Michael Powers: Revolutionary Boogie

Michael Powers
Revolutionary Boogie
Zoho Roots
2011-08-09

It’s tough to make out what, exactly, is so revolutionary about Michael Powers’ Revolutionary Boogie. To be sure, Powers knows his material, and his brand of meaty, guitar-based blues is powerful and satisfying. However, the tunes remain well within the confines of the genre. Not that this is any terrible thing. Powers possesses a strong, expressive voice, and his singing nicely complements his thunderous guitar slinging. Throw in a few accents – the burbling organ on “I Miss Your Kissin’,” the occasional splash of horns – and there’s plenty to like here. A cover of Hendrix’s “Spanish Castle Magic” falls a bit flat, but is made up for by a spirited rendition of Willie Dixon’s “I Ain’t Superstitious.” The swaggering, instrumental title track and the frenetic “Bleeker Street Strut” are both all-out rockers that would bring alive any dance floor worth the name. This is a solid, energetic album for guitar aficionados and fans of modern electric blues. Revolutionary? Not quite. Very good? You bet.

RATING 7 / 10