ANALYSIS/OPINION:
You’ll be sorry if you miss Shooter Jennings’ local show.
In a world where musicians homogenize music to such a degree, Mr. Jennings is unafraid to pioneer his own sound. He is, after all, the son of Jessi Colter and the original outlaw musician, the late Waylon Jennings.
His distinct sound and divergent musical tastes translate into live shows — with Waymore’s Outlaws, the elder Jennings’ former touring and recording band — that move from his father’s songs to a cover of Ronnie Spector’s “She Talks to Rainbows.” The downside to his creativity: Mr. Jennings’ production skills are in high demand, so you may not get another chance to see him in an area concert again for a long time.
“We’re sort of doing the reverse of what’s going on in Nashville now,” Mr. Jennings said about moving away from electric and into acoustic. “Everybody in the band is looking to stretch.”
That’s nothing new for Mr. Jennings.
Although he could have used his father’s legacy to leapfrog ahead in the business, he continually followed his own musical instincts. Critics were initially quick to find fault, but by the 2006 release of his sophomore album, “Electric Rodeo,” he earned some grudging kudos, including from Billboard, which reported: “These 11 songs showcase a confident artist very comfortable in an outlaw’s boots.”
Although Mr. Jennings has never tried to mimic his legendary father, he did enjoy some outlaw hijinks when he was younger. For a taste, listen to some of the onstage banter on another 2006 release, “Live at Irving Plaza,” in which Mr. Jennings jokes about how he and his .357 bandmates were in jail together.
Almost a decade later, Mr. Jennings — now the father of two and newly married — leads a more stable life with sure musical footing, as evidenced by the 2012 album “Family Man” and the 2013 recording “The Other Life” (and live counterpart “Other Live”).
Of course, Mr. Jennings still shakes things up for some of the pseudo-outlaws who try to ride the coattails of his father, his godfather, Johnny Cash, and others.
On his 2011 song “Outlaw You,” Mr. Jennings calls out some of those poseurs — he steadfastly refuses to name names — with lyrics including “Hey, pretty boy in the baseball hat/You couldn’t hit country with a baseball hat/They should outlaw you.”
Those who follow Mr. Jennings’ career know that the song does more than defend his father’s legacy. Indeed, it’s almost a cry for those who admire Waylon Jennings’ music to break musical ground. In the song, Mr. Jennings reminds listeners that that’s what his father did. That’s also clearly what Mr. Jennings does.
“I have no grasp of what anyone thinks,” Mr. Jennings said. “I don’t know, when I meet somebody, if they are thinking about Waylon’s music, or rock or country or some other stuff. As long as I can keep going and come back with something new, I’m happy.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Shooter Jennings with Waymore’s Outlaws
WHEN: Thursday, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Rams Head on Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis
TICKETS: Ticketfly.com
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