Explosives Test
The best way to visualise The Dynamites is as an avalanche tearing down the mountainside. Over the last two years the group have built a seemingly unstoppable momentum.
"It's always a rollercoaster," laughs bandleader Bill Elder, aka Leo Black. "But what we're experiencing in Australia and other overseas territories is pretty special. We love it when we get the call, and to be honest we're already looking forward to the one after this."
What started as a humble Nashville-based revue changed completely after a chance meeting between Elder and original R&B and funk stalwart, Charles Walker. Walker is now in his 60s, but still packs the pipes that once saw him open for the likes of James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Etta James at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theatre. Now The Dynamites and Charles Walker are coming into their own, their artistry harking back to soul's golden era in the mid-'60s, but somehow sounding stridently modern and progressive.
"As a project matures it gets more serious. You start to get to know each other so well that the music takes on players' individual strengths more so than just one focus, which is how it started with me. Maybe it doesn't make sense on paper to begin with, but you just run with it and we've been really fortunate to have such great players throughout the whole entire history so far. I feel like our core is just really, really solid. Then of course you have Charles. We've just got a really great thing going on right now."
That maturity of The Dynamites project is reflected in how popular they've become around the world. It equates to more time on the road for a lot of players who had already once hung up their bus passes for lives as producers and session musicians. But the band take the constant touring in their stride, with the short, sharp, precisely scheduled foreign trips tending to suit them well. "The travelling overseas is a little better," Elder says. "You do extended tours four or five times a year, and you get to actually focus on it and not worry about the other things you've gotta do, so we're following the natural progression here and we'll see how it goes. But for now, the amount of touring: we're fine with it and we'd be fine with even more, to be honest."
With all the months spent on the road, it's easy to wonder where the band will fit in their next longplayer. But Elder isn't phased, having pencilled in some recording time over the northern winter. "Oh yeah. I'm just finishing up an addition to my house, which will be able to double as a studio. I've got equipment in there now. So my plan is that once we get back from Australia we really hit this next record and my hope is to have one ready to put out by late spring, so late autumn for you guys. We're two years away from our last release and we haven't been pushing the touring in the States. It's time to put out another record."
That brings us to Australia. By the time you read this, Elder, Walker and the rest of The Dynamites will already be in the air, jetting into Melbourne before slowly working their way north to The Zoo. The band's experiences in Australia have so far well and truly outstripped their expectations, and Elder can’t wait to get back. "It's just been far and beyond anything we could have anticipated," Elder laughs. "I really can't say enough about it, and we really love coming there so much. This is our third time in 18 months, and I know that bands normally don't get over there more than once a year, so we're really happy to be able to do this. By the same token, we understand that, and I've been working hard to make sure there's a fresh batch of material. There's five of us coming over, and I've got two horn players from Melbourne to fill out the horn section. The set sounds really tight."
Elder's not kidding, and those who've seen the band play before will attest to his claims. There are few live experiences out there that compare with The Dynamites and their propulsive frontman, Charles Walker. You'd be well advised to get to The Zoo on the last Thursday of this month and witness it yourself.
THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER PLAY THE ZOO NOVEMBER 24.
