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entertaining u newspaper: your weekly guide to entertainment
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by rick grant
rickgrant01@comcast.net
Michael Burks is a big man with a big bold sound that is born to wow live audiences. And, true to form, Michael drove the crowd at the Friday night George's Music Springing the Blues Festival into a frenzy of adoration. This Arkansas native crosses over into rock and pop with his soulful funk and hooky songwriting.
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On an unseasonably cool night, Michael took the stage with his regular band, including the best B-3 player in the biz. The combination of the B-3, Michael's exemplary guitar playing and his soulful songs ranks Michael as a top-tier blues act. More importantly, Michael knows how to work a crowd.
Michael's huge frame and passionate stage persona exudes pure energy and power. Clearly, Michael loves what he does. He puts his body and soul into every performance. He feels every note through his guitar, as he pushes the improvisational envelope, sometimes going outside with innovative ideas but always restating the motif so as not to lose his listeners. Then, just when you think he can't give anymore of himself to his performance, he walks off stage and into the crowd still soloing. The Friday night Springing the Blues Fest audience loved his personal contact with them.
When Michael arrived backstage I talked to him briefly and reminded him of our telephone conversation. He said, "Yeah, man that was fun," To which I replied, "I was listening to your latest record, I Smell Smoke in my car on the way to the festival, I love that kiss-off song with the line, 'I smell smoke 'cause you're burning me behind my back.' My favorite kiss off song title is, 'I could have killed you then, and I'd be out of jail by now.'" Michael laughed at that one.
The I Smell Smoke album is definitely a keeper. It features 12 original songs that hold up to multiple listening. Live, Michael played many of the cuts of this CD, like the first cut, the soulful All Your Affection is Gone which Michael played with awesome power and feeling. On the classic love song, Lie To Me, Michael used this hook heavy tune as a showcase for his explosive artistry. Michael's B-3 player is a prominent part of this crowd pleasing song.
As the big man built momentum to his gut-wrenching finale, the crowd was completely in his palm. With soaring guitar solos and all-encompassing voice, Michael is a tower of power in blues. Armed with such raw talent and performing prowess, Michael is always booked as a headline act. No one wants to follow him-it would be anticlimactic.
Greg Baril preceded Michael with his dynamite show. It had been at least a year since I last crossed paths with Greg, who I consider to be one of the best blues-rock artists on the planet. Greg has been touring and writing songs, avoiding playing the region to offset his overexposure. . He has also made contact with people who can get him plugged into the blues circuit. Any record mogul who witnesses Greg's performance will make Greg an offer on the spot. Why Greg is not at the top of the blues genre is one of those unsolved mysteries that can't be answered.
Nonetheless, Greg gave an all-out crowd pleasing performance with his incredible chops on guitar and his powerful Robert Plant-like voice. Yes, Greg is the real deal and delivered an awesome performance of originals and classic covers. More significantly, Greg worked the crowd into a yelling, screaming mob of fanatical Greg Baril fans. Now he needs to spread the gospel according to Greg to the whole world.
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