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Album Reviews

Doug Moreland
Doug Moreland (2006)
Big Hat Records

If you have *any* interest in the future of Texas music, get a copy of Doug Moreland's self-titled CD ... you'll be glad you did. This kid is about to hit it big ... trust me.

Although he's not really comfortable being called the heir apparent to Asleep at the Wheel, the moniker fits. He's got swing in his blood, but he brings a new dimension to the honky tonk dance floor.  Raised in West Texas, this 33-year-old fiddle player is not an overnight sensation. He's been on the road for a long time, playing over 150 gigs a year. He and his band just got back from a European tour. His hard work is about to pay off.

His songs make you proud to be from the Lone Star State, where our music roots run deep, courtesy of Bob Wills, Roger Miller and Johnny Gimble. Can't help but smile when I listen. The first cut, Boy Like Me, had me dancing in my chair.  Enjoy!

by Terry Mathews
Sulphur Springs News-Telegram
November 2007

It doesn't make much sense that Doug Moreland would release his sixth album as a self-titled release... But that's the nature of the man. He seems to always take a different approach to life.

Moreland is a musician (obviously), entrepreneur (see Cattlelacs in Manchaca), and chainsaw artist (see his Bob Wills in front of the Lone Star Music store in Gruene).  Also, last month, the City of Austin proclaimed January 11, 2007 Doug Moreland Day.  But, this is a CD review so I'll focus on the music.

Doug Moreland is his most polished effort to date.  It seems that on this release he's aced the Asleep At The Wheel school of music.  Smooth Classic country music abounds from the sing-along starter A Boy Like Me to the hip-swaying Honeymoonlight right to the ending track - appropriately titled End of the Trail.  He's also got his signature silly song, The Beer Song, where he suds-up Johnny Cash's I've Been Everywhere.  A stand-out song on the album is Home To Me.  It's a bit of a sappy love song, and emotionally he sings it spot-on.  "There's no place like home / There's no place I'd rather be / In your arms is home to me."

The album looks and sounds great. I actually miss a few of the imperfections of the previous efforts, namely his toast.  For those who know, every album Moreland has put out in the past has had at least one toast on it.  That is my only complaint.  I guess I'll just have to see him live, buy him a beer, and request one.

by Sean Claes
Entertainment Writer
February 2007

Long-running Texan singer/songwriter and fiddler Doug Moreland has a taste for hot Western swing, as on the flashy opening track, A Boy Like Me, which features some impressive fiddle and pedal steel solos. However, most of his self-titled album is in a more traditionally Nashville-oriented frame of mind, filled with weepy ballads like Dallas (not the Jimmie Dale Gilmore standard, alas) and easygoing honky tonk shuffles like Honeymoonlight and Not Afraid to Fall. Points should be deducted for the brief novelty The Beer Song, however: it's a cute tune, and it undoubtedly goes down a treat live, but it's also a bald-faced ripoff of Hank Snow's I've Been Everywhere, and Moreland's too talented to resort to that sort of thing. Overall, Doug Moreland is a curiously static record, slightly enervated-sounding in a way that Moreland's previous records were not.

by Stewart Mason
All Music Guide
2007

Doug Moreland
Everybody Knows My Name (2004)
Big Hat Records

I was a bit skeptical when I popped in Doug Moreland's newest recording Everybody Knows My Name. You see, the first time I met Moreland I was Christmas shopping for my father and Moreland was selling original chainsaw art. I bought a rockin' eagle as well as his 1999 comical release 10 Beers From Now. At that time I thought for a singer/songwriter he was a damn talented chainsaw artist.

Fast forward to 2004 and the release of Everybody Knows My Name. What a difference five years makes. This album showcases Moreland as a damn talented singer/songwriter. The songs are smartly written and his vocals are strong. The humor of Moreland comes out in many of the songs, but the humor is part of the song, not the reason for it.

The album kicks off with the title song, painting a picture of an old-time bar. "Wish it was swinging doors/ hardwood floors/ and cheap ho...tels."

A party anthem may be born in the track called Happy Hour which calls for the basic truths of life, liberty and pursuit of a half-priced beer. Easy Money explores Moreland's lifestyle of trying to do the most he can to avoid getting a "real job."

The beautifully written ballad Prayers and Wishes deserves to be a top ten hit. It captures a sensitivity that Moreland hasn't showcased before and will likely laugh off, but displays wonderfully. "I'm a God-fearing man / I do believe/ Wish for what you want / but pray for what you need./ And the confusion of the issue is/ I know not whether to/ pray, or wish for you."

Moreland showcases his storytelling ability with the epic Southern Belle about a boy who is raised by a "whore named Annie LaValle" after his parents were victims of murder-for-hire. Moreland states in the liner notes that he wrote the song after watching the movie Tombstone for the 100th time and hearing Slaid Cleaves for the first.

Those familiar with his former releases will be pleased to learn he continues the tradition and includes a "toast" on Everybody Knows My Name. Also, if you can stand listening to a few minutes of a horse walking (a little prank recorded specifically for this disc) you will be treated to the backside ballad Butthole Bart.

In all, this album is over an hour of well-crafted songs. For a talented chainsaw artist, Moreland sure can write and sing a damn good song.

by Sean Claes
INsite Magazine
June 2004

Song Reviews

Doug Moreland / Easy Money
Writer: Doug Moreland; Producer: Doug Moreland; Publisher: Big Hat, no performance rights listed; Big Hat (CD-Tex)

-- A light western swinger with plenty of cheer and humor.  I’d love to hear something this charming on the radio.

by Robert K. Oermann
Music Row Magazine
November 2004

Quotes

“I met Doug a few years ago through his comedy routine, and since he has become a dear friend.  His serious music, as we call it, is unlike any other.  When you hear his music, there is no doubt that his talent has no borders.” 

Cody Canada, Cross Canadian Ragweed

"This album [Everybody Knows My Name] showcases Moreland as a damn talented singer/songwriter.  The songs are smartly written and his vocals are strong.  The humor of Moreland comes out in many of the songs, but the humor is part of the song, not the reason for it."

Sean Claes, entertainment writer, Austin, Texas

"I’ve been a fan of Doug for several years, originally attracted to his unusual and hip gift of wit.  However, the truth is Doug conveys deep emotions using simple language in his songs…like Hank Williams.” 

Bob Cole, Morning Talk Show KVET Radio 98.1, Austin, Texas

Doug Moreland fans that old swing flame!

Summary:  New breakout record identifies a new generation of "old school."

Nashville -- September 20, 2006 -- You could call it Texas Music, but that doesn’t quite nail it. You could call it dancehall music, or honky-tonk music, but that doesn’t get it either.  Give one good listen to Doug Moreland -- the new breakout disc from the Texas-based singer, songwriter, and fiddler – and you’ll hear a dazzling variety of musical styles, from acoustic-flavored ballads to full-tilt western swing.  Indeed, Doug Moreland can’t be pigeonholed. But if you wanted to compare him to an artist, perhaps the best one would be another singer-songwriter who did it his own way, the brilliant Roger Miller, who could craft heartbreaking country classics and then turn around and knock out a raucous novelty number.

Slated for release on October 17, 2006 on Big Hat Records, the 11 tracks that comprise Doug Moreland include swing and two-steppers and a steel-guitar-driven portrait of a barroom loser Not Afraid to Fall that recalls the golden age of ‘70s country-rockers like the Flying Burrito Brothers and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. (In fact, the guest-star lineup on Doug Moreland features Lost Planet Airman Bill Kirchen, along with Asleep at the Wheel’s Jason Roberts, and producer-musician extraordinaire Lloyd Maines, who contributes that haunting steel work.)  Then, in the midst of all this, comes a straight-ahead waltz  Forever in Your Arms that wraps you in the gentle ache of honest nostalgia. The record even includes a shot of Moreland’s best comedy with The Beer Song, a hilarious takeoff on Hank Snow’s  I’ve Been Everywhere. The cut is a reminder that, like his hero Roger Miller, Moreland knows very well how to evoke all sorts of emotions with his music – including laughter.

Also, like Miller, Moreland has made his name with both comedy and straight material. In fact, before her death in 2004, his trained border collie Holly-peño was a uniquely humorous component of Moreland’s shows, appearing with him on a number of nationally televised guest appearances -- including, twice, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  A couple of years later, after a series of high-profile gigs that included co-hosting a Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic and the release of his fifth album – which hit the Top Five on XM Radio’s Cross-Country - Doug Moreland circa 2006 is live all across the Midwest!  

And after all of this, if you are sitting there thinking that Doug Moreland is just another run-of-the-mill Texas musician, you would do well to check out the music/video page of www.dougmoreland.com to view extensive video footage of the man, the musician, the comedian, the believe it or not, the chainsaw wood carver.  Talk about your rare band merchandise!  With home movie style footage of everything from on the scene to behind the scenes to very, very behind the scenes…in a nut shell…you will see what the old schoolers call “a real entertainer.” Check out the band’s hefty tour schedule for upcoming shows, which include the highly reputable MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (January 4-9).

For review copies, interviews, or more information contact:

RPR Media
Brandy Reed
(615) 673-0150

Articles

Doug Moreland: The man with all the fans

It’s pretty obvious when an out-of-town entertainer becomes a local favorite: his fans will come out regardless of rain, snow, sleet, or, in the case of last December 15th, thick-as-cotton fog. The lure that night was Doug Moreland. He and his band were playing at one of their favorite Midland venues, the Hog Pit Pub & Grub. Good Times, always alert to the hot tickets in town, sent me to discover what exactly makes The Doug Moreland Show so magnetic.

Having never been to the Hog Pit before, I chose my outfit based on past bar experiences. Thus, I wore boots with zip-down sides that I could easily evacuate if the soles became glued to the floor with Bud Light. So pleased was I with my escape plan, that I was disappointed when I realized it wouldn’t be necessary. The concrete floor was spotless when I arrived at 8 p.m. and stayed that way all night. (The only exception was the dance floor that was sprinkled with grit to give the wild two-steppers some traction.) Another remarkable thing I noted about the Hog Pit was its broad appeal. That night there were all ages milling about the metal building, from 20-somethings on dates to 60-something men sitting alone, looking like forgotten extras from a Lonesome Dove shoot. Among the younger set, dressing "cowboy" was apparently not required. One guy, still wearing the disaffected look of a teenager, sported a black knit cap pulled down to his eyebrows and multiple ear-piercings. Not far away stood a young couple masquerading as a GAP advertisement, showing off sensible sweaters and trim jeans. The crowd’s diversity was due partly to The Hog Pit’s universally appreciated barbecued ribs, but also to the genre-crossing accessibility of The Doug Moreland Show.

The Doug Moreland Show consists of five musicians who supply vocals, fiddle, drums, guitar, pedal steel, and upright bass, with other performers (such as a pianist or female vocalist) pitching in as needed. Moreland, the lead singer, has a classic country look: a strong nose and chin balanced nicely by the crisp brim of a cowboy hat, an old-fashioned western outfit covering (as Moreland puts it) "a little beerbelly," and a tooled-leather guitar strap swung over a cream suede coat. He has a classic country sound to boot: clarion voice, charming delivery, and a Texas accent too pleasant to be called a twang. There’s a brightness to his voice that even the rare sad song in his repertoire just can’t dim. Plus he’s a fiddlin’ fiend, sawing with such gusto that his instrument looks bound to ignite. He’s the eponymous star of the show, but he’s surrounded himself with a talented band that brings their own magic to the performance. When he’s letting someone else solo, Moreland steps back and jauntily waves his bow like a baton, not like he’s directing, but like he’s so taken with the other’s music that he can’t help but move to it.

A prolific songwriter, Moreland filled his most recent, self-titled album with tunes for many tastes. He and his band come out swinging with "A Boy Like Me," a song that would sound perfectly at home on a Brian Setzer album. Then, Moreland throws in some snappy tunes, such as "Honeymoonlight," that were made for two-steppin’. And, no classic country album would be complete without a waltz, so he includes the sweetly sentimental "Forever In Your Arms." My favorite track, the male-female duet "Home to Me" makes the old phrase "There’s no place like home" seem brand new by infusing it with a honeyed melody. My only concern about "Home to Me" is that an advertising exec will get wise to the marketability of its catchy chorus and use it to peddle some "homestyle" product like spreadable butter or lemonade mix. (Commercials have ruined so many songs for me.) "Houston" dabbles with another famous phrase, this time the Apollo 13 crew’s ominous "we have a problem," and turns it into a man’s lost-love tale to a phone operator. For those who appreciate the pedal steel, the radio single "Not Afraid to Fall" will give them their fill. And, the CD would not be complete without "The Beer Song," an uproarious riff on "I’ve Been Everywhere," which hearkens back to Doug Moreland’s early days as a musical-comedian.

Launched in the mid-90s, Doug Moreland’s musical-comedy act boasted something no one had ever seen before: a fiddle-playing dog. Holly (short for Holly-peño) was Moreland’s pet border collie and a natural performer. Moreland rigged up a bow that she could grip in her jowls and taught her how to saw away. I don’t know how Moreland trained Holly, but remembering how I trained my dog to use a doggy door by squeezing through it myself, I suspect Moreland did some pretty silly stuff. However Moreland trained her, his perseverance and Holly’s amazing aptitude paid off. Before long they were invited to appear on national TV shows, once on Animal Planet’s Pet Star, once on Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and twice on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. For Leno, Molly was even given her own seat on the plane, right beside Moreland. The two best friends toured until Holly’s death in 2004. Sadly recognizing that his act could never be the same, Moreland revised his act into a more traditional, bipedal band.

In the summer of 2007, The Doug Moreland Show made its first European tour. Believe it or not, country western music, particularly if it sounds old-school, is quite popular in sections of Europe. Crowds in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France clamored to hear Moreland croon. Wanting to look authentically "western," these European fans based their outfits on classic Hollywood westerns. Thus, on top of shirts, jeans, and boots they mistakenly slung chaps, spurs, and holsters. Others innocently took the stereotype even further and arrived shirtless as the "Indians." Moreland admits it was a little bizarre to look out into the audience and see a horde of "Indians" line dancing to his songs, but he admired their zeal. Europeans, he observed, are particularly fond of line dancing. So much so that they often make up their own steps. Moreland recalls a very nice Belgian guy telling him he had searched and searched the Internet and was unable to find a line dance for Moreland’s song, "Dallas." Moreland apologetically replied that, as far as he knew, there wasn’t one. "Oh, but there is now!" exclaimed the Belgian and whipped out a laminated piece of paper on which he had written a line dance of his own invention. Now that’s a fan!

Speaking of fans, you too can be a Doug Moreland devotee. Just go to the Hog Pit on Friday, February 15th. The Doug Moreland Show goes on stage at 9:00 p.m., but you might as well make a night of it and arrive before 8:30 p.m. so you can sample some of the Pit’s famous ribs. The Hog Pit is located off of Interstate 20 at 7400 W. County Road 116 Midland, Texas.

 (continued)  Moreland's Other Love

Doug Moreland’s personal insignia looks like a cattle brand: a capital D nestled inside a wavy M. He first used the "DM" logo at age seven to label his Tonka trucks. Now, at age 33, Moreland finds he has a lot more surfaces to brand: his CDs, his website, his band shirts, his slap koozies (think: slap bracelet meets drink koozie), and his chainsaw art. That’s right. Chainsaw art. You’d think someone with so much musical skill wouldn’t put his hands anywhere near a toothy power tool, but Doug Moreland loves carving as much as music-making.

Moreland was introduced to the woodcraft in 1998 while playing with a band in Ruidoso, New Mexico. His first chainsaw attempt, a bear, sold before it was finished. His second bear was snapped up the same way. The singer recalls, "I quit the band, bought a chainsaw, and moved to eastern Tennessee the very next day."

Obviously, Moreland didn’t drop music altogether (nor did he stay in Tennessee). Instead, his two favorite art forms evolved into complementary parts of his career. Referring to his increasingly expensive road tours, Moreland explains, "I gotta carve to keep diesel in the tank." Conversely, Moreland’s music helps his art sales. The musician sells smaller sculptures at his performances, and hosts a live-music "Calfry" (calf-fry) each September which attracts crowds to his Cattlelacs Chainsaw Art Gallery.

Although chainsaw-sculpture buyers typically favor bears and boots, Moreland doesn’t limit himself. Over the past ten years he’s sculpted everything from a twelve-feet-tall Uncle Sam to a beaver with a large penis. The latter was a commission from Greg Henry (owner of Austin Universal Entertainment and Lead Dog Management). Doug recalls, "I think he [Henry] requested it for a joke. I went ahead and carved it ‘cause I don’t think he believed I would do it. I was going to carve it and take it to Steamboat in 2002 and surprise him in front of everyone. I made it the day before I left and had to carve it in the freezing sleet. When it’s a good joke I’ll go through anything to pull it off. We stayed in Amarillo on the way up to Colorado and someone stole it out of the back of my truck; I hadn’t told anyone about it. My brother Ty is the only person to see it before it was taken from me. Unfortunately, it is one of the only carvings ever stolen from me and, go figure, it’s a beaver with a pecker!"

The Doug Moreland Show has a heavy tour schedule and travels across Texas regularly. It makes one wonder how Moreland finds the energy to carve in between all those trips. Can chainsaw carving really be a good way to unwind after a road tour? Moreland explains, "It would be work for someone else, but I enjoy it. I get my best ideas while carving; I write a lot of songs in that fashion."

Cattlelacs Chainsaw Art Gallery is located in Manchaca, Texas, just south of Austin. Hours are: Tuesdays & Thursdays - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sundays - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also by appointment.

Not going to Manchaca any time soon? You can check out Moreland’s work on the Cattlelacs page of his website: www.dougmoreland.com. And, several sculptures will also be on display at the Hog Pit on February 15th.

by Veronica Dye Johnson
Good Times Magazine
February 2008