Colin Hay, Sting, Seal, Al Green, Paul McCartney, Mick Jaggar, Louis Armstrong, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Super Tramp, Eagles, Bob Marley, Elvis, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, Donald Fagen, Evel Knievel, and Mamma.
Sounds Like
Southern white boy soul. Simple songs to sing along.
Interview by Telly Miaboudit. from Supersmoker Magazine, April 2, 2009.
Telly: You were born and raised in rural south Georgia. Correct?
Chris Moore: Yes. Born in Savannah and raised in the two red light, farm community / town of Glennville, bless it. The older you get and the more you move around in life the more you appreciate places like that.
TM: Tell us about your early musical interests.
CM: I was into music from as early as I can remember. Elvis at the very youngest age. My mom was a fan so I listened to the records a lot. Then there was all the cool, ingeniously melodic stuff McCartney was doing with Wings, the jazzy sounds of Steely Dan, nasty, rowdy jams of the Stones and Rod Stewart and the Faces. I loved it all. Evel Knievel too.
TM: And your teen years?
CM: Yea, I got into the hair bands of course. Took a while for the 80's to come back around, didn't it? I was into everything from Guns and Roses and Iron Maiden to Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Men At Work, The Police.......In fact, I would say that at that formative period Sting and Colin Hay had the most influence on my singing voice not to mention so many others.
I got into Jazz a while later. I was influenced there by not only a gigantic voice like Louis Armstong's but also the phrasing of the musicians and just the swagger of their particular playing styles. I started using my voice more like an instrument from that point I think.
TM: When did you move to Athens, Ga?
CM: In 1997. I had played in a couple bands before then in college. Had some local success opening for Drivin' and Cryin' in Savannah and playing River St. on St. Patty's Day a couple times. Until I moved to Athens I barely knew three chords on a guitar. I wrote lyrics and sang. I didn't know any other musicians in Athens so I picked up my cheap pawn shop guitar and started writing simple songs and playing open mics until eventually I met others. I released my first solo CD called Freaks and Stones. Then I sang in a band called The Spins for a while and we released a CD called 1. People come and go, you know, so I started playing solo again.
TM: Music or words first when writing?
CM: Generally, I find a simple melody on the guitar first and if it's meant to stay around, a vocal melody will come next and finally the lyrics. Usually.........
TM: And where does the content come from?
CM: Anywhere. I have found that I'm not so much a story teller as I am an expresser of emotions or describer of situations in hopes of course that someone else can relate. It's weird. I tend to make up comical songs without music on the spot for any situation. I do it constantly but I never put these to my guitar? Not sure why.
TM: Are you currently working on a new project?
CM: Yes, I've been writing and it's time to put out new material. I'm currently working out the details regarding supporting musicians but the idea at this point is to do a more rustic, not so clean and not over produced or instrumentally full recording as others in the past. It's very possible that I may for the most part support this CD on my own so I want to be able to be true to the recording when I'm playing solo or with others. I've started some tracks with AJ Adams (Stuart and Winfield, Kinky Waikiki) at his home studio with Carlton Owens on drums. Looking forward to it.
Hey Chris! This is the videoclip of my song released by Universal this week. Would you be so kind and please give your (honoust) opinion on the youtube channel for me ? Would be great !!
Hey, got your cooler; get it back to U this weekend. Also missing the GA Shirt; probably happened somewhere between me being a Jackass and Twisting the ankle. Memories!
Come hang with us in historical Grant Park for the Summer Shade Festival Sat Aug 30th 6:30 pm. Check out the Link below & listen to our song "Old & Wise" featured on I-Tunes & Srew Pop Culture Podcast!!!!
I'm so sorry that I missed the show in Athens! Due to all of the storms in Atlanta, my flight was delayed and I completely missed it all. I hope to catch the next one when I'm in town!
