Jesse Dayton

The Revealer

(Blue Elan records)

There is much debate these days as to what is “Real Country music,” but there is no doubt when you hear Texas guitarist, singer/songwriter Jesse Dayton on his new album, The Revealer, released in September of 2016 that he is “The Real Deal.” Dayton won his bonafide stature doing time as lead guitarist for Waylon Jennings, with Kris Kristofferson & his hero Glen Campbell, but it is his songwriting skills that cement his real country status. Dayton draws from the well of truth being stranger than fiction and shares stores of family, friends, fighting and hard luck love with keen lyrical wit that draws you in to his world of bigger than life honky-tonk characters and real folk charm. The twelve new tracks were immaculately recorded in Houston at the Gulf Coast’s hit factory, Sugar Hill Studios, and puts’ Dayton’s considerable talent on full display as he plays guitar, bass, percussion, and keys, as well as singing his own harmonies.

Opening track ‘Daddy Was A Badass,’ is set to become an Out Law Country classic with it’s larger than life account of the life of a man from ‘The Greatest Generation.” Dayton channels Jerry Lee on the piano fueled blaster ‘Holy Ghost Rock N Roller, ‘and then plays the role of Waylon and every working band leader declaring “We can’t help,” ‘The Way We Are.’ Beth Chrisman add color on her fiddle to the dark two-step ‘Eatin’ Crow And Drinkin’ Sand,’ giving way to one of Dayton’s gritty guitar solos over a tom driven bridge. The tale of musical epiphany ‘Possum Ran Over My Grave,’ attempts to explain how Country got in Dayton’s soul, but the message could apply to any art that fills one spirit with awe.  The acoustic ballad ‘Mrs. Victoria’ (Beautiful Thing) tugs at your heart with Dayton picking a resonator guitar and recanting the life of the maid who became a part of the family and selflessly gave her love to a young boy. The gears shift to hoot n holler dance floor hijinks for ‘3 Pecker Goat,’ pushing the limits of down home vernacular over a driving boot scootin’ boogie. Austin songbird Brennan Leigh joins Dayton for Country Cosmopolitan throwback duet ‘Match Made In Heaven.’ Some seriously hot picking highlights the pathos party song ‘I’m Home Getting Hammered,” and ‘Never Started Livin’ is a true blue country ballad about real love, although we are left to wonder if Dayton is singing about a girl or his guitar.

Jesse dayton On tour w/The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and the Supersuckers:

FRI OCT 7 – Englewood, CO, Gothic Theater

SAT OCT 8  – Salt Lake City, UT, Urban Lounge

SUN OCT 9- Boise, ID, Neurolux

THR OCT 13 – Bellingham, WA, The Green Frog

FRI OCT 14 – Seattle, WA, Tractor Tavern

SAT OCT 15 – Portland, OR, Dante’s

SUN OCT 16 – Bend, OR, Volcanic Theatre Pub

TUE OCT 18 – Sacramento, CA, Goldfield Trading Post

WED OCT 19 – San Francisco, CA, Bottom Of The Hill

THR OCT 20 – Petaluma, CA, Mystic Theatre

FRI OCT 21 – San Jose, CA, The Ritz

SAT OCT 22 – San Luis Obispo, CA, Slo Brewing Co

MON OCT 24 – Los Angeles, CA, Echoplex

TUE OCT 25 – Las Vegas, NV, Backstage Bar

THR OCT 27- San Diego, CA, The Casbah

SAT OCT 29 – Phoenix, AZ, Valley Bar

SUN OCT 30 – Tucson, AZ Club Congress

WED NOV 2 – San Antonio, TX, Sam’s Burger Joint

THR NOV 3 – Dallas, TX, Gas Monkey

FRI NOV 4 – Austin, TX, Antone’s

SAT NOV 5 – Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s

SUN NOV 6  – New Orleans, LA Tipitina’s

MON NOV 14 – Atlanta, GA, Masquerade Hell Stage

TUE NOV 15 – Athens, GA, 40 Watt

WED NOV 16 – Asheville, NC, Asheville Music Hall

THR NOV 17 – Carrboro, NC, Cat’s Cradle

SAT NOV 19 – Philadelphia, PA, Milkboy

SUN NOV 20 – Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Sound Stage

Rick J Bowen