The year 2004 and the CD Blues With A Vengeance signalled the return of John Lee Hooker Jr. to the spotlight. In 2005 he won a W.C Handy Award and was nominated for a Grammy for his work on the album. The W.C. Handy Award is the most prestigious honour that is bestowed upon a Blues Artist for their accomplishments. It is named for William Christopher Handy generally credited with being chief architect of the Blues genre. In 2006 the name of the award changed to the Blues Music Awards.

In speaking about the award and nomination Hooker says, "It means a lot because I witnessed my dad working very hard catching a bus to work, getting a ride to work, carrying his own equipment. I watched how hard work changed his stature into a giant stature. It’s hard work that brings about these things (such as the awards) so when I won (The W.C. Handy Award) and I was nominated (Grammy) it was proof to me, not that I needed proof but it was proof to me that it was a direct result of the hard work. This is what I am supposed to have right here the nominations and the wins. That goes for anybody. If you work hard you get a paycheck or you get a promotion. You won't get it laying down and being complacent with what you are doing. You gotta' work hard and that's what I am out here doing. I'm out here on the road promoting the CD. I believe in it. I am sure one way or the other it is going to pay off. That's why I am out here. I am not out here just for the money. Keep in mind one of the rewards is seeing and hearing the requests from the people who have already purchased my CD Cold As Ice. It tells me that people are listening to what they have heard on the radio and they want to hear it live.  Hard work brother that is what it is about."

Hooker mixes traditional Blues themes of lost love and heartache with modern phrases like "received a text message" (You Blew It Baby) Will "Roc" Griffin is outstanding on the keys, while the guitar duo of John Garcia Jr. and Jeffrey James Haran bend some great Blues notes.

Hooker talks about the necessity to keep evolving the Blues, "Music grows just like everything (else). Everything changes but it is still the Blues. We are out here (touring) and that is what we are doing keeping the Blues alive." He sees combining newer styles and yet retaining an element of traditional Blues roots as being essential to the continual production of quality Blues music.

Fans of more traditional style Blues music are going to love his eighth, ninth and tenth grooves on Cold As Ice. The songs "Trapped", "In The Mood" and "Oh Baby" highlight the musicianship of Griffin and bassist Frank "Tebo" Thibeaux. Once again Haran and Garcia lay down some terrific licks.