Soul music is here to stay, and it’s still evolving. The Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker are living proof. Nashville’s white hot deep funk band releases their highly anticipated second studio album, titled Burn It Down, on September 15, 2009. Look for the band on tour this Fall; tour dates to be announced soon.
For their 2nd LP, The Dynamites and their soul-shouting frontman Charles Walker deliver a slate of tunes that arrives right on time. It’s a new day, and Charles Walker and his band have something to say. It’s the kind of story where you gotta tear it down to rebuild it, the greedy man ultimately gets his due, love rules the day and everybody gets down in the end. It’s a timeless tale, as relevant as ever, and Burn It Down tells it in a righteously funky fashion. Strike a match, light the fuse and Burn It Down!
The release of Burn It Down marks the highly anticipated follow-up to Charles Walker & The Dynamites’ first LP, Kaboom. As the New York Times hailed:
Dynamites have found a singer to put them across: Charles Walker, who has been on the soul
circuit since the 1960s. His voice rivals better-known headliners; he’s an authoritative,
gospel-steeped shouter and a dramatic ballad builder. It’s old-school music that works up a
genuine sweat.”
Look for the band on tour this fall in support of Burn It Down. Dates will be announced soon.
Charles Walker doesn’t imitate, emulate or try to resuscitate a bygone nostalgic era. He is soul, the real deal, still carrying the flaming torch of funk and soul lit back in the late 60’s at the Apollo Theater where he opened up for icons like James Brown and Wilson Pickett. What’s more, the fresh songwriting approach of Bill Elder, a.k.a. Leo Black, continues to push the deep funk envelope, propelling Walker to sound equally at home singing a scorching hot, up-tempo rocker as he does on a heart wrenching 60’s-style soul ballad.
For soul veteran Walker, finding songwriter Bill Elder has been an epiphany. Importantly, he’s found in Elder a songwriter that writes for his voice. This stands in sharp contrast to the days when he was asked to record songs whether they inspired him or not. “I didn’t have the songs that I felt were right for me. Now I can pick and choose the songs I want to do. When I was with Chess and Decca I did what they wanted me to do.” The result being that Walker is more relaxed and at ease in the studio. “I feel so confident now. I can remember being under so much pressure to try and get a hit record. Now I’m just in there doing what I like to do.”
An essential authenticity comes across in The Dynamites music and message. Without a doubt, Burn it Down acknowledges that not all is right in the world, but it doesn’t get stuck there. Times might be rough and people might be grumbling about doomsday, but Charles Walker and The Dynamites are here to remind us that “it’s a sunny day.” Sure we could bitch and moan. But we could just as well get down to some funky assed grooves and burn that negativity down.
The Dynamites are: Charles Walker (vocals), Bill Elder, a.k.a. Leo Black (guitar), Chris West (saxophones and flute), Jon-Paul Frappier (trumpet), Charles Treadway and Tyrone Dickerson (organ), Chris Patterson (percussion), Derrek Phillips (drums), Jonathan Jackson (saxophone) and Rich Brinsfield (bass).
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