The Radio Kings, 'The Radio Kings'
Rock
The Radio Kings The Radio Kings
Gibraltar
ESSENTIAL "I'm Not Trippin' "
The Radio Kings play Johnny D's on Friday. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Chances are that if you partied in Boston clubs in the '90s, you saw the Radio Kings. They were in high demand, boosting bar revenues, and releasing three albums, one on Rounder Records' Bullseye Blues label. After a long hiatus, the group's core - brassy singer Brian Templeton and guitarist Michael Dinallo - are back with luminous new originals that maintain their rocking soul roots while adding a more extended reach suggesting everyone from Danois Lanois to the Allman Brothers Band. Dinallo has upgraded his production chops - he is part of the Tremolo Twins, who produced this album and the latest Stax/Volt release by Memphis great Eddie Floyd. The sound highlights Dinallo's sinuous riffs entwining with the lap steel of Steve Sadler as they steer a smart fusion of soul, blues, country (the astonishing "I'm Not Trippin' "), and funk ("Everything's Gonna Be All Right" echoes Sly Stone). Templeton's harmonica riffs recall the whomp of Paul Butterfield, and the rhythm section features Boston all-stars Dean Cassell and Andy Plaisted. This is music played by lifetime musicians who hold nothing back. (Out now) STEVE MORSE 