Scott Morgan's Powertrane @ Maxwell's

I did not like Scott Morgan during my formative years (say between 16 and 36 years old) and it was chiefly due to his beret. And his seemingly tenuous connection to Detroit Rock glory years. In the 80's and 90's it was correctly assumed that anything that occurred after the first three Stooges and MC5 albums in the Detroit rock scene was busted.

But maybe it was just buried under the berets. Or unavailable, or unimaginable. The Bob Seger System lps were long out of print and Seger was embarrassing himself at that time. The Sonic Rendezvous Band squeezed off one great song and disappeared. Nothing else about them was known. The Rationals were unknown. Scott Morgan's two eighties albums suffered from eighties production and lack luster side men.

Fortunately, our current age of transparency has exposed all lost recordings. Scott Morgan, who has suffered from the neglect of the ages, has reemerged with recent work, that while not spotless, has been as strong and varied. He has released soul albums with The Solution, rock albums with Powertrane, rock albums with the Hydromatics and guested on rock songs with the Hellacopters. Maybe strong but not so varied.

The Powertrane featuring Scott Morgan with special guest Deniz Tek performance at Maxwell's was poory attended, at times sloppy, a little creaky. The drummer is fine straight up rock but can't find a soul groove. A couple songs chosen were not the strongest, especially as the band has transitioned from the Sonic's Rendezvous Band material that has floated many of Scott's recent efforts into newer material. Lyrics were being forgotten.

But by the end, the three guitar attack of Robert Gillespie, Deniz Tek and Scott Morgan was absolutely in sync and roaring. It was pure noise: unhip, out of step and complete true to its uncompromising rock roots.

Powertrane- Mixed Up Shook Up World