David Moore – “A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule”

A proper guitar record with a big heart, “A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule” hits like a genuine labor of love. Built around the songwriting and spirit of the late James Masters Patterson, David Moore pulled together a hell of a lineup to bring these tracks across the finish line. You can hear the care poured into every single bar.

Looking at the framed mule artwork on the cover, you get an immediate sense of the grounded, earth-toned style waiting inside. Down-home roots meet top-tier musicianship right from the opening track and speaking of musicianship, the playing across all thirteen numbers is ridiculously tight. Jay Michael Smith handles guitar duties alongside Brian Patterson on bass, while voices like Ralph Galetti, Abbie McKinney, Fred Sullivan, and Jackie Dwire give each song its own distinct flavor. Legendary engineer Stuart Epps even jumped in to help shape the sound, giving the whole project a crisp, classic polish without losing its raw, living soul.

“Mysteries Of Life” stands out as an absolute favorite. The guitar work on that track captures Jim Patterson’s signature style so closely that it feels like a ghost playing in the room, creating an unbelievable tribute to his memory. Another personal highlight is “Love Is The Victory”, which brings a massive, soaring energy to the back half of the record with its co-production work.

What makes the whole thing work so well is how natural it sounds despite being pieced together across Dallas, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, and the UK. Moore spent nearly two years rebuilding drum parts note by note from older recordings to keep everything authentic, and that dedication pays off in every groove. It never sounds pieced together or distant. It sounds like a band locking in together in a room, celebrating a lost brother through pure music.

Definitely check out David Moore’s previous releases if you want to trace how this sound developed over time. Make sure to follow David Moore and Westridge to stay updated on what they have coming up for the rest of this year.