The Duke & The King: Not "The Duke" Snider, but a home run nonetheless. Touch 'em all, boys...

I frequently receive email from publicity agents hawking the latest soon-to-be James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, The Band.  They must have found me on some late night drunken cyber witch hunt.  Anyway, I do regularly pay attention to a couple- The Muse Box and Ariel Publicity - with semi-regularity.   Today's pitch from The Muse Box featured a self-titled (okay, I'll say eponymous) U.S. debut album of The Duke & The King.  What caught my eye in the piece was the name Simone Felice, a founding member of the fabulous Felice Brothers:

"Formed in New York by acclaimed musician-writer Simone Felice, previously a key songwriter and founding member of celebrated country rock outfit The Felice Brothers, The Duke & The King are a potent vocal group created by Felice and Robert Bird Burke featuring Simi Stone and Nowell “The Deacon” Haskins.

Named after the traveling Shakespearean troupe in Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” The Duke & The King create a rollicking undeniably soulful sound in the vein of classic songwriters from James Taylor to Rolling Thunder Review, Fleetwood Mac and Sly & The Family Stone, while adding a distinctly personal touch with Felice’s affecting narratives.  It is a quality which inspired the BBC to compare his songwriting to Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.

The band’s upcoming release is a collection of songs culled from the group’s two previous English albums, not available in the U.S.  Both records have received unanimously enthusiastic reviews from the British press."

I'm listening.  It is understated, with ear-catching lyrics ("cause we were just babies when the Jackson Five grew up so fast, baby, just come shake that country ass"), tasty backing harmonies (touches of early CS&N on You And I), sax flourishes.  Worth some attention.  They will be at the City Winery in NYC on Saturday, August 6.  Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Shaky is one of the catchiest songs you will hear all Summer: