Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Charles Walker & Dynamites Update

I have had another press release through on the the group:

NASHVILLE, TN - Outta Sight Records is pleased to announce their first release with The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker. Kaboom! will be released on June 12th and is a furious and unrelenting barrage of stripped-down, rhythmic R&B, funk and swinging soul. Bill Elder (a.k.a. Leo Black) is the 9-piece troupe's founder, arranger, and producer while Charles "Wigg" Walker receives the special billing as lead vocalist.

Walker deserves his due after decades as an unsung musical hero. He first became a professional entertainer in his native Nashville in the late 1950s, recording with hit producer Ted Jarrett and appearing nightly at the New Era Club, one of the South's leading black nightclubs. Walker spent most of the 1960s and '70s in New York, performing frequently at the Apollo Theater and Small's Paradise when the original funk scene coalesced. Walker released singles for Chess, Decca, and a number of smaller labels. After the recordings gained notice in Europe's Northern Soul scene, Walker found steady solo work overseas, and he lived in England and Spain before returning to Nashville in the 1990s.

For soul veteran Walker, finding songwriter Bill Elder has been an epiphany. More 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." The

Dynamites reignited Walker's spark and pushed the versatile vocalist to sing the hardest, grittiest funk he's ever made.

The band's dynamic live show has already gained them opening slots for Widespread Panic and Galatic as well as appearances at Bonnaroo and the Austin City Limits festival.

June 12 Grimey's in store Nashville, TN
June 17 Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester, TN
June 22 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
June 27 Chelsea's Baton Rouge, LA
June 28 Sticky Fingerz Little Rock, AR
June 29 Hi-Tone Café Memphis, TN
June 30 Gypsy Hut Cincinnati, OH
July 6 House of Blues Chicago, IL
July 7 The Hideout Chicago, IL
July 10 Middle East Upstairs Cambridge, MA
July 11 The Annex New York, NY
July 12 Iota Club & Café Arlington, VA
July 14 Criminal Records in store Atlanta, GA
July 14 The Earl Atlanta, GA
Aug 25 Southern Brew Festival Chattanooga, TN
Sep 15 Austin City Limits Music Festival Austin, TX

1 comment:

  1. The Dynamites feat. Charlie Walker are currently on tour! Their fresh new album KABOOM! is in stores right this very moment, make a smart purchase!

    Jul 6 2007 9:30P
    Back Porch Stage @ House of Blues
    Chicago, Illinois

    Jul 10 2007 9:00P
    Middle East Upstairs
    Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Jul 11 2007 8:00P
    The Annex
    New York, New York

    Jul 12 2007 8:00P
    Iota Club & Cafe
    Arlington, Virginia

    Jul 13 2007 9:00P
    Blind Tiger
    Greensboro, North Carolina

    Jul 14 2007 6:00P
    Criminal Records (in store performance)
    Atlanta, Georgia

    Jul 14 2007 8:00P
    The Earl
    Atlanta, Georgia

    Aug 25 2007 2:00P
    Southern Brewer's Festival
    Chattanooga, Tennessee

    Sep 15 2007 8:00P
    Austin City Limits Music Festival
    Austin, Texas

    ReplyDelete