Interview with Moe Bandy 2006

On July, 29th Moe will have a new album coming out on the Sweetsong Nashville label and he will be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree.This is a great album with many great songs written by great writers.

Christian: Moe, can you introduce yourself to our readers first, who may have grown up not knowing of you?

Moe: Hello, my name is Moe Bandy. I am from San Antonio, Texas and I started recording there many years ago. In 1973 I came to Nashville and started recording with Damon Ray Baker. My first hit was a song called "I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs Today" which made it into the Top 10. Later I signed with Columbia Records and had about 60 chart records.

Christian: Moe, I hear that in Nashville you are called an outlaw. Can you explain to our readers how it came about that you were called that?

Moe: I do not really know why that is – I did not rob any banks or anything like that. Maybe it is because I am from Texas. But I always I did my recording in Nashville.

Christian: You have been in the music business for a long time already. Can you tell us what the life of an artist is like – lots of stage parties or any other interesting things that you might be able to tell us about?

Moe: Over the years I have played all over the world and of course a lot of exciting things have happened. I have played at the Grand Ole Opry several times, I played at the campaign for President Bush Senior. My song "Americana" was used during that campaign.

Christian: You have done a tour in Europe this year. Can you tell us something about the tour?

Moe: I went to Ireland and did seventeen shows there. The tour was a lot of fun and the people out there were very responsive – I enjoyed it very much: I always love to go to Europe for a tour since it has been very good for me.

Christian: Is there a difference between the American audience and the European audience?

Moe: Yes there is. The European audience seems to know more about the music than we do. They know the writers and the players on the record and they care more about the history of the older music than people over here in the States do.

Christian: Moe, I told our readers that you have a new album coming up. Can you tell us a bit more about it, some background on the songs and what inspired you to them?

Moe: I think this album is the best one that I have ever recorded. The songs that we found for the album are excellent.

Christian: You already spent more than three decades in the music business. Can you tell us what has changed in music business during that time?

Moe: First of all the music has changed a lot – it is now more of the type that we used to call Rockabilly. The visual side of music has grown with all the music videos. This has also shifted the focus of attention to the looks of the artist and the videos from the sounds of the music. The preferred choice of instruments has also changed. But music always lives in cycles, it constantly changes and sometimes things come back.

Christian: You are saying that in the old day you had more steel instruments and a more traditional type of Country Music in the music. As an artist who grew up with that type of music, what do you think about today’s Country Music. Are you satisfied with it or do you think the music should turn back to the roots of Country Music?

Moe: Yes, I would like to see some of the more traditional Country Music come back and I believe that this would sound so different from today’s Country Music, that it would be popular with people again.

Christian: You have recorded many songs during your career. What is the difference between yesterday’s songs and the ones from today?

Moe: Today there is a stronger beat to the music and there are different ways to mix the music. What I like with my new CD for example is that we did the traditional Country Music and used the modern technology to record it. That really sounds great.

Christian: Did you write the songs for your new album yourself or did you pick them?

Moe: Together with my producer Dennis Money we found songs that we really liked and put them on the album.

Christian: What makes this album so special that everybody should buy it?

Moe: The songs are full of feeling and heart, which makes the album quite special. I really did feel the songs emotionally.

Christian: I think everybody would like to know what is the difference between the young Moe Bandy and the Moe Bandy of today?

Moe: I think now I am singing better than I ever have done in my life. I have a theatre in Branson, Missouri where I perform six nights a week for eight months of the year. The rest of the year I travel. I sing more than ever before and my voice is stronger than ever. I think that I do have more feeling and more heart in my music now than I did any time before.

Christian: So, you believe that the Moe Bandy we will hear on this CD is the best Moe Bandy ever?

Moe: Yes, that is until the next one.

Christian: Everybody knows the artist Moe Bandy, but please tell us a bit more about the man Moe Bandy. About your private life, the things that you like, your opinions and things like that?

Moe: Music is really my life. I am single and I love to travel. I live in a log cabin in the country outside of Branson and I just enjoy life together with my dog Lucy.

Christian: If someone gave you the chance to change something, what would it be?

Moe: Right now I am very happy and I do not think I would change anything other than maybe finding myself a beautiful German lady.

Christian: Do I understand you correctly – every German lady is welcome to contact you?

Moe: Yes, I’ll take the call.

Christian: Is there a website where the ladies can contact you?

Christian: What can fans find on your website?

Moe: There is a photo gallery on there and my calendar, CDs can be bought from the website and I try to answer any e-mails that my fans are sending me.

Christian: Well, Moe, I am done with my questions – It is your turn now to tell our readers anything else you would like to share with them.

Moe: I just want to tell everybody that I love to perform and do shows because I love the direct feedback I receive from my audience. I hope to be able to do many more CDs like the upcoming one the Sweetsong Nashville label titled Moe Bandy

(The Legend Continues) and share my love for country music with my fans.

Christian: Thank you for the interview, Moe.