There is an acknowledgement on the back of the album cover which explains that for Dallas Moore this is the fulfilment of a long-time wish as all the songs were written by friend and mentor Billie Gant. The album is also dedicated to the memory of Chuck Morpurgo. Gant is an interesting figure in outlaw country music, he was playing the kind of honky tonk bars where people went to enjoy both the music and the brawl at the end of the night. He was once described as being “an outlaw before there was outlaws”, but that career was cut short by a car wreck in which Gant sustained injuries so severe it took him thirteen years to recover. Years before that accident, a seventeen year old Dallas Moore had taken his first guitar along to one of Gant’s shows, got up on stage and played to that feisty crowd; Gant recalls being impressed that this under age kid showed no fear and a lifetime friendship was born.
This collection of tunes will delight those who like their country music to sit somewhere
between honky-tonk and bad-ass outlaw. The Mexican city of Juarez has a long history of violence dating back to the wars prior to a border being agreed and running through to the flourishing cocaine trade today; the title track is a shrewd observation of that violence. We also get death as a theme in The Ballad Of Reuben Dixon and Hezekiah’s Heart, both eminently listenable songs.
It’s not all death and destruction though, Truckin’ Outlaw Blues is exactly what the title suggests and 21 is a catchy no-regrets song about mis-spent youth. I particularly enjoyed the opener and the up-tempo Smokin’ Belladonna And Drinkin’ Gasoline which is one of many examples of Billie Gant’s ability to give a light touch to a lyric without diluting the outlaw punch. I thoroughly enjoyed this album for a combination of reasons, the songs are strong and suit Dallas Moore’s gravel- voice delivery perfectly and there is wit in some of the lyrics which can take the listener by surprise and add to the experience. Most of all I like that with this homage to Billie Gant Dallas Moore is bringing the man’s talent to a
well-deserved wider audience.