Hey Nashvegas!

Hey, Nashvegas!

Dayton's Doin' It His Way

Track List

1	Hey Nashvegas!
2	Never Started Living
3	Date With The Angels
4	I Dream Too
5	Heartbreak California
6	Wayward Soul
7	Don't Take Yesterday
8	Panhandle Jane
9	Mama's Guilty Fool
10	Letter To Home
11	Never Been Too Good At Goodbyes
12	One Life Stand
13	Roses Ain't Enough

Jesse Dayton came recommended to me as "good as Dale Watson." With this high praise, I didn't hesitate when I was browsing through the country CDs and happened on his newest release, "Hey, Nashvegas!" in the stacks. I picked it up and brought it home, although my initial reaction when I flipped the case over and saw the photo on the back was "What is he, 20 years old?" But I trusted my source, so I didn't bypass a young face, although I will admit my fear of many young-looking singers these days. Besides, there was a look in his eyes that told me he wasn't as young as he looked, and he might just have a little savvy.

Savvy, indeed. Jesse Dayton knows how to craft a song, from words on
paper to performance. The thirteen tracks on "Hey Nashvegas!" are all
self-penned, except for "Heartbreak California," which was co-written with the marvelous Rosie Flores. Indeed, Rosie isn't the only one joining Jesse here. Floyd Domino plays piano for Jesse; Flaco Jimenez adds his incomparable accordion for a couple of southern Tex-Mex numbers, Mandy Barnett adds her brilliant vocals to the title track and "Don't Take Yesterday," and even the Dixie Chicks come on board for the swinging "Panhandle Jane." On his website (www.jessedayton.com ), he also credits Jim Lauderdale with backup vocals, although Jim isn't mentioned in the actual liner notes.

If there is a problem with the overall album is a slight unevenness.
Jesse's songs are a rich mix of strong Texas honky-tonk swing and true
"alt-country;" his sharp and clever lyrics are somewhat reminiscent of
Charlie Robison's bitter-sweet wordcraft. Song by song, we move from the hard-driving title track, where he pleads his case to Nashville, "Yes I've blown some deals for keeping it real, and I ain't so sure if Waylon
would've done it this way," to the more plaintive real country love ballad, "Never Started Living (Until I Started Loving You)." Then "Date With the Angels" has an alternative sound, some strong drumming, and crisp lyrics.

"Hang on, L.A., don't fall off into the sea. I got a date with the city of
angels, tell my mama them angels they'll watch over me." It's a story
song, a little Dylanesque (Robisonesque, perhaps), and one of my favorites.

The rest of the disc is much the same; he jumps from style to style
probably just to show he can. But it's a minor gripe, and one easily
overlooked, since every individual song is just so danged good. Other
favorites are "Wayward Soul," the plaintive "Don't Take Yesterday," the
swinging "Panhandle Jane," and the beautiful "Letter to Home." Jesse has a delivery like a velvet-covered razor. Smooth, soft, and rich, but watch out for that edge, because it can cut!

But Jesse's sardonic edge is neither angry nor self-mocking; it's a straightforward demand to be taken as he is. A visit to Jesse's website since February 13 shows a picture of him with Waylon Jennings, and gives a simple tribute: he's grateful he ever had a chance to work with Jennings.

And although there's no great similarity in Jesse's music to Waylon's,
there is a similarity in attitude and presentation. Jesse does what he
wants, he does it his way, and basically says to hell with anyone who
doesn't like it. Fortunately, I like it. I had an opportunity to catch Jesse live here in Phoenix, and unfortunately, my schedule got messed up, and I blew that chance. I hope he considers coming back through here soon, because the next time, I won't make that mistake. I like this album more and more every time I hear it, and I fully intend to get the rest of Jesse's catalog (all available at his website).

Kathy Coleman Take Country Back February 2002

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