The Cash Box Kings have spent ten years honoring the Chicago blues tradition as it could be heard during the 1940 and 1950’s stronghold that the music had on the city. On their recent release, ‘Holler & Stomp’, the band trace the sound back a little further. Like a generation of American youth had discovered their homeland bluesmen by hearing it on playback from the UK British blues/rock acts of the 1970’s, The Cash Box Kings found country blues by tracing the trail from Chicago back down south to the Mississippi delta to noodle a little country blues into their recording output. ‘Holler & Stomp’ maintains CBK’s dedication to excellence. The band gives the sound a stamp that mints it for today, the final results having as much to do with intuitive playing as the recording process. The album was produced by The Cash Box Kings co-vocalist and main harmonica blower and songwriter, Joe Nosek, along with lead guitarist Joel Paterso
n at Jimmy Sutton’s Hi-Style Studios. The recordings were live with the exception of one vocal and piano overdub.
‘Holler & Stomp’ does exactly what it promises in the title. There is no hidden agenda, cryptic sub-plots or false advertising. The men of CBK are here to holler and stomp all over Chicago and 
country blues. The title track shimmies into life like a dog shaking off water. The wiggle rhythm drives with determination under Joe Nosek’s vocal, his voice coaxing and teasing anyone within earshot to come into the dance. The narrator warms the blues story with sweet lovin’ vocals, even when he talks about telltale signs that give the impression that the lady is losing the look of love (“she had a bee in her bonnet and a bug up her ass”).
The Cash Box Kings complete a circle that has been hovering out there in the audio universe. With “Off The Hook”, they cover The Rolling Stones track written and recorded as a nod to, and in the style of, their namesake, Muddy Waters. The country blues of the track takes the song back to its delta roots before McKinley Morganfield made the journey north to make his mark on Chicago. CBK cover a Muddy Waters track that was brought north with his guitar, “Feel Like Going Home”, and take a turn at Ray Sharpe’s “Oh My Baby’s Gone”. Joe Nosek pens most of the band originals with the man on the other lead microphone, Oscar Wilson, and Joel Paterson sharing some of their songs.
Vocalist Oscar Wilson came on board in 2006. The band’s bio marks the man who stands at 6’3” part Muddy Waters, part Cedric the Entertainer. Though noticeable in their individual deliveries, the vocals of each of The Cash Box Kings main voice men are interchangeable in passion and commitment. ‘Holler & Stomp’ is The Cash Box Kings Blind Pig Records debut. The band will be staying close to home until they head over to Europe in the early part of April 2012. For more on live dates, history, photos and music, stomp your own way over to The Cash Box Kings website. Danny McCloskey
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