Moakler to make national television debut on NBC’s TODAY on Monday, March 27
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the heels of last Friday’s album release, Steel Town, nearly 10 years after moving to Nashville from ‘the steel city,’ singer/songwriter Steve Moakler is not only celebrating a new album but also a music video for his current single “Wheels” exclusively on all CMT platforms. The video, directed by Reid Long (ACM Video of the Year winner for Eric Church’s “Mr. Misunderstood”), follows the storyline of the single, inspired by the simplicities and complexities of the wheels that carry us through life. “Wheels,” written by Moakler, Gordie Sampson and Caitlyn Smith, is his third single at SiriusXM’s “The Highway.” Check out the video here.
Filmed just miles from Music Row in East Nashville, the backdrop is an antique automobile repair shop Moakler passes night after night –whether coming home from a tour stop or a co-write. Moakler felt this location was a fitting setting for the song that he calls the “crux” of the album because it blends old with new, which Moakler believes is a central theme of Steel Town.
“‘Wheels’ is a song about life, the passage of time, how it feels and hurts,” Moakler told Taste of Country. “It’s a dose of something new, and I’ve always wanted to write a song like that. My real heart is getting to tell a story lyrically that connects universally. That is tough to do….I feel like it’s a scenario everyone can put themselves in.”
All Access has already placed Steel Town on its “The Year’s Best Albums (So Far)” list, calling the LP, “song-driven, but sonically flexible enough to appeal to transplanted rock fans, or thematically traditional fans, too.”
On Monday, March 27, Moakler will make his national television debut, performing his SiriusXM “The Highway” hit, “Wheels” on the fourth hour of NBC’s Today show. The good-timing “breakthrough hit” (Taste of Country) from Steel Town was written by Cary Barlowe, Moakler and Gordie Sampson, and “could be – should be – a contender for song of the summer” (All Access).
Last weekend, Moakler kicked off his headlining Highway Finds Tour with stops in Charlotte, North Carolina; Rome, Georgia and Bowling Green, Kentucky. The inaugural Highway Finds Tour is presented by SiriusXM and Live Nation, and will bring Moakler’s live show across the country with stops in Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New York and more.
Moakler first established his foothold as a songwriter with cuts by Ashley Monroe, Jake Owen, Ben Rector and Dierks Bentley (“Riser” and “Mardi Gras” ) has been called an “in-demand artist” by Taste of Country, and has earned recognition by more than 20 outlets as an “artist to watch,” including CMT, Huffington Post, Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country and more. For more information about his upcoming album and tour, visit stevemoakler.com.
Highway Finds Tour dates are as follows:
Wed., March 22 Cleveland, Ohio House of Blues
Thurs., March 23 Detroit, Mich. The Shelter
Fri., March 24 Warrendale, Pa. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Sat., March 25 Lancaster, Pa. Chameleon Club
Wed., April 5 Knoxville, Tenn. The Concourse
Thurs., April 6 Chattanooga, Tenn. Revelry Room
Fri., April 7 Tifton, Ga. The Gin
Thurs., April 13 Austin, Texas Antone’s
Fri., April 14 Houston, Texas House of Blues
Sat., April 15 Dallas, Texas House of Blues
Fri., April 21 Columbia, Mo. Rose Music Hall
Sat., April 22 Omaha, Neb. Bourbon Saloon Omaha
Sun., April 23 Denver, Colo. Marquis Theater
Thurs., May 4 Springfield, Ill. Boondocks
Fri., May 5 Minneapolis, Minn. Triple Rock
Sat., May 6 Madison, Wisc. High Noon Saloon
Wed., May 10 Asbury Park, N.J. The Wonderbar
Thurs., May 11 Boston, Mass. Brighton Music Hall
Fri., May 12 New York, N.Y. Gramercy Theatre
Sat., May 13 Philadelphia, Pa. The Foundry
Thurs., May 18 Nashville, Tenn. Cannery Ballroom
Fri., May 19 Louisville, Kent. Baxter’s 942
Sat., May 20 Chicago, Ill. Joe’s on Weed Street