman) expresses his views on stage and is an awesome dude and woodshed wen u seen them did he split the crowd in two during takin over??

  7. Woodshed January 3rd, 2008 8:48 pm

    I haven’t seen them live unfortunately.

  8. adam December 3rd, 2008 10:55 pm

    saw them at reading this summer and again last night. So good. Does anyone have any idea what ukulele itch plays? or at least what size i cant make it out between a soprano or a sopranino

  9. Woodshed December 4th, 2008 5:44 pm

    adam: In most of the pictures I’ve seen of him he’s had a Vineyard ukulele. I think it’s a concert.

  10. ukesiscute December 7th, 2008 9:25 pm

    nope…its a soprano…it jus looks bigger cos hes really little :)

  11. Woodshed December 8th, 2008 8:02 pm

    Thanks for the info, ukesiscute.

  12. jonny no-ca$h December 25th, 2008 1:12 pm

    hey just got a ukulele for xmasits awesome, king blues are a very very good band, seen em twice and got both albums definatley worth buying.

  13. Paddy February 4th, 2009 6:15 pm

    can someone put up some tabs/chords for them? anyone worked any out? i cant find any anywheere
    they’re amazing! im seeing them for the 3rd time next week – cant wait!

  14. zym February 4th, 2009 6:52 pm

    Paddy,

    Theres a stack of their tracks on http://ukulelehunt.com/ukertabs/

  15. Woodshed February 4th, 2009 7:43 pm

    Thanks, Andy.

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