Last week, Roy Ira Moats and the Moats Dogs dropped their debut album “All Packed Up.” It was literally a moment 50 years in the making. Roy Moats, the songwriter who has spent the last few years building a presence on the local music scene in Southeastern Virginia, is 71. He has been playing and writing, and planning to make an album, since he was a teenager.
I know the story because — full disclosure — Roy Moats is my father. The album was produced by my brother Zach. But it’s a good story (don’t take my word for it, read about it here), with even better songs. There are decades of influences felt, ranging from early skiffle and Chicago blues, to the Beatles, Highway 61 Dylan and Steely Dan, to showtunes, Wilco and even Mel Brooks. As he says on the title track, “I’ve got a hundred different people in my head today.”
I’ve been listening to many of these songs my whole life. I’m glad everyone else has that chance now.
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