Obnoxious Listeners - Latest Comments in The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

LeftEar — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:50:43 -0000

I was lucky enough to be working in Radio at a station in Lubbock Texas back when Ian's first album was released. We played almost every track of that CD and introduced a lot of people to this amazing guitar player and budding songwriter. Modern Day Folklore followed and it was then when I started to hear the direction that Ian would follow as a serious songwriter who wanted to pursue something pure and emotional. I had the chance over those years between the first release and up to Via Satellite to meet and talk to Ian on a few occasions and i saw the transformation he took both as a person and musically. I remember during that time he was having a child and contemplating the move to Seattle, he really changed as a human being. Now I didn't know him personally but I've always been a fan and loved the direction he took especially on Green Grass, and my favorite release All The Colors, which is my opinion is one of the greatest CD's ever released by an Artist, and up to Luminaria. What you have to understand is as human beings we have to grow and we have to find what makes us feel right in this world. I think what Ian's done is commendable that he chose to find his happiness rather than cater to everyone else. He looked within and made music that he connected with, that he could be proud of and that's why I think And All The Colors is such and incredible piece of art because you can hear him making that connection with being an artist and yet being true to himself. I'm kicking myself that I didn't see a reunion show however to be honest, I'm such a bigger fan of his growth and his later material that I'm okay with it. Looking forward to seeing you again Ian and keep on keeping on brother.

Chaz Dallas Texas
LeftEar@clear.net

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Elizabeth — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:07:46 -0000

My husband and I were at Antone's for the reunion show on Saturday, and true to your word, you and the band gave your full heart and soul to the show. It was epic. I respect your comments above and will definitely be checking out your new material with fresh ears. I couldn't always go where Chris Whitley went with his music, but I respected the hell out of him for taking the journey. Stay true to your path and remember we love you here in Austin, TX

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Ian — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:03:49 -0000

First of all, thanks for the kind words about the first record. That record, at least in my canon,was really important for many folks, and for that i am grateful.
I wanted to clarify a couple of things, as information tends to get pretty jumbled in the chatter of the internet:
1. I did not fire my band. We broke up, largely out of frustration with people's inability to go where the band was going. The 1st album was largely my voice. The guys killed it playing wise, but we weren't really a band yet, and most of those songs were more solitary. We started becoming a band as we approached the 2nd record, and the guys had quite a bit more input as we became more of a family. Everyone was trying to make something beautiful, and the band was crushed by wave after wave of negativity as we tried to keep the intent pure. I realize in retrospect that this was much bigger than us. Stevie had died, and like Jimi before him, people needed that. It was an inevitable 2nd wave, and our destiny was pretty much prewritten for us before we had even started. We are doing a "Ian Moore band reunion" this summer, so we have been talking about it quite a bit.
2. Its so weird to hear people's opinions of my "career". I am a huge music fan, but i think i'm possibly a different type of fan than many of mine. I became a Chris Whitley fan "for life" when i watched him play some of the most brilliant music i had ever heard while Antone's emptied out as he wasn't doing what people wanted. I was raised in Austin in a cool time, when musicians were encouraged to grow and change. As a matter of fact, if they didn't, their careers were over. I feel like we have entered a very vanilla, conservative, time, where people seem to lack imagination and creativity and the general public wants bullshit spoonfed to them. I felt like it was my duty to try to do something "real", and try to do something "great". The intention is a huge selling point to me on why i like an artist. I definitely think i have had my share of hits and misses, but I think i am a much more vibrant artist than i was in '92. Possibly too cerebral at times, and having too many disparate influences to make a dent like I did at that point, but ironically i feel like this is the renaissance of my career creatively.. For what it's worth, give my new record a spin..Its pretty fiery, and seems to capture a lot of the spirit of what people seemed to like about my early records, but from a much wider vantage point.

I have a childs love for music that i guard with everything in my soul. I have toured the world many times over, played with the greatest players in the world, as well as many of the most famous, and still feel inspired every single time i step up on stage, whether it be to 20 people in a bar mid week, or 20,000. That joy is there because I have always kept true to my music. I am less jaded than most 20-somethings i know, and my voice and guitar are pure and speak the way i want to hear them. I am humbled by that and grateful i have walked the path I have walked. I honestly wish i could be the person that every one wants, but i can only be me. I am not trying to change anyone's opinion, just to clarify and speak to my own life and career
Peace
Ian

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Tripp — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:33:09 -0000

I discovered his first two albums by hearing songs from them on the rock station. Both are all-time favorites of mine, but I doubt either was ever intended to be blues. If you're trying to be a blues artist, you don't put out a record without a shuffle on it. And if you don't put shuffles on your records, and manage to carve a unique sound out of the same 12 notes people have been using since medieval times, I can see how you might get pissed that when people heard it, all they could think of was Hendrix and SRV.

As for his later work, it's quirky, it's weird, and it's darker than most music that I like. So is Tom Waits. That might be a more fair comparison for Mr. Moore, though they sound nothing alike. The average person walking down the street hasn't heard of either one. But guys like that, who are willing to risk alienating their entire fan base to fulfill a musical vision, are essential. Without them, everything on the radio would sound like Lady Gaga, and the only two blues songs left would be Pride & Joy and Red House.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Teechur29 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:01:08 -0000

Ian had a split with his record company after Modern Day Folklore. They didn't like his 3rd CD and told him he had to rerecord an entirely new CD. He said no. I wonder if he even owns the rights to his music on his first 2 cds? Yes, he has changed and his music has changed as well. I still go see him play here in the Seattle area and always enjoy it. It's a much more laid back Ian, but then so I am all these years later. Would I love to hear "Society" again? Sure. But I'll continue to follow him whether he ever plays "Blue Skies" again or not.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Evil'r — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:58:02 -0000

I couldn't agree with you more about Moore. He wrote the soundtrack to my 20's and underlined my entire Austin nightlife experience with the blues riffs and soulful vocals. I very nearly cried when I heard some of his recent ....stuff. The original, the one and only, Ian Moore with Chris White will live on agelessly in my ipod. Until and unless he comes to his senses and back to his roots, there it will stay. I will deny any knowledge of the current incarnation.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Dan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:37:43 -0000

It seems you may be confusing my opinion with commenters'. I didn't say I didn't like his music, I said I didn't like that style. I said I wouldn't make a fair opinion, as in it would be unfair for me to critique it. That's why this article is a review of Ian's self-titled release. I wanted to encourage those who love Texas Blues to check out his debut album because I believe they'll love it, but they should be warned his follow-up work is not Texas Blues.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Mandy Jones — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:14:39 -0000

Wow. You guys are all totally clueless and lost in your own narrow-minded perspectives. Ian's music- old and new- is ALL interesting and valid.
It sounds like you are just stuck in your own nostalgia for the good-old-days in your hometown. That's hardly a vantage point to evaluate art from. Artists change, good ones at least, and they also make you uncomfortable sometimes. If you weren't intruiged at all by Ian's performance in '08, you weren't listening, you were trying to re-live some long-gone memory from 15 years ago.
I propose that anybody who sets themselves up to comment/critique should be better prepared to do it- second rate website or not...'obnoxious' hit the nail on the head.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Dan — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:59:46 -0000

That's sad to hear... his debut work was so good.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Austin Ex-pat — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:42:38 -0000

Ian Moore's career is a microcosm of my marriage. He came on to the Austin music scene with a burning heat and light, but then slowly fizzled out over the years. Ian Moore along with a couple other artists were Austin music to me...but when he decided to re-vamp his sound, fire his entire band, and move to the Pacific Northwest it all went downhill from there. His sounds in those first two albums, and even on the third to an extent was Austin Blues with a new energy. He was backed by a band that was just as important to his sounds as his guitar and falsetto voice were. Chris White on Bass provided a lyrical backdrop to his licks and lyrics...and was a wonderful backup singer. Bukka Allen brought the same energy and skill to the organ and keyboards that Ian brought with his guitar. It was a match made in heaven that all imploded because of the ego of the man who fronted it all.

I have remained hopeful that Ian would return to his roots and resurrect that sound that had him ruling the Austin music scene before veering away so sharply from the horse that brought him there, but after seeing him live in the summer of 2008 I hope he doesn't try. He no longer has the vocal pipes for it and, frankly, needs to put down the electrics and stick with a mandolin. His performance that night was a crushing blow to any illusion of a comeback to the old Ian...and now he just lives in the world of his first three albums and as a ghost haunting Auditorium Shores and the stage at Stubbs. He gave me "Carry On" as an anthem to my hometown, and I'm not going to let his ego take that away from me, too.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

texan ian moore fan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:27:19 -0000

those of us who've seen him live remained stunned he didn't have a bigger following. i've followed his path to new styles, but enjoy the eponymous album and MDF the most. The sadness i feel that no one is making that sound anymore adds yet another layer to the blues the music creates.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Dan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:46:07 -0000

I may have been talking out of my ass too.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Mike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:20:59 -0000

I'm glad the audio clips gave us a glimpse at both the singing/songwriting and improvising aspects of his repertoire. You can definitely hear the Texas vibe in there. Although, progressive blues? - I think you may have just invented a new genre.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

oneillbp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:43:44 -0000

oooooh, so much better. I can go on with my day now. Thanks.

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

Dan — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:34:29 -0000

Yeah, hard to find good pictures of this guy. How's it look now?

Re: The Texas Blues You’re Missing | Ian Moore

oneillbp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:26:59 -0000

Wow...that is a big, close-up picture!