Bocephus King History

"For some, knowledge has made existence
a godless purgatory - a savage middle ground, as incurable disease, a blue sickness."

Any precise characterisation of an artist who has to be seen live is impossible to pinpoint. Bocephus King has been keeping the critics guessing for years and has inspired labels from pop-folk to roots rock to carnival burlesque. None of these seem to stick, however, as Bocephus King shakes off each new description with every performance. Keeping haphazardly to the middle ground somewhere between solid blues-based rock and a three ring circus, Bocephus King are the epitome of the saying "you have to see them live".

Bocephus King's recording history began with "Joco Music", recorded, with a paired down version of the present band, in the Perry's summer house in Point Roberts. The sound characterises more traditional blues, but with a cajun twist, and the songwriting possesses the standard sarcastic humour found in all Bocephus King songs. As Bocephus decided to use "Joco" as a demo, only a handful of people have had the opportunity to hear the 16 song album, although many have heard the songs live. For those in Canada wishing to purchase this "demo" album, a limited edition copy can be bought from the Bocephus King website: www.bocephusking.com.

Following "Joco", legendary performances in Canada, SXSW and northwestern United States brought Bocephus King to the attention of New West Records in Austin, who released "Small Good Thing" in 1998. Although "Small Good Thing", recorded in Minneapolis, wound up on many critics' top-ten lists, many were left scratching their heads in search of a genre to file it under. One person, however, unbothered by genre, discerned the beauty of "Small Good Thing" and changed the course of the band. Although no-one quite knows how the CD happened to be heard by him, this person was the editor of Buscadero Magazine in Italy, who was so impressed that he tracked down Mr. B.K. himself, did a comprehensive interview and started the ball rolling for a full Italian tour. Bocephus King have completed five successful tours of Europe and are quickly becoming stars in Italy.

Bocephus King's third album, "Blue Sickness", was recorded in the summer and fall of 1999. Out of their deal with New West Records, "Blue Sickness" was released in 2000 through Tonic Records in Canada. While still retaining the trademark idiosyncratic arrangements and narrative song lyrics of the previous two albums, "Blue Sickness" moves towards a somewhat darker and seedier landscape, which has also found an audience. A video for the song "Mess of Love" was placed on heavy rotation on MuchMoreMusic, the second video "Eight and a Half" enjoyed the same success and reached #1 on the Bravo Countdown. Two songs were added to the soundtrack of "Da Vinci's Inquest", another to the feature film "Rupert's Land". "Blue Sickness" was nominated for "Favourite Local Record" in the 2000 Georgia Straight Music Awards, as were the band for "Favourite National Blues/Roots Act" and all this followed by a nomination for "Best Indie Release" and another for "Best Roots/Traditional Album" in the West Coast Music Awards (2000 / 2001).

Bocephus King's highly anticipated new album "All Children Believe in Heaven" was released in Holland and Italy in September 2003, in Canada on August 10th, 2004 and in United States on January 11th , 2005. "All Children Believe in Heaven", which has the feel of a James Cagney/Bogart film, pays homage to old Hollywood, giving it an unsterilized lyrical and atmospheric biopsy. It is Hollywood dirtied up, so to speak. If you're familiar with BK's work, you'll know that the characters in his songs are usually the lovelorn, jaded or felonious, with an accompanying collection of whores, pill poppers and drunkards. He looks at and interprets the golden age from this same angle.

Bocephus King and The Band of Doom travelled through Western Canada this Fall in support of "All Children Believe in Heaven" with a showcase at the Western Canadian Music Awards in Calgary. The current single "Wreck of the Century" is currently rotating on MuchMoreMusic. You can vote for it at www.muchmoremusic.com. Look out for upcoming Canadian and American tours, as well as a new single for "Jesus the Bookie".