Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons 'Hey Kid'

Nashville – Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons have been playing together since 2009 but haven’t had a full-length record until now. Hey Kid is their debut record released via Vital Music. It’s awaited by a growing body of fans who have fed on their EPs and singles thus far. The band is led by multi-instrumentalist Angela Perley.

Her badass credentials include a voice like Grace Potter’s; a vintage dress collection to make any girl swoon; and skills on the Telecaster, electric violin, musical saw, Dobro, and who knows what else. Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons are from the geographically confused state of Ohio. (Is it mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, or the South?) Their music reflects a mix of American culture. Rowdy rock is fused with Americana, rockabilly, punk, and old school country. Hey Kid leans hardest on “rowdy.”

Perley’s voice isn’t perfect, but it’s fearless as she reaches into the cannon of blues-rock and recycles concepts and topics traditionally dominated by men: Leavin,’ especially on trains, racy women, desire, etc. The maniacal tempo and devil-may-care vocals make “Bad Reputation” sound like something Kings of Leon would have written in the early 2000s (before they dove into pop rock quicksand). Its punkish energy is tempered by a catchy melody and quality musicianship.

The album whole-heartedly adopts a huge, studio polished sound to complement Perley’s fearlessness. Perley and her Moons plugged in and turned up the acoustic sentiments on the band’s last release, 2012’s Nowhere Is Here.

Acoustic undertones still lurk, however. The melancholy Dobro is implied by a wailing electric guitar on the album bookends, “Athens” and its reprise. “Down and Drunk” will make you cry with only its acoustic guitar and Perley’s voice. Listening to her sing feels like walking in on someone’s sadness. It’s like Perley didn’t mean for this song to get recorded; it just happened one night while she was sitting alone on a bare floor, sad and drunk. This song is an anomaly amongst the rest of the album that bursts with the energy of late ‘60s rock n’ roll. That being said, Perley has a knack for melodies that would have fit in the country music scene in the ‘90s when Alan Jackson and Clint Black reigned with electric guitars and timeless songwriting.

Perley’s influences drift between decades, but she remains contemporary. Her strong will and confidence shine on Hey Kid. Not surprisingly, online reviews of her shows say that she takes her kick-ass energy to the stage. Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons are touring through Kentucky, Tennessee, and all over Ohio. If there ever was a reason to go to Ohio, this is it.

About
Latest Posts

Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!