The King Blues

Biographyby Jon O'BrienInfluenced by the Specials, Public Enemy, and the Clash, London collective the King Blues combine folk-punk, Two-Tone, and dub reggae with overtly political lyrical themes on a sound self-described as "conscious rude boy ska." The band originally formed as a duo in 2004 before vocalist/ukulele player Jonny "Itch" Fox, and guitarist Jamie Jazz decided to expand their sound, recording with a number of various musicians before settling on the permanent lineup of guitarist Dean Ashton, bassist Kat Marsh, keyboardist Josie Dobson, and drummer Jack "Percusher" Usher. In 2005, they released their debut EP, All Fall Down, which was later followed by their 2006 full-length album, Under the Fog. After signing with Island subsidiary Field Recordings, it was reissued a year later, and following support from influential Radio 1 DJs Zane Lowe and Mike Davies, they scored a couple of minor hits from their follow-up, Save the World, Get the Girl ("Headbutt" and the title track) in 2008. A Live Lounge cover of Dizzee Rascal's "Bonkers," which they regularly played in their live set, became their most famous recording, and in 2011, they released their third LP, Punk and Poetry, through indie label Transmission.