Before we get in to the thick of the amazingly crafted (The Life And Times Of ) Johnny Moonshine, from Dirt Road Souls , we just want to acknowledge how lucky we are to be alive and into music when a band like Dirt Road Souls are around. Maybe not today , maybe not tomorrow, but trust us you are going to find yourself reflecting about this treasure trove of an album for a long time.

You can listen to ( The Life And Times Of) Johnny Moonshine Here.

Having the word “Souls” in their band name is appropriate because this album is dripping of soul from start to finish.

Dirt Road Souls have their own tale to tell, and it’s one with a deliberately uncertain sense of reality and a timeline that stretches back to when our ancestors ruled the roads. It’s the story of Johnny Moonshine, the type of reckless Midwestern rebel we all once knew, and the type of kid we, at one point, at least, always wanted to be. 

The titular character now finally gets his flowers, and the excesses of his legend are brought into the modern-day through the Boston-based Americana trio’s ambitious and eclectic roots rock opera (The Life and Times of) Johnny Moonshine, out today (Friday, April 3)  

The release party, where we all join to raise a whiskey glass to Moonshine’s lost legacy, goes down Saturday, April 18 at The Midway Cafe for a matinee soiree in Jamaica Plain featuring Three At Home, Elisa Smith, Erin Bonnie. 

Dirt Road Souls, a new band composed of Boston music scene veterans Davis Black (vocals and guitar), Rick Weden (drums), and Brian Sargent (upright bass, vocals, and mandolin), tell the epic tale of Johnny Moonshine, like only they can.

Across 12 tracks, each with its own chapter and personality, the legend of Moonshine unfurls as a poetic odyssey of freedom, failure, and attempts at vindication, all wrapped around the Boston trio’s knack for yearning Americana, melodic country rock, story-based Southern gothic, and even some ‘50s-era Sun Studio vibes permeating through. 

Every song hits like a favorite distilled beverage, the next one a little more powerful than the last.

“Johnny always stays a step ahead of the law and in a short time he’s attained near-legendary status,” Black adds. “A smart kid, who could succeed at anything he wanted, dreams of a life in New Orleans making the myths on the casino boats. His girl Jenny has other plans. What follows are tales of bad decisions, consequences and ultimately a chance at redemption.”

We found ourselves immediately drawn by the first track, “Johnny Moonshine “ not only does it serve as an introduction to the story , it really shines the spotlight on what a phenomenal group, Dirt Road Souls truly are. The single, “Next To You “ is probably one of our favorite songs on the planet right now , the groove is almost mythical.

We love the pace and throwback feel of “Dreams “ the vocals are full of emotion and perfection.

To pick a favorite among this sensational group of songs is nearly impossible. However, the one that really stood out to us was “Going Away” we couldn’t get enough of it .

After listening to (The Life And Times Of ) Johnny Moonshine, from Dirt Road Souls, we believe our ears have experienced musical greatness.