Artist of the Week: Moonshine Bandits

Out Of The Darkness, Shines the Moonshine Bandits, To Light The Way.

The Moonshine Bandits get their name from their deep  family roots running illegal booze during prohibition.  This all took place in Northern California during the years of the Great Depression. Now the Moonshine Bandits have their own actual 99 Proof "Outlaw Moonshine" Spirit which was set to hit liquor and grocery stores legally in 2011 and it is produced by Valley Spirits Distillery in California.  Now the Moonshine Bandits are not only known for their liquor  but also for an amazing lyrical talent that has put them in the midst of such great musicians as Tech N9ne, Rehab, Vanilla Ice, Kottonmouth Kings, Tragedy 503,  E-40, Twiztid, Haystak, , The Expendables, and many more. One of the most amazing honors and opportunities requested of these talented guys was when they received a phone call from the United States Military to perform at Fort Irwin, CA. The Moonshine Bandits performed on July 4, 2010 at the Fort Irwin Military Base located in the Mojave Desert for thousands of our U.S. Troops. They were able to give our troops a much needed release and a performance worthy our men and women of honor.

The first time I had ever heard about the Moonshine bandits was back in the early 2000's when they contacted Tragedy 503 and requested him to be a part of their Whiteboyz In The Game compilation (featuring mainly white rappers and artists) in the industry, also known as the underdogs (in an industry like this, we'll just accept that as most truth). This record was in no way meant to be any sort of a race recognition or to say that any race was better then another, but to give some people who are usually known to be underrated in the industry the chance to show some talent. I am not sure how the CD did in the end, but I do own a copy and I think that the concept may have been flawed looking back now, but the idea was of good heart at the time.

The Moonshine Bandits have come out with their fair share of CD's these past years, moving up with hard work and determination to be a part of SubNoize's amazing lineup. Some of those great features are Divebars and Truckstops (Which features one of my favorite songs "Fists and Jager") , Prohibition,  Soggy Crackers, and theirs newest album to drop Whiskey and Women. The Moonshine Bandits recently hit up the Seattle are doing a tour with Rehab called United Shiners of America USA Tour. The show featured stops all across the US. The boyz just recently hit back home in Cali and from their Facebook status updates are grateful for the experience, but even more grateful for a moment home and with family. 

The Moonshine Bandits look like really fun and interesting guys, but they are quite the enigma of a group. Don't get me wrong, they are fun, great to watch live, and have an amazing gimmick going on, but how did this come about? Cowboy rappers from Cali? Was this part of a great game of truth or dare that went very wrong? "Hey truth or dare".."Dare dude...okay I dare you to start a rap group (drunkin snickers) and do it looking like cowboys. " (Drunkin laughter erupts . "No way dude its not gonna happen...Ya I'm ma do it, I'm totally gonna do it. " Years later their friend stare sitting at home watching them on TV thinking to themselves, man I had no idea that they would do it, let alone be famous. Maybe you shouldn't have dared him to f*%$k my mom either that night asshole!! (insert funny sitcom sounds duh duh duhhhh).  So no matter how the idea got passed around, it worked. You can even find the Moonshine bandits songs featured on CMT of all places. 

Well the sun will only shine on the days that Moonshine bandits have left to offer us great music and great shows, and the moon will light there way to the stadiums filled with fans and cheering crowds. Like a photographer at night aiming for the best picture of the orange moon rings, I'm gonna shoot...on out of here and leave you to do the rest of the research yourself.