Dirt Road Smugglers- A Few Different Incarnations (Rising Musicians & Band)

Edition Sixteen-Week Sixteen:

By: Mercedes Barreto // Photography By: Joe Mack’s Event Photography

What is the outlook on Americana music when it comes to The Dirt Road Smugglers? Is there something we have missed? Don’t miss another song, event, or performance considering this band is incredibly unique and worth the trip! We talk with the band’s lead singer and songwriter, Hugh Ochoa, in this guided yet informative rising talent article.

What do Americana and rock music mean to you? What is a source of ultimate inspiration?

“When most people hear the term “Americana,” they have a particular and limited view of what it is. They usually think of rustic folk music played on old-fashioned instruments. To me, it just means music that captures the American spirit. The struggle to survive and prosper. I tend to focus on the hardships of the early western migration, the dustbowl era, the great depression, and the civil war eras because they were so critical in our history. They developed our current existence in many ways. I try not to constantly dwell on the bad times all the time. I focus on some of the good times as well. The, as I like to call them, “Little House On The Prairie” kind of moments. Being a Gemini, I find that I really only write in extreme highs and extreme lows. Very rarely during normal times.

I get inspiration from lots of different bands too. The classics like Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, CCR, and the early Eagles. And from bluegrass and gospel stuff like The Petersens and Doc Watson. Also, John Prine, He’s a huge influence on me. I like anything that has feelings in it. That tells a story.”

How did the band get together and form itself? Why and how so?

“I started a band about 15-16 years ago to promote my original music, but somehow it got derailed into a cover band. We had a great time playing out, but I eventually needed to get my original stuff going. So, I was trying to work on some originals for the cover band. And they always went over well. But it wasn’t the same. Eventually, that band broke up, and it freed me up to concentrate on my originals.

I had planned to record an album and then put the band together. I had a friend who hung out here in my studio a bit, and I had jokingly tossed out the name The Dirt Road Smugglers. I thought it had a cool country, southern feel. I was always a fan of old-school Country and Southern Rock.

So in the middle of recording some of the tracks on the album, I was cleaning out some of the old gear in the studio that wasn’t being used and just taking up space. So I put an ad in some of the social media marketplaces and got a reply from this drummer. He came over and took the stuff, and we started talking about my music. I played some of the demos from the songs, and he dug them.

We then got to talking about local musicians we knew. And it turned out we knew a lot of the same cats. I told him to come back next week, and we’ll jam. I didn’t tell him I invited a bass player friend he used to jam with years ago. Who I had also played with in several bands in the past. I didn’t tell the bassist who the drummer was, either. That day, they both walked in and were shocked to see each other. The Dirt Road Smugglers were born. We’ve been through a few different incarnations, but the root of that band is still intact.”

What is an objective for the band in terms of any obstacles faced in their musical journey? What is the band’s overall mission to accomplish?

“Of course, right now, it’s the Covid thing. That’s the biggest hurdle. We all worry about the worst-case scenarios. It’s still not done. I also see that most places are looking to hire single or duo acoustic acts. Very few venues are hiring full bands. So, it’s hard to get your foot in the door in many places.

Musically, I think that a band’s biggest obstacle is songwriting. I try very hard to write songs that say something, songs that move, have highs and lows, and songs that tell a story. That you will be humming or singing to yourself later after hearing it. Too many people just play or write a piece of music and ignore the song’s composition.

We hope to wrap the album up by the spring of 23 and start promoting it. And trying to get the name out there. We also already have more than enough material to do the second album, so we can start the second as soon as we get the first one out.”

If the band could play in front of 3 well-known music industry executives for 10 minutes, what would you play, and to who? Why so?

“I’d pick our three or four top songs, like The title track Under A Clear Blue Sky. Then Loser, Fade Away, and Now She’s Gone. Because those would have the most impact.

As far as to who? I don’t know of any industry execs, so I couldn’t give names if I had to. But I’d want it to be someone seriously interested in the band. I know that the business side of music is only interested in you if you make them money. I’m not naive about that, but it happens too often that artists sign with people who don’t care about them or their music, and it goes nowhere. Or even worse, they get totally ripped off. I’d rather make little or no money going with someone that will set the band in the right direction for the future.”

What is the highlight of 2022? What new music and news is in store for 2023?

“I think the highlight of 2022 was landing this current lineup. The violin/mandolin player Ron Vanduzer added a new dimension to the band. It’s been an absolute pleasure to play with him. Sometimes I start playing a song, and he comes in, and what he is playing sounds so magical that I get lost in it and forget to go in with the vocals.

The rhythm section of Al Buddington and David Poole is super fitting. These cats make it super easy to layer the melodic instruments and vocals.
I hear a lot of cats complain that they play covers primarily because their band wants to gig out more regularly. You definitely get gigs a lot more easily playing covers. So I am super thankful for these guys that like the music and have dedicated themselves to the project. It’s a true blessing.

Like I said, we have the album we are working on. And we are hoping to get that done by the spring of 2023. But In the meantime, we are constantly working on new material. The current album is called Under A Clear Blue Sky. We already have more than enough material to do a complete second album. So we are looking forward to getting that started.”

Where can we find your music, and why should we? What makes this acoustic Americana Rock band an absolutely unforgettable experience?

“We are just now beginning to release some clips from the album to promote and create a buzz. We aren’t releasing much until the album is ready for release. But people can look us up on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, for now, to keep current with the happenings. 

Here is a link to one of our latest works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEifLi7w6o

Why? That’s the million-dollar question. Anyone could do it if someone could quantify what makes a song or a band/artist particular, like it’s a formula.
I like to think that a band or artist has to have a little lightning in a bottle. Have the right chemistry to strike a chord in someone’s heart. Because that’s what songwriting is about. Causing an emotional response in someone. I’ve had one sentence or melody or even the way they sang one word or note that reeled me in. I think a lot of my songs do that. I try to write about actual human emotions and situations people can relate to.”

Anything to add here?

“The band is not your traditional Americana as most people may know it. Instead, it mixes Blues, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, Southern Rock, and Folk.
It’s a Unique sound. And we really hope you get a chance to listen to it.”

Questions For The Photographer:

What was the first word or detail that came to mind when you were photographing Dirt Road Smugglers? Why so?

“Authentic, these guys play music that could be called Americana. You get the idea from listening to them that they genuinely feel the music. They are from the Woodstock, NY, area, and their sound and look fit quite naturally.”

What is the highlight of this photoshoot, and does it resonate with Americana music? How so?

“The highlight has to be the look of the location. We shot the video and stills on a stage set in natural rock, and it was on diff tiers, the edges of the stage area trimmed in lights, and Hugh was set up in the front. The band and surroundings just seemed to naturally fit together.”