Artist Jesse Dayton

Many Texan alt-country artists have aptly managed to incorporate hints of Tex-Mex into their approach. Austin’s Jesse Dayton goes a few steps further, working ghostly, James Carr-style Southern soul and punchy brass into his honky-tonk and roots-rock heartbreakers. He's shown a deep rapport with Americana on classics like Tall Texas Tales and Country Soul Brother, and expanded that on an ad-hoc tribute to ’70s country as Banjo & Sullivan—a project created for Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects. He teams again with Zombie as Captain Clegg & The Night Creatures for the upcoming horror movie Halloween II—so prepare for Halloween to come a little early this year.

Updated 04/01/2010