Ian Moore, the Seattle-based, Austin, TX-born guitar player, singer and songwriter makes the proverbial renaissance man look lazy. Coming on the heels of Strange Days, his most successful record since his eponymous debut and despite a never-ending cycle of touring, Moore offers a new release of bright, blazing rock-n-roll that combines his legendary guitar prowess with radio-friendly songs that showcase his elastic, soul-inflected vocals.

Ian Moore actually knew Cormac McCarthy, author of “The Road” and Matt Hopper actually named his band The Roman Candles when he found Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road”. These two modern singers of songs’ and slingers of the six strings journey together as friends began on the road, deep in the heart of Texas. Both well salted and peppered troubadours with some semblance of songwriting skill, Hopper had been abandoned in Austin during the middle of a three month tour when his ride and Canadian tour mate left him for a ten day break back to Canada and a “see you in LA” goodbye. Hopper eventually found Kullen Fox (piano/trumpet, Charley Crockett) somewhere out there perhaps a recording studio, and found out Fox was heading to LA on tour with Sir Ian, who kindly let Hopper hitch a ride with them, a highlight being a short day off in Palm Springs, where Hopper spent most of the day dubbing Indian tabla music into his iTunes. Ever since meeting Moore, Hopper has low key idolized him for his guitar skills and charming personality, and even was invited to Ian’s home once for one of the best home cooked meal of his life and a recording session in Ian’s home studio. The resulting song “Death of a Dayjob” ended up being re-recorded by Richard Swift for the album “Jersey Finger” on the strength of Moore’s Costello meets Brian Wilson production choices and background vocals. It remains unreleased to this day but is perhaps better than the album version. Hopper and Moore have shared stages in Arizona, Washington and now for the first time ever at the Showdown Saloon in the City of Roses, Portland, OR, USA. There will be fireworks.