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Voodoo Kings

Updated: January 23, 2012 2:49AM

On July 15 the Chicago-based band, Voodoo Kings, will be rocking out at Rosemont’s Montrose Room. Pioneer Press caught up with lead singer and guitarist Michael Kranicke to get to know the band.

Pioneer Press: How did the band get together?

Michael Kranicke: I formed the band in 1995 when I moved back here from Colorado. I was fronting a blues power trio doing original music and blues covers playing all the vacation/resort towns, skiing 100 days a year and doing 150 shows a year. Really got my chops down doing that. I hit Chicago looking for people to play with and a record deal, and we just released our fourth record entitled “Mileage” last year.

Pioneer Press: Why the name “Voodoo Kings”?

Kranicke: It’s Voodoo Kings because the Voodoo religion is an amalgam of various religions and we do a mix of a lot of different styles in the music we do, from rock to Americana to funk which is essentially what rock ’n’ roll is: a melting pot of different musical styles, from blues to jazz to R&B.

Pioneer Press: Describe your music.

Kranicke: I like to describe the music as American Roots music painted with the colors of the Blues.

Pioneer Press: What types of venues do you play in?

Kranicke: We have toured regionally for years and have played in everything from small dive bars to the House of Blues and major festivals opening up for acts like John Hiatt and George Clinton.

Pioneer Press: Which musician(s) inspires you most?

Kranicke: As a songwriter, some influences are the Beatles, Tom Petty,
Ryan Adams, and Bob Dylan. I love the way those songwriters can paint a picture so easily. As a guitar player: Muddy Waters, Mike Campbell and Stevie Ray Vaughn.