Jesse Dayton - Dante's, Portland, OR - April 11, 2018

[Austin, TX] There was a poster for this show when Music&Ducks and I were at Dante’s a few weeks ago and Jesse Dayton’s name was sort of familiar to me but Scott H. Biram was an Austin legend as far back as when I first moved there (2001)—a little dip into nostalgia sounded good and it didn’t take much brow-beating to convince Music&Ducks to come along. Jesse played lead guitar and sang, this tidy, sarcastic-looking, rockabilly-looking guy did upright bass, and some guy was on drums. Jesse’s a talker. His songs told stories and he entertained the crowd with Hilarious interludes between each song. I don’t know if I was in a mood or just enjoying the general southern-ness of him, but I maybe enjoyed his ‘comedy’ more than his music. Country music has a real knack for not only telling a story but turning words cleverly—for instance, Jesse covered “I'm At Home Getting Hammered While She's Out Getting Nailed” (originally by Banjo & Sullivan, it turns out). I always remember the “I’m a Fly on the Windshield of Life.” Philosophers. He’s mainly a guitarist and it showed – silly skills. He ticked off the legends he’s played with… Waylon (Jennings), Glen (Campbell), Johnny (Cash), Willie (Nelson)—but even the non-Texans know the last two. He mentioned Jerry Reed too, whose sound I think is closest to Jesse’s sound, this sort of dancing outlaw country, almost disco-infused. He did this perfect little guitar demo of the two choices he had as a kid: Texas blues (Stevie Ray Vaughan, another Austin legend) or his style. I Hate Texas blues and so approved of his young choice. Coincidentally, Music&Ducks and I had just been discussing his passion for Bruce Springsteen (working-class icon) and my passion for disco. I developed a fondness for Jerry Reed maybe five years ago – I guess he’s famous for “Eastbound and Down” in the old movie Smokey and the Bandit. Jesse was all about the redneck working-class sensibility [blended with punk (handkerchief in back pocket), classic Austin all the way around]. He’s from Beaumont (7 generations), a Texas town so close to Lousiana it’s not clear that it’s not really a part of lawless-Lousiana—every story I’ve heard from people from Beaumont involves a whole lot of alcohol and DUIs. And this band drank more than I’ve seen a band drink in a long time. There were some interesting audience members too—like the lady with the GG Allin patch on her jacket. And the guy with the Supersuckers patch and a confederate flag just below it. Country + punk = scary racists. Sometimes. There was this weird clash of different verisons of ‘bros’ – this little group of frattish type Portlanders, or maybe partying bluegrassers, clustered at the front stage, who just didn’t quite know how to engage with the band—same for the band. Jesse’s story about his first concert was highly enjoyable. His daddy took him to see George Jones and he didn’t show… Jesse said his town was full of nice country people who don’t get too upset so everyone showed up again for George Jones’ make-up concert. Didn’t show again. And someone finally came on stage and told the crowd George was passed out drunk in his trailer. So his daddy told him: “Son, that’s country music.” Jesse concluded that that’s why he just can’t take bands like Motley Crue as “bad boys” seriously. His song “Possum Ran Over My Grave” is about this terrible incident. Also hilarious because I literally dealt with demon-red-eyed possums in my front yard in Austin. I didn’t love his voice but the show was super fun, interesting, and entertaining. There was some rockabilly in there too. And he did this lovely cover of a George Jones song, mimicking voice and all. They also sometimes brought to mind Chili Cold Blood, a sizzling groove-heavy country Austin band. I could literally smell Austin. As the band mocked, “If you can’t beat ‘em, bible ‘em!” I poured one for Rockboy.