The Deal: Red hot bluesman ready for prime time.
The Good: Mix the raw sting of Albert King, the frost of Albert Collins and the psychedelic experimentation of Jimi Hendrix with a man who sings like Robert Cray channeling B.B. King and you’ve got the recipe for a blues powerhouse. But Michael Burks is his own man, and this studio album is as close to Burks’ live show as you can get without being there. Cut with the same road band that backs his electrifying shows, Burks shows off the stuff that will wear you out live. Iron Man is a fitting moniker for road warrior Burks, who frequently performs two-hour sets that showcase his guitar arsenal and array of styles. Though they are original tunes, Burks shows the influence of Albert King on “Love Disease,” Albert Collins on “Icepick Through My Heart” and Hendrix on “Empty Promises.” But even when Burks does covers of that trio’s work live, it’s still a riveting experience to watch and listen as the guitarist gives them a Burks makeover without distorting the original artist’s vision. This is his most intense recorded outing yet, with the guitarist sounding like he’s about to spontaneously combust. He’s a string-bending demon, his thick fingers stretching the steel to its limits as he crosses the tracks from King to Collins to Clapton to Berry and back again, thundering along like a runaway freight train.
The Bad: That he’s known as just a bluesman. This stuff could and should crossover big time, working easily in the rock arena.
The Verdict: Burks is setting the standard for this generation of bluesmen. See him in the clubs now while you still can and avoid the arena crush that’s sure to follow. He’ll be at The Double Door Inn on April 12.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2008.
