Jesse Dayton - "Live in Las Vegas Bootleg"

I make it an effort to get out and see Jesse Dayton, if I can, whenever he comes to Phoenix.  There are a couple of reasons for this, the first of which is he puts on one hell of a good show:  just the other night as I sat in the smoky familiarity of the Rhythm Room with a longneck in front of me, grooving to Jesse's powerful guitar licks, something struck me.  Why is it, I thought, that Brad Paisley is "Superstar" while Jesse Dayton is playing to small rooms and honky-tonks?  There's quite a few similarities (if one will lay down the typical Nashville prejudices for a few moments and be objective):  Both are young, good-looking men; both are powerful guitar players, with the ability to make a Telecaster sing, weep, or wail; both are good singers with a firm grasp of traditional country and honky-tonk.  In my opinion, Jesse is by far the better singer, and he's very likely the better player, too.  Taking nothing away from Paisley, Jesse Dayton has a tremendous amount of soul in his playing that Nashville has washed out of Paisley, occasionally giving him the feel of acid washed jeans left far too long in the acid (I'll admit this is strongest in the tracks which have been released to mainstream radio; on album cuts, Paisley can shine through the overproduction; but one weak track is too many when there are greats out there not pandering to Gnashville).        

So.  Jesse Dayton is an abso-friggin'-lutely awesome guitar slinger (he's played for Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, as well as many others); he's a singer with a platinum voice; a songwriter of consummate skill, with a true skill for clever wordplay and tricky tunes; and he's a damned fine-looking fella, to boot.  So what IS the difference?  What is it about the music biz today that allows one and not the other to make it "big"?        

Some of it is quite likely Jesse's inflexible sense of self-worth.  Texas pride comes in great barrels with this fellow, and it's clear from his songs and his attitude on stage he's not going to compromise one whit on his music or his musical vision to please anyone, nor is he going to change his "rough and rowdy ways" to suit some suit.  This self-proclaimed "Tall-Walkin' Texas Trash" doesn't cater to anyone's whitewashed views of the world.  When on stage Jesse Dayton likes to sling back stiff shots of Jim Beam and chase 'em with a good pint of draft.  He smokes (and more than just the over-the-counter brands of tobacco).  In this surpassingly soft and "politically correct" America, with its increasingly Victorian hypocritical morals, where one might have vices but should never openly discuss or display them, Jesse Dayton is truly a rebel.  He doesn't care what people think about what he does.  If they like him, great.  If not, screw 'em.

It's an attitude that may not have won him a place in the Nashville noise machine, but it sure does make for some loyal fans on the road. To add to that rebel attitude, Jesse is selling his own bootleg disc, recorded live in Las Vegas and released in a plain white cover with just a few credits stuck on it.        

This disc only has 7 tracks on it, which cuts it down considerable from Jesse's ordinary live shows, but they are some of his best live performances, including the hilarious and fun "Dope Smoking Song," which may make the hippies and punkers who follow Jesse and his band happy, but also pays tribute, tongue firmly in cheek, to Jesse's heroes of country, including Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Johnny Cash.        

This bootleg disc is also the only place, outside of Jesse's live show,  to hear "Tall Walkin' Texas Trash," and "Jesus Pick Me Up."  You also get live versions of the wonderful "One Years, Three Months, A Week To The Day," "Arkansas Chrome (Duct Tape Song)," and the heartbreaking "Old Faithful."  At ten bucks (available at www.jessedayton.com ), it's more than worth the price; especially if you've never had the chance to check Jesse out in person.  With nothing but his own amazing Telecaster, Charlie Sanders on bass and backup vocals, Eric Tucker on drums, and Brian Thomas handling steel guitar, banjo, and backup vocals, Jesse Dayton can really lay down the "wow" on a live show.  This disc will let folks know what they're missin' if they don't check him out when he swings by (his tour dates are also on his web site).  There's no liner notes, no jewel case, no pictures; just music.

Jesse Dayton is rockabilly Texas-style, honky-tonk in the grand tradition of honky-tonkers, delighted to be a drinkin', smokin', and dancin' fool.  It's a winner.

Kathy Coleman Take Country Back January 2003