Jan 292009
A fine, fine pianner player in the boogie-woogie/rock tradition has gone with the wind. Dead yesterday at 56 from a heart attack. RIP, Billy Powell.
Skip ahead to mile marker 2:28 for what I think was Billy’s finest moment.
NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
Regardless of which band’s music you might like better, I think now’s as good a time as any to ask, Who’s cooler, Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers? I clicked on the first clip HVB provided for the passing of Mr. Powell, and before I could even turn the sound up just the sight of the Skynyrd guys rocking out struck me as pretty damn cool! Gregg Allman, with those blonde muttonchops, singing through his beard from behind his Hammond organ was a bummer, if you ask me.
No disrespect meant toward Mr. Powell, his surviving bandmates, Mr. Allman, or the grieving Hrrundivbakshi. Just thought I’d share.
In their prime? Hands down, Skynyrd. Southern Boogie is much cooler than a blues rehash, no matter how well that rehash was done.
Cooler? I don’t think Skynyrd was cool. A great band, but nothing cool about them. Barreling, yes.
Greg was probably the least cool of the Allman’s, but the blonde muttonchops are certainly no less cool that Van Zant’s bad do, hat and beer belly.