Leroy Powell and The Messengers
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Leroy Powell and The Messengers

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"CD Review: Leroy Powell and the Messengers — Atlantis; playing Peachtree Tavern and Five Spot"

Leroy Powell and the Messengers
Atlantis

by Al Kaufman

Leroy Powell is so entrenched in classic rock that he makes the Black Crowes sound like Hannah Montana. This is tough to believe considering his resume. Powell has worked with the likes of David Allen Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, and Waylon’s son, Shooter Jennings. It seems like outlaw country would be his thing. But look again, and there he is also playing the axe for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dickie Betts.

But none of that prepares for the opening two cuts on Atlantis; “I Ain’t Human” and “Tumblin’ Down.” Both songs are full of heavy, fuzzy guitars. “Tumblin’ Down” has a sort of Allman Brothers meets Deep Purple feel to it. And what metal girl wouldn’t swoon over lines like, “You’re the fire beneath the spoon/I’m the needle in the vein.”?

But Powell and his backing trio are more than big riffs. He almost croons on “Break It Easy,” in which the burly, bearded man shows his softer side. He gets downright psychedelic in “Evil” and “Gravedigger’s Blues,” both of which are filled with enough trippy solos to make any Deadhead a fan. He slips into revival mode for “One Kiss, One Love,” which comes complete with a gospel chorus. He even pulls off a soulful ballad with “When the Morning Comes.”

But southern rock is in his blood. “The House Is Rockin’” and “Look Out World (I’m Comin’)” — which opens with a ZZ Top-style lick — are both full of southern boasts and brags. Sandwiched between them is the tear in your beer country ballad “Family Tree.” It’s the kind of stuff that if you don’t enjoy women in tube tops, pick-ups, Pabst Blue Ribbon, tattoos, and fried food, you ain’t got no business liking this music. But Powell seems like a nice guy. He probably won’t care if you do.

Leroy Powell plays the Peachtree Tavern with Blackberry Smoke on Friday, Feb. 26th, 10 pm. $10 and The Five Spot with Delta Moon on Saturday, March 13th 8 pm. $10. - Atlanta Music Guide


"Atlantis"

Leroy Powell and the Messengers new release ATLANTIS has those moments I treasure in an album, surprises. It has tough rock-N-roll tracks that reminded me why I love it, and deep drifter blues tunes that put me in the boots of the shoveler at final resting time…there are sweet-like country-esque ballads that move the sweet side of those of us with a heart (that has some twists in it). The delivery on Leroy Powell’s work this time around with the Messengers reeks of the truth as someone has lived it…the words come out of him so believable that at times you feel like you are riding next to him in a van on a cross country tour, as he remembers long lost tales of days gone by and things that once happened. I believe as you listen into this album you’ll too find that moment of surprise, as it is somewhere between the words and the notes. - Green Arrow Radio


"Nine Bullets"

http://ninebullets.net/archives/introducing-leroy-powell - Nine Bullets


Discography

New Release - Atlantis -

Angles & Curves is an independent release recorded in collaboration with legendary music producer, Eddie Kramer{Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin,Kiss} and Mike Bradford{Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker}.

Paranoid is a collection of music independently released. Yet another collection of songs produced in collaboration with Eddie Kramer. These works reflect a heavy blues and rock influence in the style of Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, and Frank Zappa.

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Bio

He grew up in Redlands, Ca, where his father started him out singing and playing guitar at the age of ten. Powell would later learn to play bass, drums, harmonica, fiddle, and pedal steel. He moved to Los Angeles in 1998 and started singing and playing with Funk, R&B, blues, and rock bands including members of Spearhead, Fishbone, Gene Loves Jezebel, Blink 182, and Ike Turner. In 2001 Leroy started to focus on a more countrified sound and began to experiment with adding all of his other musical influences blending classic country with psychedelic rock and blues. Leroy played with Shooter Jennings from 2004-2007. They recorded four albums together and toured across the country. Albums include - Put the “O” Back in Country, Electric Rodeo, Live at Irving Plaza, and The Wolf. Leroy wrote many songs for that project including “Lonesome Blues,” “Busted in Baylor County,” “Hair of the Dog,” “The Alligator Chomp”{sung by Tony Joe White}, and ”Slow Train”{sung with the Oakridge Boys}. In 2007 he released his self-titled album, LEROY POWELL a nod to classic 70’s country records co-produced with Dave Cobb. Powell played guitars, dobros, and harmonicas on the post-humous recordings of Waylon Jennings, titled Waylon Forever, released Oct. 21st, 2008 on Vagrant Records. Also you can hear Leroy’s guitar and pedal steel work on the fall 2008 movie and soundtrack, Soul Men, starring Bernie Mac and Samuel Jackson in which Leroy was included in the incredible band that recreated the original Stax sound. There he played with Stanley Clarke, John Legend, Freddie Washington, Patrice Rushen, James Gadsen, and Steve Ferrone.