Akron’s native bluesmen, The Juke Hounds, released their album, “Low Man on the Totem Pole,” a rip-roaring collection of 10 loud and vibrant tracks. The disc captures all the energy of a large blues festival, and it’s impossible not to get up and start shaking along to the rhythm of each tune. Frontman Bob Gardner’s conversational style of singing includes the listener into the stories he tells, especially on the album’s standout track, “Wrong Side of Town.” The tune begins with steady drums and guitars that are accented by skillful harmonica playing and call-and-response vocals from the band. Gardner sings, “I don’t have an answer at all/So I just play my guitar like this” before launching into a shredding guitar solo. The tune picks back up with the band’s skill and vibrancy that can be felt pulsing through the speakers. At their shows, the lively band covers a slew of classic tunes from the likes of Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters in addition to their own brand of authentic blues that are hard to distinguish from the pros. The guys are obviously well versed in the catchy music they write and perform, and “Low Man on the Totem Pole” is an example of how to do blues right. With repetitive hooks and toe-tapping rhythms, the band is pure fun and are experts at their craft. The Juke Hounds will be playing their way around Northeast Ohio throughout June before taking part in the Kent Blues Festival July 20. More information on upcoming shows can be found at thejukehounds.com.