Joey Stuckey lights up the Les Paul Studio on the brilliant ‘King of Strings’ EP

There’s a real sense of occasion running through ‘King of Strings’. Joey Stuckey became the first artist to record a full project at the Les Paul Recording Studio, and rather than treating that history delicately, he throws himself straight into it. The result is a six-track EP bursting with blues-rock swagger, warmth, humour and the unmistakable electricity of musicians playing live in a room together.

Recorded in a single day, ‘King of Strings’ pairs the bluesman with bassist Dusty Wakeman and drummer David Raven, and the chemistry is immediately obvious. The trio move comfortably between blues, Americana, power pop and straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll, giving the EP the feel of a seasoned live band enjoying every second of the opportunity.

‘Temple in the Wind’ is an early highlight. Written for his wife Jennifer, it turns the idea of love as sanctuary into something heartfelt without becoming overly sentimental. There’s also this beautiful simplicity to the song’s message, that when everything outside feels unstable, one person can still feel like home.

From there, the EP gets looser and far more playful. ‘Born To Be Your Toy’ brings a mischievous swagger to the story of a disastrous relationship, while ‘Hertsmere Blues’ gives Joey Stuckey the perfect excuse to lean into his voice and guitar with real confidence.

‘Baby Don’t’ is another joy, built from the wonderfully simple idea of imagining the Beatles colliding with Chuck Berry. It’s playful, rhythmic and packed with the kind of musical personality that stops the EP ever feeling too reverential.

Then the title track carries the historical connection beautifully. Originally inspired by Macon’s guitar lineage and Duane Allman, ‘King of Strings’ was reworked to acknowledge Les Paul too, making it a fitting centrepiece for a project recorded using equipment linked directly to his legacy.

And then there is the closing take on Cream’s ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. Big riff. Big energy. Exactly the right kind of ending this project deserves.

But what makes ‘King of Strings’ so enjoyable is that he never lets the importance of the location overshadow the music. He honours history by making something vibrant inside it. The studio may be legendary, but Joey Stuckey sounds completely in command of the moment.

Joey Stuckey’s ‘King of Strings’ will be available to stream from the 23rd October.