Burrito Deluxe - Fully Loaded

By Kelly Ann Monahan

Musically speaking, when you hear the real thing, you know it. You just may be surprised where you might find it. Like finding country music in Paris, for instance. Pardon? Yes, Paris. The Paris.

Burrito Deluxe - comprised of veteran performers - is the real thing. They kick off the European leg of their tour, which includes France, next month.

Frontman Carlton Moody - also known as the frontman for the Grammy-nominated group the Moody Brothers - has actually lived in France since the early '90s. But he's no stranger to Nashville and the states, having played everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to the White House during his Moody Brothers days. With Burrito Deluxe, he has played dates at popular Nashville venues including 3rd and Lindsley and 12th & Porter. Most recently, Burrito Deluxe celebrated the upcoming release of their new album Disciples Of The Truth for Luna Chica Records with a concert and DVD filming at production facility W274, also located in the Nashville area.

The album and DVD are scheduled for release later this summer, which will sell as a cd/dvd package. Produced by Greg Archilla (Matchbox 20, Santana, Neil Young), the new CD has already had its first single "Midnight At A Red Light" released in Europe.

When asked what his goals are for the record, Moody (who also plays guitar and mandolin in the group) says with a smile, "You mean other than sell a million records?" He laughs, "That's our first goal."

Also adding that he'd like to play more of Europe, he says, "We have no problem traveling thousands of miles to play music. That's why we're doing this, because we love to play."

His fondness for Europe is evident as he talks about some of his experiences there. "Europeans have a lot longer memory. They don't forget you as quickly."

The extensive musical resumes for each player of Burrito Deluxe are, in itself, hard to forget.

"Sneaky" Pete (retired in late 2005) - pedal steel guitar legend and co-founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers (with Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman and Chris Ethridge) - helped come up with the idea of Burrito Deluxe in 2000. The name came from the title of the Flying Burrito Brothers' album in 1970. Since then, Burrito Deluxe has recorded two critically-acclaimed albums: 2002's Georgia Peach, a tribute to Gram Parsons; and 2004's The Whole Enchilada.

Walter Egan - who plays electric guitar for the band and is a heck of a singer in his own right - brings more of the pop and rock influence to the group. He is well-known for his million-selling single "Magnet and Steel" in 1978 (co-produced by Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac). Having performed with everyone from Jackson Browne to Linda Rondstadt, fellow band mate Moody describes Egan as "the primary songwriter" of their band.

Playing piano for Burrito Deluxe is Richard Bell. With a rock 'n' roll background and classical training, he has worked with many artists including Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. He played on Janis Joplin's last album Pearl, and performed as a member of The Band for Bob Dylan's 20th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden.

And then there's bass player and vocalist Jeff "Stick" Davis, with a background mainly in blues and rock. A founding member of the Grammy award-winning group the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Davis has worked with a variety of high-profile artists as well, including B.B. King.

The final member of the group is drummer Bryan Owings, who has made Nashville his home longer than any other member of the band: since the late '80s. His background in rootsy rock 'n' roll, he played with Davis in the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and has also kept the beat for everyone from Delbert McClinton to Shelby Lynne.

As a whole, Burrito Deluxe assembles on stage as a group of high-class, seasoned performers with incredible musical chops and backgrounds. Call it country roots. Call it rock roots. Call it good music.

Their new release proves to have its share of hits as well, most notably the memorable "Wichita." And while the core members of the band will always stay the same, different players can be found on the stage with them along the way

From Nashville…to Paris. Ah, back to Paris. C'est magnifique.

It all began there for frontman baritone Carlton Moody when Disney called his agent and offered him work there for a year in the early '90s (he had already achieved Page 3 - Music News Nashville

international success at this point with the Moody Brothers). Disney ended up offering him a job as producer and music director for Disneyland Paris. He has lived there with his wife and two children (a son who is 14, a daughter who is 12) ever since. And he has loved every minute of it.

Paris, though, is a long way from where he grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Raised on Appalachian music and with influences that span the board from bluegrass to traditional country (early Buck Owens) and California-style country, he's the only Moody Brother to live outside of North Carolina; his one brother runs a record label and sound studio there, his other brother runs a music store.

But Carlton Moody is the brother who gets to have the best of both worlds. He gets to do music for a living, and get to live in an unrushed world in which most people today do not exist. When asked what his long-term plans are, he says pleasantly unconcerned, "Whatever the next song is."

Perhaps that way of thinking comes with years of experience in the high-pressure industry. Perhaps it is also why he likes Paris so much.

"It's a slower way of life there. The way of life is more appealing," he says about the French.

He adds, "I think they get it. That's the way you have to live. They don't worry about making all this money. I don't live there because I have to."

Moody goes on to say that he will also continue to work on producing other projects, in addition to playing with Burrito Deluxe. Excited about the band's new album, he enjoys his time in Nashville very much. What is equally evident, though, is that he is looking forward to getting back to his wife and two children, in a place where living has a little more life to it.

An unassuming, easygoing kind of guy, he is the kind of cool musician you can sit down with, shoot the breeze with and grab a burger.

And for optimum taste, add an order of french fries.