Photo: Brad Burkons
Jesse Dayton Releases New Road Kings Single ‘Never Be Untrue’
Few artists embody the untamed spirit of American roots music like Jesse Dayton, a true outlaw whose storied career connects the raw power of punk to the gritty soul of honky-tonk. Dayton is closing out 2024 with a bang, releasing “Never Be Untrue”—a live recording from last year’s explosive reunion of the Road Kings. Captured during a sold-out performance at Houston’s legendary Continental Club, the single is now available on all major streaming platforms.
The Road Kings, with their razor-sharp blend of punk energy and rockabilly swagger, weren’t just a band—they were a movement. In the late ‘90s, their dark, fast-driving sound became the soundtrack of Texas underground rock, an audacious rebuke to the polished, radio-ready music of the time. The Road Kings carved their place in history by living on the edge, leaving behind a legacy of sweat-drenched shows and a reputation for blazing trails where others feared to tread.
“Never Be Untrue (Casting Spells)”
Stream the new single HERE
This holiday tradition lives on as Dayton reunites with original members Jason Burns and Eric Tucker for two special shows at the Continental Club on December 27 & 28. Fans can expect the unfiltered, unapologetic energy that only the Road Kings can deliver—a celebration of music that defined an era and remains as vital as ever.
Jesse Dayton Tours
Jesse Dayton doesn’t just play music—he lives it. Continuing his relentless journey across America’s roots landscape, Jesse Dayton joins forces with blues trailblazer Tab Benoit as the opening act on the “I Hear Thunder” Tour this December. Dayton’s performances deliver a fierce cocktail of roadhouse blues, electrified roots, and honky-tonk grit, setting the stage for Benoit’s powerhouse headlining sets.
“I’m excited about this tour with old friend and fellow Gulf Coast guitar slinger Tab Benoit,” Dayton says. “Tab’s one of the most emotional guitar players I’ve ever heard, so expect a hell of a night with two power trios on stage in one show.”
Tab Benoit, a singular force in the blues world, is touring in support of his first album in over a decade, I Hear Thunder, which stormed to #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. With his unmistakable blend of swampy grooves, searing guitar work, and a voice that’s as raw as it is soulful, Benoit has carved out his own lane in roots music. A master at weaving together the threads of his influences into something entirely his own, he’s spent decades redefining what authenticity sounds like, earning his place as one of the most compelling and uncompromising artists in American music today.
Dayton’s The Hard Way Blues, produced by Shooter Jennings, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart earlier this year (behind only Slash) and has been praised for its raw, uncompromising storytelling. The album reflects Dayton’s unshakable connection to the darker, untamed corners of American music. It’s the same authenticity that earned him a Grammy nomination this year for Deathwish Blues, his acclaimed collaboration with Samantha Fish.
With a career that reads like a renegade’s roadmap through American music history, Jesse Dayton stands as one of the last artists to have collaborated directly with the original outlaws—Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. These aren’t just names in his bio—they were mentors and friends, their influence woven into every note Dayton plays.
Hailing from the gritty backroads of East Texas, Dayton has spent decades defying genres and expectations, crafting a sound that’s unmistakably his own by blending honky-tonk grit, punk attitude, and deep Southern roots.
Often compared to genre-defying contemporaries like Sturgill Simpson and Whitey Morgan, Dayton embodies rebellion and authenticity with a raw, roadhouse energy that seamlessly bridges the worlds of blues, roots, and punk. He’s toured with punk icons Social Distortion, shared stages with roots rock innovators like The Supersuckers, and collaborated with a wide range of artists who prioritize grit, depth, and substance over polish. Dayton’s music is unapologetically real—a bold reflection of a life lived without compromise, the Hard Way, one might say.
Tour Dates
Tab Benoit’s I Hear Thunder Tour featuring Jesse Dayton (opener)
• Dec 4 & 5 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box
• Dec 6 – Buffalo, NY – The Big Easy/Town Ballroom
• Dec 7 – Lewisburg, PA – Weis Center PAC
• Dec 8 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
• Dec 10 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater (SOLD OUT)
• Dec 11 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Kate (SOLD OUT)
• Dec 13 – Derry, NH – Tupelo
• Dec 14 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center
• Dec 15 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
• Dec 17 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
• Dec 18 – Richmond, VA – Tin Pan (SOLD OUT)
• Dec 19 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
• Dec 20 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
• Dec 21 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Road Kings Holiday Reunion Shows:
• Dec 27 & 28 – Houston, TX – Continental Club
Jesse Dayton website
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