Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has blown open box offices and scored awards since the late '80s, earning the nickname King Khan along the way. So who is this East Indian upstart recycling trashed '60s garage rawk and using the same name? Good question.
this audio or video is no longer availableThe other King Khan is a recent signee to Vice Records, and was once known as Blacksnake in the Montreal-based group Spaceshits. For the Vice signing, Khan brought along his rousing 12-piece band The Shrines to help churn out the kind of fugged-up psychedelia that makes his forthcoming effort The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines, due out June 17, an indulgent noisefest that will have you digging out your old Trashmen and Fugz 45s.
Equal parts Jon Spencer, Stooges and pure recombination of a '60s garage rock scene that has propelled fellow acts like Black Lips and more to minor stardom, King Khan is a pure showman with a penchant for hilarious lyrics and dirty thoughts. Those looking for deep thoughts would be best served elsewhere. Those looking to sweat to the oldies dressed up as new-millennium newbies should feel right at home.
Khan and his Shrines kick off an inaugural U.S. tour this summer with a stop at New York's Seaport Music Festival on June 27. Black Lips' Jared Swiley caught Khan live and claimed it was "one of the best shows I have ever witnessed...nothing short of insanity. Horns were blaring that could have taken down the walls of Jericho, the drums pounding a rhythm deep 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."
In sum, since I absolutely cannot help it: "Khaaaaaaaaaann!!"
Photo: Vice Records
See Also:
