Friday, March 16   9:30 p.m.
Jovita's   (1617 S 1st St)

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  Jesse Dayton - "Loretta"
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Jesse Dayton's brand of country music has been labeled "turbo country", a nod to his rockabilly roots with the Road Kings and the Alamo Jets. Dayton was raised on a diet of blues, cajun and punk, but graduated into full-flown rockabilly with the Road Kings, the outfit he formed in the late 80s with friends Eric Tucker (drums) and Jason Burns (bass). The trio built up a sterling reputation on the club scene with their frenetic East Texas strain of rockabilly, touring extensively up and down the country and recording a number of self-released records. Although the Road Kings never disbanded, Dayton began to expand his horizons at the start of the 90s by forming alt-country outfit the Alamo Jets. with Craig Pettigrew (bass), Brian Thomas (steel guitar) and Tom Lewis (drums). He signed to Texas-based independent label Justice Records for the release of his solo debut Raisin' Cain in 1995. On the strength of a number of positive reviews for his solo debut, Dayton was hired for live and studio work by country luminaries George Strait, Waylon Jennings and Ray Price.

Dayton recorded a second album for Justice, but a parting of the ways meant the project was shelved. He relocated to Los Angeles and recorded a new album with the Road Kings, but after completing an international tour with the band Dayton moved on once again, this time to Austin. Inspired by the city's songwriting scene Dayton recorded and released Tall Texas Tales in 2000. The self-financed recording enjoyed some success on the internet and prompted Dayton to form his own Stag Records label. The label's first release was Dayton's shelved Justice album, Hey Nashvegas!, a classic country set recorded in Nashville with musicians including Fats Domino, Jim Lauderdale and the Dixie Chicks. His 2004 album, Country Soul Brother, was an effective distillation of honky-tonk, rockabilly, soul and folk and even included an unlikely cover version of the Cars' "Just What I Needed".

The following year Dayton was contacted by Rob Zombie to write and record songs for his new horror movie, The Devil's Rejects. The songs from the soundtrack, released on the faux greatest hits album Banjo & Sullivan: The Ultimate Collection 1972-1978, feature Jesse and his road band playing JD originals including honky-tonk delights such as "I'm Home Getting Hammered While She's Out Getting Nailed", "I'm Tryin' To Quit But I Just Quit Tryin'" and "Dick Soup".

Dayton’s latest release, “South Austin Sessions” (released March 7, 2006) draws a nod to some of his influences including Townes Van Zandt, Waylon Jennings, Jim Lauderdale and ZZ Top. He says it’s “one for the fans” and includes live show highlights such as “Mexican Blackbird”, “Why Do I Love You”, and “Loretta.”