Pages tagged “king khan and the shrines”

It’s difficult to pinpoint the smarmy but undeniable charm of The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines. On the one hand, the hour-long album, a compendium of 16 highlights from King Khan and the Shrines’ discography, is full of upbeat garage-rock jams, from the groovy “Sweet Touch” to the swinging “Outta Harms Way.” But the album lasts way too long, especially considering how most garage-rock romps burn out after a half-hour. And King Khan, a confident, swaggering frontman, has a thin, hiccupping voice that often fails him. When he tackles “Fool Like Me,” he tries to work the ballad like Mick Jagger would have interpreted a great rhythm and blues number. But as he shouts and simmers, he overlooks the song’s emotions, and the performance comes off as insincere.

Above: The wrath of Khan

That King Khan sure is a mysterious and prolific gent. Having recorded under/collaborated with numerous entities (The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Spaceshits, The Sensational Shrines, King Khan & His Lonesome Guitar, The Ciaoculos) over the years, the man who claims his legal name is Blacksnake will hit the road this summer for a series live shows.

What's the occasion? Why, King Khan and the Shrines' first ever North American tour dates, natch. The "massive 9 piece psychedelic soul big band explosion" will be out promoting the June 17 release of its Supreme Genius retrospective, which is also the band's first official U.S. release. For what it's worth, it's some of the best horn-heavy, new-artist-old-soul music we've heard in a while. But don't take our word for it. Jared Swilley of Black Lips has already been converted:

"The first time I crossed paths with King Khan and the Shrines was on a cold foggy day in London. The gloomy weather was fitting as I'd lost my passport, money, and most of my personal effects at the previous night's concert. My spirits were down and I was in desperate need of salvation. As I sat wallowing in sorrow outside of the club I suddenly felt a supernatural calling that drew me in like a rat following the Pied Piper. What followed was to this day one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. The scene inside was nothing short of insanity. Horns were blaring that could have taken down the walls of Jericho, the drums pounding a rhythm into my heart, guitars, bass and organ wailing and King Khan at the epicenter of it all commanding the stage like a soul-soaked shaman. I was spellbound, moved, shaken, stirred and cured - not unlike what I hear religious experiences are like. I left the show a saved and converted man. I had experienced Supreme Genius."

Are you experienced?:

June
27 - New York, N.Y @ Seaport Music Festival
28 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ Johnny Brendas
29 - Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel
30 - Chapel Hill, N.C. @ Local 506

July
1 - Huntsville, Ala. @ Flying Monkey
3 - Athens, Ga. @ 40 Watt
4 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Lenny's
5 - New Orleans, La. @ One Eyed Jacks
6 - Austin, Texas @ The Mohawk
8 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ Rhythm Room
10 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Echo
11 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Great American Music Hall
12 - Portland, Ore. @ Dantes
13 - Seattle, Wash. @ Tractor Tavern
14 - Vancouver, BC @ Red Room
16 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ Urban Lounge
17 - Denver, Colo. @ Larimer Lounge
20 - Chicago, Ill. @ Pitchfork Fest
21 - Pontiac, Mich. @ Crofoot Ballroom
22 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Grog Shop
23 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
24 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
25 - Montreal, PQ @ La Sala Rossa
26 - Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
30 - Northampton, Mass. @ Iron Horse
31 - Cambridge, Mass. @ Middle East

August
1 - New Haven, Conn. @ Cafe Nine
2 - New York, N.Y. @ Mercury Lounge

Related links:
News: King Khan signs with Vice, offers free MP3
News: Mark Sultan AKA BBQ to tour with Clinic
King Khan & The Shrines homepage

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

Garage-punk rocker King Khan is bringing his glorious noise to Vice. In fact, his twelve-piece psychedelic soul big band, King Khan and The Shrines, will release its first album on the label in June.

The pseudo-greatest hits collection will be called The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines, and is slated for release on June 17. Supreme Genius will mark the U.S. debut of hits from the band’s previous albums Three Hairs & You’re Mine, Mr. Supernatural and What Is ?!. The album also features a top-notch lineup of guest musicians, including renowned Chicago percussionist Ron Streeter and French rockabilly saxophonist Big Fred Rollercoaster.

The members of King Khan and The Shrines have been perfecting their signature style of music since the band’s inception in Berlin in 1999. Almost 10 years later, many fans and critics still struggle to classify the band’s trippy Motown sound, described by Vice as “garage soul inferno – equal parts Lenny Kaye-era Nuggets, James Brown soul revue and Sun Ra freak session.”

Fans will be able to judge for themselves this July when the band (which has shared the stage with buddies Black Lips and Deerhunter) hits the road for its first-ever U.S. tour. Dates and additional details are coming soon, so stay tuned...

The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines tracklist:

1. Torture
2. Took my Lady to Dinner
3. (How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way
4. Land of The Freak
5. Fool Like Me
6. I Wanna Be A Girl
7. Welfare Bread
8. Sweet Tooth
9. Shivers Down My Spine
10. Burnin' Inside
11. Destroyer
12. Live Fast Die Strong
13. Crackin´ Up
14. Tell Me
15. Que Lindo Sueno
16. No Regrets

MP3: King Khan and the Shrines - ”Torture”

Related links:
King Khan and the Shrines on MySpace
ViceRecords.com
Paste: Director Chris Dortch talks ATL music documentary We Fun

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.