Exclusive Interview with Andrea Colburn & Mud Moseley

by Brian "Big Boy" Whitcomb Live photos are by Brian “Big Boy” Whitcomb at Angel City Promo photos are by Becky Little

Tell us a little on how Andrea and Mud met and how you created your Americana Duo MM: Apparently we had been within 15 feet of each other at every show I had been to in the last three or four years. Our buddy and former drummer, Mike Adkison, finally introduced us at a Legendary Shack Shakers show.

AC: When I finally got him to come over (OTP!!) and play music with me, we traded a few songs and both knew instantly that this was supposed to happen together. I was like, “SEE, I told you you should come play music with me!!”. The first song he played of his was “Dark River”. I loved it obviously since it was one of the first ones that we recorded for our first album, Easy, Sleazy and Greazy. And he even let me write a verse. The one about walking back to the trailer, duh.

What’s the inspiration of your music? MM: Life and imagining what life is like for others. Corny answer, I know.

AC: I think the obvious inspiration is the sleazier side of life: dive bars, unorthodox professions like prostitution, drinking booze, and other interesting vices, things like that. It’s an easy, sleazy, greazy fantasy world in my head I guess. I mean, we don’t live in a trailer, although I surely could, and I’ve never gotten so drunk that I fell off a train or played someone’s flute for money but it’s fun to write about. I love the messed up characters in our songs. There’s a few new ones on the new album too. Who hasn’t always wanted to hear a catchy little song about a used car salesman?? If that’s what he really is...

What role does your music lend to the Atlanta music scene? AC: We think that we might be the only nationally touring country band in Atlanta at the moment and we’d really like to bring back the

live music scene. It seems like it has fallen off everyone’s radar over the years, but we fully intend on bringing it back as strong as ever. Back in the day, our musical peers and mentors led the Redneck Underground, and we want to create that again. I, unfortunately, was not here at that time and would have been illegal, but I still love those guys and the music that they make. They really inspire a lot of what we do. That’s why you’ll hear the term Hillbilly Underground from us a lot. We want to see the smaller venues thrive rather than the big amphitheaters and places that charge hundreds of dollars a ticket. Most of the best shows I’ve ever seen cost $10 at Star Bar. And the sweat dripping off J.D. Wilkes’ face is free!

MM: We are reminding the old-timers that it’s about bringing a new edge to something familiar and teaching the newbies it’s not about playing the same damn songs as everybody else. We are working very hard to build the roots scene here without making it about your trendy pocket watch and 1938 vest; it’s about being a hardworking American that’s in tune with music about the reality of living life in a southern metropolitan city.

What is your current favorite song? Why? MM: Honestly, my favorite song is one of ours that will be released next year sometime. BUT for this purpose, “Lord, Mr. Ford” by Jerry Reed... J.R.’s attitude on a sociopolitical commentary (still relevant today) with the Jerry Reed funky twang.

AC: Soooo many... but for some reason Ray Price’s “Crazy Arms” is my freakin jam lately. And also “Three Days” by Willie Nelson and Ricky Nelson’s “Lonesome Town.” I love the old stuff. We both do and I think that’s why we work so well together. And yes, Jerry Reed is God.

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What has been so far your most memorable moment? MM: Thinking 120˚F weather was going to kill us and the van somewhere around Needles, AZ on I-40. NOT FUN. It is confirmed that the eastern half of the Mojave desert is actual hell.

AC: Hard to pick one since there’s been so many over the past year. Playing at Variety Playhouse with Whitey Morgan was a very big recent one for us. That stage... That sound... Amazing. Also being nominated for an Ameripolitan Music Award last year and getting to go to the ceremony and rub elbows with some of our favorite musicians like Junior Brown, James Hand, Jim Heath of Reverend Horton Heat, and Nikki Lane, among others, this past February was unreal.

Where do you believe the creativity comes from? MM: Hard livin’, and hardworkin’. Some people are addicted to Rx’s, alcohol, all sorts of shit; I’m addicted to making stuff and traveling. That’s my creative drive.

AC: To quote one of our favorite musicians, Scott H. Biram: “Red wine, a little smoke, and a whole lot of lovin’!”. Traveling also. We’ve seen so many new places recently that have blown our minds. Look out for a truck driving album some day! Well, maybe a sexy van driving album since we’re currently cruisin’ around in a ‘87 Ford Econoline Clubwagon. But, mostly when I write or get a melody, I have no idea where it comes from. When I’m driving alone or trying to fall asleep usually they’ll just pop in there. Not trying to sound like Nostradamus or anything, I think there’s just little pockets in my brain that hold onto things I love but maybe forgot about and releases it when I least expect it. Whoa. That was deep.

Who have been your influences over the year? MM: Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Bonnie Montgomery, Summer Dean, Rob Leines, Elijah Ocean, National Reserve, Charlie Crockett, etc. Old

stuff? I’ve been on a Johnny Paycheck kick for the last couple of months after learning about how nuts the guy was. Always Junior Brown. Always Jerry R. Hubbard, Ray Charles, Loretta....

AC: Yes, what he said! Dwight Yoakam and Junior Brown are probably the biggest influences to both of us. Junior Brown does the Surf Western thing that we are going for and you just can’t beat the Bakersfield sound. I’m also trying to encourage Mud to be influenced by Dwight’s jeans! I think it’s working. The Wranglers keep getting tighter and more vintage. I love that. New stuff: Not that Dwight and Mr. Brown aren’t still making music but there’s a lot of stuff that we’ve been turned onto recently that just makes us want to dance and sometimes cry. I like doing both. Our friends Bonnie Montgomery and Summer Dean probably have my most played new albums right now. It’s not just cuz they’re two of my best gals, either. I really love what those women are doing. Our tour out west in July was SO much fun and I genuinely love their music and outlooks on life. Definitely check them out. Gotta thank Uncle Dale [Watson] and his Ameripolitan Awards for bringing us together.

Where is the duo heading next? MM: Intergalactic Space travel using sonic energy from only fender amps. New album coming soon, a cool weekly thing in the works, live music video in the works, touring like madmen, face tattoos, Hedonistic rituals....

AC: Oh lord. Well, he’s right about a few of those. We are back in the studio to work on our next album at the end of September and still touring the country as much as possible. Both of those things are extremely addicting to us so we’re hoping that means that we will just keep cranking out new music and playing in new places. Look for the new album next Spring!

GREASE INC. MAGAZINE

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