Joe Ely Sings Moore’s Praises

When guitarist David Grissom left the Joe Ely Band to join John Mellencamp’s band in 1992, Ely tapped Ian Moore to take over the lead-guitar slot. Moore played on Ely’s “Love and Danger” album and tour, a gig that gave the then-23-year-old enough confidence to embark on a solo career.

In a recent phone interview, Ely--a heralded singer-songwriter of Tex-Mex, country, blues, and roots-rock--spoke like a proud parent about his fellow Texan:

* On Moore’s guitar playing: “He never really has to even think about technique because he’s been doing it since he was a kid. Hanging around the Austin scene . . . he and Charlie Sexton soaked in so much from Stevie Ray [Vaughan] and the [Fabulous] T-Birds. Ian plays intuitively and from the heart.”

* On Moore’s songwriting: “He’s part of the new generation of singer-songwriters that first shook things up back in ’80 or ’81. Ian comes from a blues base, but he’s developed a much broader scope of vision by mixing in the many different musical possibilities out there, instead of relying strictly on one genre.”

* On descriptions of Moore as “the next Stevie Ray Vaughan”: “He’s already shaken that [label]. . . . He took that big step on his last record [“Modern Folklore”]. As a musician, you take your influences so far, and then you step beyond them.”

* On his commitment: “He’s made all us Texans proud. Ian has an amazing sort of dedication, doesn’t take his work lightly and has this incredible sparkle in his eye. The kid’s definitely in it for the long run, and there will be guys that will follow him, no doubt.”