These guys may be veterans of the chitlin circuit, but they’re also to some degree the Great Black and White Hope of the Lone Star State, maybe the last best chance to get Freddie King-style Texas raunch back into the mainstream. And to that end, they effect a nice sucker-punch on their seventh album, succinctly titled Bite Me. The opening song, “If You Know What I’m Sayin’,” sounds like ZZ Top dragging Peter Frampton’s talkbox through the mud, and the next song, the instrumental title track, feels like Creedence and Booker T and the MGs having a polite disagreement. Then there’s the gentle admonishment of “That’s No Way” and the sound of Chuck Berry licks motorvating all over “All About That Thing.”

But just when you think this duo’s angling for the radio, out comes the half-step of “I Gotta Have It,” where Joe’s Lone Star leads lube up Bnois’ raunchy tale of instant gratification, and the second half of this CD is off and running with barbecued slow struts and smokey shuffles, just the way you like ’em. The overall effect is like two slick hustlers cruising around your town behind tinted windows, pretending to be something they’re not until night falls and they can slip into their sharkskin suits. By the time they get to the shout-along closer, “I Know That’s Right,” you’re either gonna be shaking your fist or your ass, depending on how bad you wanted to be taken in the first place. Like any hustle, you’ll be happier not asking questions.