The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker

Kaboom! (Outta Sight)

Kaboom! is right. Dynamites soul shouter supreme, Charles Walker, was once top draw at Music City’s New Era Club – his “No Fool No More” appears on 2005’s Night Train to Nashville, Vol. 2 – before moving on to the Apollo Theater, Europe, and finally, back home. Walker recorded for Chess and Decca, among others, but never found the widespread acclaim his talent deserves; “Dig Deeper” alone confirms that. The Dynamites’ other unsung hero is Leo Black, who wrote most of Kaboom!, arranged and produced it, and puts the tenpiece group through its funky paces as lead guitarist and bandleader. With a fondness for rhetorical questions (“Can You Feel It?”), they can tighten up or bring it down with a stirring amount of soul power. Get some at this year’s Austin City Limits Festival; just make sure you know where the nearest defibrillator is.

***.5

This article appears in June 15 • 2007.

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