John Moreland: Staying High On Tulsa Heat

SLUG: A few years back you provided three songs for the television show Sons Of Anarchy: “Heaven,” “Gospel” and “Your Spell.” Will we see more of this? Do you like for your songs drive the narrative in mediums like television and film?
Moreland: Yeah, I definitely would take some more of that if it came my way. Nothing in the works right now, but maybe that will happen a couple more times in the future.

SLUG: Recently you were on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. What was that experience like?
Moreland: It was awesome! It was really a positive, all-around enjoyable experience.

SLUG: I believe the perfect Moreland song is “Break My Heart Sweetly” from In The Throes. The lyrics are gut-wrenching. You sing on that song about a scar on your soul—that scar must get ripped open and bled out every night. As great as the song is, how much does it take out of you performing it night after night? How do you unwind after a show?
Moreland: It’s a little bit exhausting. I don’t really think about it at the time, I just kinda do it—but then afterwards, it’s definitely like I just kinda need to chill for a little bit.

SLUG: Are there nights you want to shake your audience up by suddenly covering “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina And The Waves?
Moreland: No!

SLUG: You talk about church, being a punk and Southern Baptist guilt as major themes in your music—things that have stuck to you from childhood. Will these themes always be with you? As a songwriter do you hope that they never go away?
Moreland: I thought I would have been done writing or caring about that stuff by now but I’m not. I don’t really think about it in my day-to-day life—[I use these themes] still mainly just to come up with songs.

SLUG: Was there a difference in recording High On Tulsa Heat compared to your earlier records? Does it get easier, or does the pressure build?
Moreland: I guess there was a little bit of pressure. I just tried to ignore it and just make a record I liked.

SLUG: Your music is full of heartache, pain and loss. I recently read what brings happiness, joy and sunshine in your life: The Cincinnati Reds. How excited are you for opening day?
Moreland: Man, I’m pretty excited! I’ve been so busy touring I didn’t realize [it was] getting close to baseball season. Thinking about pitchers and catchers reporting the other day—oh, yeah!

SLUG: Do you get to catch any games with your grueling touring schedule?
Moreland: When I was a kid we lived across the river in Kentucky. We’d go to three or four games every summer. Haven’t seen many games since moving away. Now I don’t have much control of my schedule, but back when I was booking my own I always thought it would be cool to book a tour around baseball games you wanted to see.

SLUG: Who is your all time favorite Cincinnati Red? And why?
Moreland: Probably Barry Larkin. It was my era when I was growing up there. He was my dude!

Once again come see John Moreland slay the crowd with his heartbreak and soul on Friday March 4, at 8 p.m. with opener Lilly Hiatt.