CD Review: Taylor Moore Band — Taylor Moore & The Bordeaux Brothers EP; Playing Smith’s Olde Bar, February 28

Taylor Moore Band

Taylor Moore & The Bordeaux Brothers EP

By Sam Parvin

Taylor Moore is good at fooling people.  While his sounds are obviously blues-influenced, do not expect the usual three-chord B-Side Blues here.  His guitar skills are reminiscent of a well-seasoned musician; with tricky riffs, tempo changes, and seamless harmonies.  But the kid is only 24 years old.

Taylor has spent some time in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is evident in his use of steel drums.  Moore absolutely beats his guitar senseless when he plays, and you would think that would take away from the energy he exudes in his singing; quite the contrary, actually.  Lance Stockton’s saxophones are grandiose, Matt Holmes’ drums augment Moore’s energy, and Shaun Ritchie lays a steady base line to Taylor’s funkiness.Moore writes all of his songs, and he sings mostly of his experiences growing up near Greenville, S.C., going to school in Charleston, and living in the Virgin Islands for a few years.  While most tracks are boogie-licous, like the opening piece, “One More Drink (Climb My Baby),” Moore also throws in a couple contemplative pieces like “Carolina Winter,” with lyrics like “My boots are too worn for wandering/My head is too full of rum/And she’s gone, she’s gone for a while now/So I guess I’ll just wander on.”

If you appreciate foot-stompin’ percussion and guitar playing that is sure to inspire you to start playing, you canNOT miss Chris Duarte and Taylor Moore Band in the Atlanta Room at Smith’s Olde Bar on February 18.  Make sure to check out Taylor’s two latest tracks, “Three Chords Across the Rosewood” and “Mississippi,” featuring cellist  Sarah Clanton Schaffer and Gwyn Fowler, at www.myspace.com/taylormooreguitar and the review of Chris Duarte’s latest album here.

Taylor Moore plays Smith’s Olde Bar February 18. Tickets are on sale at Ticket Alternative.