Outlaws and Moonshine - 1919 EP

As many of you know, I'm not a fan of country music, with the exception, of maybe some older Willie Nelson.  I really stay away from it, at all costs.  I'm not a fan, but have opened up a little to it, due to Ron Keel and his Metal Cowboy project.  Ron showed that the two can exist, and still rock.  Truthfully, bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd paved the way, for bands to merge rock with country, which is better known, as southern-fried rock. 

Over the past few years, we have seen more and more rockers, dipping their toes in to the country waters, and many of them failing quite miserably.  For me, Ron Keel was the only one that captured my ear, until I heard Outlaws and Moonshine.  Outlaws and Moonshine are a new band, that blend 80's style hard rock with some southern fried blues.  The music is down and dirty and catchy as hell.  It is hook-laden southern fried rock with an 80's tinge.  The part where the country influence comes in, is in the lyrics, which comes off a little cheesey.

The songs on 1919, are catchy, and filled with big anthem style choruses, that draw you in.  This band has a nice sound and I'm really digging the vocals of singer Beau Van, who has a killer voice.  The thing about this band, is that they sound so good, that you kind of forget about the cheesey country style lyrics. There is a nice variety on this release.  I really like the Zeppelin-esque Whiskey, which starts with a nice acoustic intro, before kicking into a full on rocker.  The track Hey Y' all, has a Def Leppard vibe to it.  The only thing, that sets these songs apart, from rock n roll, are the country style lyrics, which, at times, take away from the songs.  Don't get me wrong, the songs are strong enough to get you past the lyrical content.  I can see this one playing loud at a party or two.

Bottom Line:  Solid melodic blues based rock, with a classic sound.  Sing a long songs that hook you with their melodies.  The only downside, is that the lyrics get a little distracting, because of the lyrics.

Standout tracks: A Different Kind of Man, Redneck Me and Whiskey

-Ragman is looking for a cowboy hat.  Not!