Monday, October 3, 2016

Working Musicians, NYC: Michael "Murch" Powers

In this blog mini-series, I'll be focusing on working-class musicians from three cities close to my heart: Dallas, my birthplace; New York City, my home; and New Orleans, my favorite getaway. These are guys who grind it out several nights a week, three-hour sets, and twice a day on weekends, while working a 9 to 5 or getting by as best they can from music. I call it the American Blues Dream, and these are it's heroes...


I was 18 or 19 when my father, a musician his entire life, called me up with a very excited tone of voice; he had just learned that a guitarist from his old Bayonne tavern gigging days was performing regularly in the Village, and we had to go, because I'd love him. Now, my dad was the same guy who would call me up at my college dorm to play Steely Dan's "Reelin in the years" guitar solo to me over the phone because it came on the radio at work... the kind of enthusiasm you love and appreciate, but with an eye roll after a while.  According to my father, this guy was the closest thing to Hendrix he had ever seen, and although I was skeptical, figured what the hell, I could squeeze a few under-aged drinks out of the night at the very least, so we picked a Friday and headed over to Terra Blues on Bleecker street.



                                              


Michael "Murch" Murchison, later playing under the name Michael Powers, was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, the same town my father and I grew up in. With a diverse local music scene in the '60s and a military base next door, it was a melting pot, where Murch would trade albums with sailors from Liverpool, listen to everything from Motown and Stax to the British invasion, and even learned his first "A" barre chord from none other than bluesman Jimmy Reed while working at his dad's restaurant. He took lessons at Piero's Music, just as my father and I did, and spent his summers in North Carolina on his family's tobacco farm, learning firsthand lessons about the blues and segregation in the Jim Crow south. As a teenage guitar prodigy, Murch would open for James Cotton, Muddy Water's longtime harmonica man, and then be hired to tour with him while still in high school.




Murch in the early 70s




It was this perfect storm of influences that lead to a unique sound, as my father witnessed in the early 70s while Murch performed with Red, White, & Black, his local group at the time. This was Curtis Mayfield meets Jimi Hendrix, with blues roots stemming from the Delta upriver to Chicago with a detour through those Carolina tobacco fields and front porches... Murch could have been Jimi's heir apparent, with a much smoother, soulful voice, if I may be so bold. His next group, Moonbeam, gigged nightly from 1975 to 1988, before Murch began his near-30-year residency at Terra Blues, first as the Chelsea Blues Band, then as Michael Powers Powder Keg Band (as I was introduced to him).







After grabbing a few slices of pizza, my dad and I headed down Bleecker street to Terra Blues, where I ordered a Jack'n'Coke in my deepest 18-year-old voice (hope my old man tipped them well). A few minutes later, I saw an unassuming middle-aged man walk out on stage with the help of a crutch, wearing some Vietnam-era olive drab fatigues, and my dad, in his giddiest tone, exclaimed, "That's him! That's Murch!". Murch had lost a leg due to diabetes, but didn't let it slow him down one bit. He picked up his Strat, tuned up quickly, hit one note thru some type of UniVibe-style effect, and that was it... I looked at my dad with a giant smile, the hair on my neck standing on end... this was the closest to Band of Gypsys I would ever get (Murch even attended one of their legendary Fillmore East shows in 1969. I later discovered). Michael Powers and his Power Keg Band would spit fire and soul for two sets, including a cover of Jimi's Little Wing, and my dad ran up to him in between, re-introduced himself as a fellow veteran of the Bayonne music scene, and received a warm, friendly smile and hug. A few Jack'n'Cokes later, we left smiling and fulfilled.  It's still one of my favorite memories of time spent with my dad, and furthered my love of the blues..













After the 9/11 attacks, Murch took a short break from Terra Blues, toured Europe, and began a prolific period of recording over the next few years, with albums like Onyx Root, Prodigal Son, and Bluesiana Breeze capturing some incredible songwriting and performances from Murch, and his newest band, Michael Powers Frequency, who are back at Terra Blues regularly and have a new album called Revolutionary Boogie

Check out Murch and the band every Monday and Friday night on the Terra Blues calendar, you won't be disappointed! 

You can also find Murch on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with him.







Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/guitargeargblog

13 comments:

  1. I remember Murch from Red White and Black. And I once got them a gig playing for a fraternity on a boat. I am from Bayonne also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Used to see him at Dan Lynch lower east side in the 80s. Loved the guy.

      Delete
  2. I had the pleasure to gig with Michael several times during the "Red White & Black" 25th reunion. His masterful use of blues notes took my breath away, as we rehearsed for that reunion. Clearly, those who are most talented are overlooke; in an industry where having a gimmick is more important than musicianship. Michael's unique talents are important to the music industry and to the future of the blues.

    ReplyDelete
  3. As every country should have their own military to keep their country safe, so that there is a military bases in north carolina which so strong to save their country from unexpected events.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is very interesting content! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your points and have come to the conclusion that you are right about many of them. You are great. spotify playlist pitching

    ReplyDelete
  5. Most musicians classifieds that you see online are available free of cost to registered users. This contributes to their growing popularity since musicians looking for jobs or people looking for musicians can easily post their messages here.how to copyright your music online

    ReplyDelete
  6. When mentoring musicians to become successful in the music business, the above concept is one of the core elements of music career success that I train them to possess. ventsmagzine

    ReplyDelete
  7. For example, you love rock music heavy metal; Capital Bra T Shirt it will not hurt your classical music lessons. You might feel delighted discovering some exotic classical piano cover of your favourite rock song.

    ReplyDelete
  8. No matter what your main goal is in the music industry, whether it be touring in a band, selling albums, producing records, etc...you will need to have various sources that are bringing in money for you in both passive and active ways. best mixing mastering headphones

    ReplyDelete
  9. There are also a number of publications that Point of interest NYC have listings of free events in NYC. These may be local or otherwise. Local dailies will also carry adverts of such events from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Afro jazz - Refers to jazz music which has been vigorously affected by African music. The music took components of marabi, swing and American jazz and blended this into a special combination. The primary band to truly accomplish this union was the South African band Jazz Maniacs. buy youtube subscibers

    ReplyDelete
  11. After grabbing a few slices of pizza, my dad and I headed down Bleecker street to Terra Blues, where I ordered a Jack'n'Coke in my deepest 18-year-old voice (hope my old man tipped them well). A few minutes later, I saw an unassuming middle-aged man walk out on stage with the help of a crutch
    black dress pakistani salwar kameez , black and gold salwar kameez ,

    ReplyDelete
  12. Working Musicians NYC" by Michael Murch is a poignant glimpse into the lives of musicians navigating the vibrant yet competitive New York scene. Game Modes PVP It's a tribute to the dedication and resilience of musicians.

    ReplyDelete