The historic collaboration between two generations of American music masters – have shared new single “Junkyard Dog” today, from their forthcoming full-length album Room On The Porch – out May 23 on Concord Records. Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal showcase their “strong chemistry” (Wall Street Journal) – and a blues prowess that’s earned them ten combined GRAMMY Awards – on “Junkyard Dog,” which was originally written by Nashville-based songwriter Maia Sharp for her album Mercy Rising (2021). “This track is where this TajMo album began,” says Keb’ Mo’. “I heard Maia Sharp’s version of ‘Junkyard Dog’ and I knew we could put some dirt on it and make it ours. It has the bones of a blues anthem.”
The ten-song collection finds the duo reuniting for their first release together since 2017, when their debut collaboration TajMo brought them from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (for a stunning performance alongside Jon Batiste) to Marc Maron’s garage to the GRAMMY stage (where they took home Best Contemporary Blues Album). While putting their signature stamp on favorite tunes like “Junkyard Dog,” Room On The Porch also features more original, co-written tracks between the legendary pair than ever before – playing to each other’s strengths and discovering creative horizons more than a half-century into their storied careers.
“The two of us collaborating has always been a very organic thing,” Taj reflects. “We have different skill sets that go well together, and even though it’d been a while since we’d played together, it was easy to get back to that same creative place we landed with the first album.”
With special guest Abraham Alexander.