JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Most know him as Mayor, though many also know Pete Muldoon as a party deejay or as frontman for several different bands over the years—Dark Cheddar, The Foundation, Ghost Rider, and currently as a member of The Deadlocks and frontman of outlaw country six-piece Major Zephyr. Take everything you know about those projects and forget what they sound like because Muldoon’s debut album, The Descent, presents a distinct soundscape and vibe of its own. [Scroll down to stream the album].
A piano-based singer-songwriter album of original material, the eight-song set broaches the subjects of love lost, distant love, loneliness and the complexities of relationships. It’s a humanizing set from a local political figure, though more noteworthy, it’s a creative diversion from the mandatory dance band music that has shaped many of Muldoon’s (and most bar-gigging bands’) setlists at local venues. It’s the music that he wanted to make, on his own terms, and is the first recorded music he has released from any of his projects.
“I finally felt like I turned a corner with songwriting,” Muldoon explained. “The lyrics come from more of an intellectual place than an emotional one, so there wasn’t one moment in particular [that I drew inspiration from]. I needed to do something different and knew that these would never be Major Zephyr songs. They’d probably boo us off stage because it’s not what they’re expecting (laughs). It’s also not as fun to write for a specific venue or band lineup as this project was. I spent a lot of time on arranging and making the language interesting, and am pretty happy with how the songs turned out.”
The album was co-produced and engineered by Shawn Fleming, who also contributed drums. Other studio musicians include Major Zephyr bandmates Ted Wells (pedal steel) and Jeff Eidmiller (guitar), as well as Dusty Nichols (guitar) and Leif Routman (bass) from Canyon Kids.
“Shawn deserves a lot of credit for conveying my vision into musical ideas,” Muldoon said. “He really brought the songs to life and the majority of the arrangement choices were his, though it sounds how I want it to sound. I think we share the same dark aesthetic.”
The Descent was released on streaming platforms last July, and physical copies are available at CDBaby.com. Muldoon has already started pre-production for his second album.
