The Moonshine Bandits are a duo who formed in California in 2003 and have been pushing boundaries ever since. Tex and Bird make up the country rap duo who just released their seventh studio album, titled ‘Baptized in Bourbon,’ in early March. Recently, NECM had the chance to catch up with Bird of the Moonshine Bandits.
“We just had a different approach with this record,” said Bird when asked what differed their newest album ‘Baptized in Bourbon’ from their previous cuts. ‘Baptized in Bourbon’ spent its first week on the Billboard charts holding the Number One spot in Heatseekers Albums. The record also marked the duo’s highest debuting album on the country charts at number nineteen.
“This is a record that has more meaning to it, it’s heartfelt and has an actual message to it. As we’re getting older and progressing through the business we’re having a bit of a dilemma. What we’re doing is it right or is it wrong? We believe in god and you know the life that we live is so crazy. This record is what we are doing right. It’s actually more of a personal message.”
In the process of writing and recording ‘Baptized in Bourbon,’ The Moonshine Bandits were able to lock themselves in the studio just outside of Portland, Oregon. Bird mentions that when they were in the studio creating the album, nobody questioned what was happening because everybody knew whatever it was being created, it was very special. Don’t let it be said though, that The Bandits closed themselves in a box when coming up with themes and ideas for the album. When talking themes and inspiration Bird had this to say, “We get it all the time because we are blessed enough to be able to meet so many good people out on the highway. So many people come out and support our shows, you hear their stories, their struggles, pain, and triumph. What they really are is inspiration. All the songs we have been doing is almost a story of our fans, the shiner nation. It’s their songs and their stories.”
As a direct reflection of their fans, the Moonshine Bandits have long been known as a “Blue-Core” duo. Blue-Core meaning their music is meant for the hard working people that work all week and want to cut loose on the weekend, but don’t call them country. Bird explains that they don’t really care much for genres, they’ve always done what has felt right to them, and what feels right to them is a unique mix of country, rock and roll, and hip-hop. When asked about their inspiration for their Blue-Core sound Bird explains it is exactly what they grew up on in Central California, a mix of country, rock and roll, and west coast hip-hop music.
‘Baptized in Bourbon’ features many collaborations with artists such as Crucifix, The Lacs, Uncle Cracker, Colt Ford, Jelly Roll and Bubba Sparxxx. Bird says about Bubba, who he has worked with in the past and is very good friends with, “He is a very very talented songwriter and he always has been. His delivery is really really good, and he might not get that kind of recognition but he is a very talented artist.” The track titled ‘Fifty One Fifty’ was done with Bubba Sparxxx, and sounds like something you might hear at a nightclub which makes it an absolute standout on the record.
Possibly the best collaboration of their careers though, is their cut on ‘Take This Job’ which features the original artist, and legend David Allen Coe. “I’ve always said there are three guys I wanted to work with before I quit music,” says Tex, the other half of the Moonshine Bandits, “Two of them are dead and the other is David Allen Coe.” Bird explains of working with Coe, “I am absolutely speechless regarding that, I can’t even describe it, it’s surreal he’s somebody that we have great respect for and he is a living legend. It’s an absolute honor to be able to work with him and have an actual relationship with him.” Coe shot his first ever music video with the duo and has made many appearances with them on the road. For the Moonshine Bandits, ‘Baptized in Bourbon’ is a project they are proud of as a whole.
There is no one song they can pick off the record as their favorite. The Bandits explain that they can’t choose one because their heart and soul goes into everything that they do including every song on their latest record. Bird also adds about the album, “I think if people listen with an open mind that they’re going to find something that they love, and they might discover a band who has basically sacrificed their lives for their music. I truly think were going to have something very special with this.” It can be seen quite clearly that this project was special to them from the start. This album is much more personal to the duo than albums of their past and so far, it has been nothing short of amazing for the Bandits.
The Moonshine Bandits have well been known for touring through the west coast, as well as the southern part of the United States including Texas and Florida. Though the Bandits don’t venture up to New England often when asked if they would consider it, Bird says they would love to get up here. “We just have to keep working our way up there, you know we’ll go to Delaware and Pennsylvania and eventually we will get up that way. There are a lot of good hard working people up there and we want to be there.” One can only hope that with the success ‘Baptized in Bourbon’ is sure to bring that the Moonshine Bandits may eventually add some New England tour dates to their busy schedule.
We’d like to thank the Moonshine Bandits for taking the time to speak with NECM. It was an honor to have spoken with them and to hear their story behind ‘Baptized in Bourbon’. We look forward to seeing the Bandits continued success and we hope that eventually we can catch them live in New England.