Moonshine Willy

Hometown: Chicago, IL

"Moonshine Willy's jagged bluegrass-rock is one of the best things to come out of the roots-rock revival of the '90s. Bandleader Kim Docter's distinctly un-traditional vocals and savagely cynical lyrics create a unique tension between country twang and big city sneer." --allmusic.com

Holding the dubious distinction of having the first single artist record on Bloodshot, Moonshine Willy were also the first Bloodshot band to start criss-crossing the country (in their RV—the Willybago) spreading the good word of our peculiar blending of punk and country.

Over the course of 3 LPs, 2 singles, and some compilation action, Moonshine Willy endeared themselves to the nascent "alt-country" scene with a whiz-bang melding of rockabilly rumble, bluegrass chicanary, and punk chutzpah. We always thought Kim Docter was one of the most consistently underrated songwriters in our humble little stable—songs with pathos and wordplay and hooks aplenty seemed to jump from her devilish brain. Original guitar player Nancy Rideout, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 2007, consistently amazed the crowds with her unschooled, but fiercely unique, guitar/mandolin/banjo fireworks. We also consider violinist Rachel to be the first Bloodshot sex symbol, and while bassist Mike Luke is always ranked in the top three of nicest people on the planet, we definitely liked having him on our side in bar fights. Mike and Kim have retired to raise their embarrassingly cute brood of children in the wilds of Santa Cruz, CA.

Compilation Tracks:

"Way Out West" on For of Life of Sin

"Roulette Wheel" on Hell-Bent

"Turn the Lights Down Low" (bluegrass version) on Down to the Promised Land

"Complicated Games," "George Set Me Strait," and "Alone" on Making Singles, Drinking Doubles