Recently I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite artists. Although I am a relatively new fan of Jason Eady; I have heard that you can learn all you need to know about a songwriter by simply listening to their songs. I believe this is especially true of this gifted singer/songwriter from Jackson Mississippi. The first song I purchased of Eady’s was “This Old Guitar & Me”. Right then and there I learned that I had been missing out. Although I did not purchase Eady’s entire catalog right then and there (I let that one song simmer a bit), I learned right away that this guy is real country. Gradually I began to acquire more and more of Jason Eady’s music. The moment this year’s self-titled release hit the shelves, I was all over it. This is when I truly began learning about the songsmith that is Jason Eady. Geographically, I have learned simple things like why he left Atlanta, he’d rather not go back to Jackson, driving across Abilene takes forever, and it’s best to stick to whiskey when you’re in Oklahoma. I also learned that he’s not particularly fond of wearing a suit and tie. Speaking of whiskey, I have also learned that you will not find a genie in that bottle. However, at times it is acceptable to do a little wishful drinking. I have learned that the daylight and the dark do not communicate, that it’s entirely possible to cry pretty, sometimes the best conversations are those with the ghost of a legend, although he’s a God-fearing man; he’s certainly no angel, and he prefers the company of empty poets, silver tongues, gypsies, and fools over liars. As I continue listening, I learn that we never stop learning and the most important lessons take a lifetime to be taught. I learn that we ALL have more in common with Barabbas than we’d like to admit. I learn that Jason loves his family, is proud of and misses his grown daughter, and harmonizes very well with his amazing wife (Courtney Patton). As I dove deeper into his music I learned that he writes/co-writes most the songs he records. Yet with his stellar delivery he is capable of making anyone’s song his own. In him I have found an AM Country Heaven in this FM Country hell. Although there is much still to learn about Mr. Eady, I implore you to take the time to listen to his songs. Although the best words are often hard to find, Jason Eady is a lyrical genius. In my opinion, he’s one of the best songwriters of our time.
Outlaw may be a term that may be a bit overused. Sometimes used to describe a real bad guy, a badass, or someone on the lam. In my opinion however "outlaw" is more a state of mind. It describes one that does things on his/her own terms; refusing to bow down to the big machine. If we're using that context of "outlaw", then I would certainly agree that Dallas Moore is definitely an "outlaw". An award winning independent artist who regularly plays 300 shows a year (both acoustic and with his rousing band). He also does most of his own booking, PR work, and press which allows him to have full control of his music. I was blessed with the opportunity to hang out with Dallas Moore before his show last night. We talked a bit about life, his family, bourbon, and our musical heroes. He was also kind enough to oblige me some photo ops for my new personal project. Contrary to popular belief, Country Music isn't dead! It's alive and well in folks like Dallas Moore. If y'all get a chance, be sure to check Dallas Moore out. Catch a show, buy a cd, or download his music from iTunes.
