Tulsa, Oklahoma native John Moreland is a songwriter’s songwriter, a man who is compelled to write. As a result, he writes a ton of great songs, consistently, at that. These songs reflect the folk and roots influences of his father who taught him to play guitar. At the same time, the songs also have a punk and rock edge to them as he grew up playing in bands from those genres. His most recent release In The Throes has started to attract some national attention, and American Songwriter calls Moreland “a grand secret waiting to be uncovered.”
Moreland has an incredible knack for capturing the significance of everyday events that make us human. Without the distraction of elaborate arrangements or flowery language, Moreland gets to the thick of what is really important to regular folks in a way that will endear him immediately to fans of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams and Jason Isbell.
Moreland’s recent local shows have become something of a legend, often spilling over outside the venue where he continues to entertain his rapt audience well after the actual gig is over. The most refreshing thing about this is that there are still artists who write songs out of necessity, recognizing the importance of connecting directly with their audience. Not because they want to be cool or famous, but simply because they have to.
