Hard Road

Kingfish, A Prodigy

I’ve mentioned Kingfish a number of times in past reviews. Just to reintroduce this legend, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, is a fantastic 26 year old blues musician from Mississippi. As a young prodigy, Kingfish gained attention from his online presence. He recorded with a variety of giants in the world of blues music, including the likes of Eric Gales and Keb’Mo. Suffice it to say, Kingfish has, in his short career, made a name for himself in the world of blues music.

Recent Years

More recently, Kingfish has been involved in a number of collabs. Notably, he is involved in the upcoming tribute album to BB King. This album, organised by Joe Bonamassa, is set to be a massive event, in celebration on the late King. On this album, Kingfish plays alongside Bonamassa, to pay tribute to BB King, who Kingfish very clearly idolizes. Kingfish also appears alongside Buddy Guy‘s new album, Ain’t Done With The Blues. Again, Kingfish very clearly has a lot of respect for the living legend. These are just some of the collabs that Kingfish has partaken in. Naturally, given that Kingfish is still only 26, the industry expects him to have a long and productive career.

I initially found Kingfish through Instagram. While mindlessly scrolling, I stumbled upon this uber talented young man. Playing a mix of classics, alongside some stellar originals, I was instantly hooked. Since then, I followed his career closely. I have often found that, the real sign of a great musician is in their ability to perform live. Kingfish embodies this. From live recordings, its clear that his abilities are no joke. I was really blown away with his album, 662, which was released in 2021. 

A new album

Because of all of this, I was very excited to hear that he was releasing a new album. In anticipation of this, I reviewed a pre-released song from the album very recently. The album was released on September 26th and was met with acclaim from critics and fans. It sees Kingfish branch out, letting other genres like funk and soul influence his bluesy playing. 

“Truth”

“Truth” is the first song on the album and it starts it off strong. The opener is amazing. Immediately starting with a groovy rhythm that goes through the whole track. The guitarwork naturally shines in this song. With immediately striking wah guitar, you’re instantly hooked. I noticed there’s also a nice reference in the lyrics to the 662, a previous album and also where he grew up.

The vocals pay homage to classic blues but also feel refreshed somehow. While some musicians act as a carbon copy of the past legends, Kingfish puts his own stamp on his songs. He wields the guitar like a weapon, letting music just flow through it, seemingly effortlessly. While the drums and bass aren’t in focus, they carry the song and allow Kingfish to shine. There are blues tropes in this song but with his own twist. The solo comes in blaring, epic but not too derivative.

“Crosses”

Another standout track on this album was “Crosses”. When listening, you immediately sense the Hendrix influence on this album. Kingfish uses hammer-ons effectively here, reminiscent of Hendrix’s style in multiple songs. Truly, Kingfish makes his guitar sing in this track. With chugging riffs, this track feels heavy and gritty. These are interspersed with descending licks that parse it regularly. While the Hendrix influence is evident in the guitarwork, his vocals are still very much his own. The guitarwork on this song really take the spotlight, especially with the solo. With a wah heavy solo, with even more hammer-ons. I found that the phrasing itself is laid back, without being slow. It is a very impressive track overall.

“Voodoo Charm”

“Voodoo Charm” is a great name for a song. Paying tribute to other classic songs like “Voodoo Chile” and “Voodoo People”. Following “Crosses” on the album, this one is another banger.  The riff reminds me of Clapton’s cover of “Crossroads” by Robert Johnson. I also found that the vocal progression is similar to some of Stevie Ray Vaughan‘s work, another Hero of Kingfish. The guitarwork throughout is as incredible as you’d expect. Kingfish utilizes some uncommon scales for blues. You get a look at the genius at work here as he mixes familiar blues with his own style. As the solo roars in, you understand why Kingfish is involved in so many different collabs recently. He really has found his style and now, we get to watch him make his mark on the music world.

Conclusion

Naturally, I loved this album. He wears his influences on his sleeve. It’s clear to me that Kingfish will, some day, be counted among the blues giants. I wait with anticipation for his next album. Kingfish is what the genre needed