Ian Moore, the Seattle-based, Austin, TX-born guitar player, singer and songwriter makes the proverbial renaissance man look lazy. Toronto comes on the heels of Strange Days, his most successful record since his eponymous debut and despite a never-ending cycle of touring, Moore offers a new release of bright, blazing rock-n-roll that combines his legendary guitar prowess with radio-friendly songs that showcase his elastic, soul-inflected vocals. "It's a very different climate right now. When we hit a city, it doesn't matter that i have 14 records, radio hits, etc. The only thing that matters is if we can really show up and leave the people feeling they saw something amazing. It keeps me hungry, and I like the challenge" says Moore. Toronto releases today on Last Chance Records in the US and on Rough Trade in Europe. Moore will be touring in support of the record in the U.S. and Europe for all of 2018 (details below). The record is picking up steam at college and community radio, with spins across the country.
Listen to Toronto
Watch the new video for "You Gotta Know" here:
For years, Ian has had his eyes on the challenges faced by musicians of every stripe, having experienced the spectrum of artist successes and tribulations over a nearly 30-year career. In response, he founded the artist's healthcare alliance SMASH (Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare) and has joined the board of NARAS for the Pacific Northwest as governor and head of the advocacy committee. Read a great interview on this on Americana Highways.
You might have been surprised to hear Moore's songs popping up on major network shows on prime time television this past year; selections have been prominently featured in performances on both American Idol and The Voice ("Satisfied" and "Blue Sky").
Moore's story is often told and probably familiar to most critics; his initial record on Capricorn propelled him to national tours with the Rolling Stones, ZZ Top and Bob Dylan, acting in the Academy Award-winning indie feature Sling Blade and having Ice Cube direct the video for his track "Harlem."
Ian celebrates his 50th birthday in his hometown of Austin at Antones, one of the cities most venerable clubs. His two night stand on August 3rd & 4th is available for pre-sale now, with the password 'Toronto'.
Night one link
Night two
Find Ian Here:
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