American Heritage Dictionary defines “evolution” as “a gradual
process in which something changes into a different and usually more
complex or better form.” This word aptly pertains to Moot Davis’
second album ALREADY MOVED ON . ALREADY MOVED ON shows a clear
progression from his debut self-titled effort – and demonstrates that
even music that speaks the voice of the common man can evolve to a
higher plane.
With his first record, Moot gained tremendous
critical acclaim for his talent for writing and performing passionate,
soulful honky-tonk music that drew from legends of the genre like Hank
Williams and Webb Pierce while bringing the art form into the new
Millennium. ALREADY MOVED ON picks up where “Moot Davis” left off,
embodying timeless songwriting, a definite “attitude,” and a certain
edge that lets the listener know this is no throwback to an earlier
time. It’s music that reflects the past while setting the bar for the
future.
ALREADY MOVED ON runs the gamut of American roots
music from barroom anthems to highway songs to country ballads – all
colored by Moot’s insight on the tenuous relationship between men and
women and the corresponding love and heartache. “Toggle Switch” takes
the listener on a long distance run while giving insight into one
trucker’s life views. “Talking About Lonely” is self-explanatory, while
“Used To Be You” explores the feelings of a man when he realizes his
significant other has adopted his cavalier attitude toward their
relationship. The title song harkens back to some of the most
universal classic love songs where an individual recognizes the
finality of a relationship gone wrong. On the album’s one
non-original song, Moot even throws in a compelling and highly original
interpretation of Johnny Paycheck’s powerful “I’m The Only Hell (My
Mama Ever Raised).
For ALREADY MOVED ON, Moot once again
collaborated with Grammy Award-winning producer/guitarist Pete Anderson
(Dwight Yoakam, Roy Orbison, k.d.lang, Buck Owens, Flaco Jimenez,
Michelle Shocked, Jackson Browne). One listen to the album and you
know this is something special – Pete’s production allows the
timelessness of the music to shine through while treating the listener
to modern sonic qualities and the undeniable musicianship of world
class players.
Moot has already planted his honky-tonk flag
solidly onto the music scene. For the last few years, he has toured
non-stop, bringing his dynamic live show around the world including
festivals in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. His music has been
heard in such film and television projects as the Academy Award-winning
motion picture “Crash,” the horror hit “The Hills Have Eyes,” an Irish
independent film “Small Engine Repair,” and “The Dukes of Hazzard II.”
Moot was also named “Honky-Tonk Artist of the Year” by “True West”
magazine and landed on numerous “Best of Lists.”
While
often associated with the American South, country music has a
universality that inspires artists from a wide variety of different
locales – Merle Haggard and Buck Owens from California, Hank Snow from
Canada, Tex Williams from Illinois. Moot grew up listening to the
current popular music he heard on the streets of his hometown, Trenton,
NJ. Summers spent visiting his grandparents in West Virginia,
however, exposed him to a wide array of classic country artists like
Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Hank, Sr. The combination of his
northern upbringing and the deep influences of his family’s southern
heritage helped Moot develop a unique sound which can only be defined
as “honky-tonk” – “roots” tunes with a distinct edge and attitude.
At
an early age, Moot displayed an interest in both music and acting.
After high school, he did stints as a laborer and pool builder while
focusing his efforts on his musical career, eventually moving to New
York City. Moot was soon heard by Fred Boenig who ran WDVR-FM, a local
radio station out of Sergeantsville , NJ . There, Moot was featured on
a live weekly hillbilly radio show called "Heartlands Hayride.” Boenig
also helped Moot record his first real demo.
In 2001 Moot moved
to Nashville to pursue his career. There, he continued honing his own
brand of contemporary roots music and started sending out demos.
Eventually, acclaimed honky-tonk artist Rosie Flores recommended that
he send his recordings to Pete Anderson and his Little Dog Records.
The demo quickly became a favorite around the Little Dog office.
Exactly one year after moving to Nashville, Moot found himself on a
plane to Los Angeles to make a record with Pete. The debut album
drew impressive reviews for its strong songwriting and
attention-grabbing mix of classic country with modern sensibilities.
Mario Tarradell from the “Dallas Morning News” proclaimed that, “Moot
Davis sounds like a long-lost musical sibling of country legends Johnny
Cash and Hank Williams” while “Entertainment Today” simply said, “Moot
Davis is primed to be the leader in the new insurgent country music
scene.”
ALREADY MOVED ON marks a new phase in Moot Davis’
musical path, reflecting his growth as an artist following years of
honing his craft on the road. “My time traveling and performing around
the world has opened me up to new ideas. More importantly, I have now
seen firsthand the universality of this type of music and it has given
me the confidence to stick with my vision and write the types of songs
that I like. Now I look forward to getting back out on the road,
playing these new songs, meeting new people and preaching the ‘Gospel’
of honky-tonk.”
Already Moved On
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