Black English by The Radiation Blues

The Radiation Blues are more than just a local Rock n' Roll band. I consider them to be a hybrid of both 20th and 21st century sensibilities and Western Kentucky roots. In the same way that the great Kentucky talent Arnold Schwartz brought back blues and ragtime from his exploits in New Orleans (And taught it to Bill Monroe and Merle Travis), the band infuses bluesy inflections into the rock and country music of their area's generation. This is a two-piece band that excels the way the great Dex Romweber Duo does, with a less-is-more philosophy. Thumb-driven leads, slide, plaintive vocals and jungle drums mix to create a Rock n' Roll band that could only be found in their particular neck o' the woods. Call it "cause and effect", call it what you will. When Eric Huddleston and Michael Lancaster got together to jam, the sound was born of a muse steeped in the ethos of Hopkinsville, Ky. Each and every influence they absorbed from their limestone-spiked water supply found its way through their veins. Like the fractal reach of a crooked sycamore, the mighty sound of The Radiation Blues emanates from deep roots and expands out to grab the listener. Put another way: this is Rock n' Roll mania from the shadow of state loony bin (Western State Hospital is just down the road)! I had a blast watching these two youngsters play together like only two Kentucky-born friends could. I had even more fun getting to sit in with them (as producer, I got to selfishly indulge myself!) I hope you enjoy the fruits of their efforts. I say "their" efforts because they did all the hard work. They're the ones who continue to slug it out in the rough honky tonics and biker bars of Kentucky's back roads. I hope you can hear "between the lines" all those hours of logged miles and lugged gear. Somehow it makes the music all the sweeter.

-Colonel J.D. Wilkes