Jesse Daniel Sings His “SR-22 Blues” in Santa Cruz
Every year Saving Country Music travels to the West Coast during the summer to scout for musical talent that is often overlooked in the Nashville and Texas music echo chambers. In 2018 the biggest discovery was singer, songwriter, and recovering punk musician Jesse Daniel of Santa Cruz, California. Part of a wider scene of Santa Cruz country music that also includes artists such as Miss Lonely Hearts and once gave birth to The Devil Makes Three, Jesse Daniel and his excellent band bring a striking energy and gritty edge to honky tonk music inspired by true to life struggles.
Saving Country Music reviewed Jesse Daniel’s self-titled debut album in June, but seeing him perform at the West Coast Country Music Festival outside of Ashland, OR proved he’s got the stuff to be receiving national and international attention, which he did when he was recently nominated from Best Honky Tonk Male by the Ameripolitan Awards for 2019.
One of the standouts from Jesse’s catalog is the song “SR-22 Blues” about the supplemental insurance a suspended license requires for driving. He recently participated in The Tomboy Sessions in Santa Cruz performing “SR-22 Blues” which can be seen below.
The Tomboy Sessions is a live music video series that features hand-crafted performances by touring band and local performers in Santa Cruz. Videos are shot in Tomboy, which is a vintage Western store in Santa Cruz. Mischa Gasch, owner of entertainment agency TourMore and the bass player for Miss Lonely Hearts, started the Tomboy Sessions in the spring of 2016 to bring national attention to the Santa Cruz music scene and give renowned bands one more good reason to make sure Santa Cruz is on their tour schedule.
If you get an opportunity to see Jesse Daniel live, don’t pass it up. You can check out his tour dates HERE.
November 2, 2018 @ 8:21 am
Speaking of “hand crafted performances” and Santa Cruz, he’s also playing a SCGC (Santa Cruz Guitar Company) guitar. Super cool luthier.
Wondering if he’s on a 12-step punk recovery program. Asking for a friend.
November 2, 2018 @ 8:39 am
I kept hitting refresh because i thought it’d be a Pistol Annies album review. Dammit!!
Anyway, the album kicks ass!
Also, the best rapper in the world dropped a new album
It’s a good day
November 2, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
What rap album are you talking about?
November 2, 2018 @ 2:27 pm
Vince Staples – FM!
November 2, 2018 @ 8:39 am
Always good to see good country come out of California. I see he’s playing pretty close to me in Dec. so I will check him out.
November 2, 2018 @ 12:05 pm
SR-22 is the song that won me over and made me a fan. I’ll just say been there and done that and it is a pain in the ass, let me tell ya.
November 2, 2018 @ 2:02 pm
I like the song, and the album is solid, too.
The Tomboy Sessions channel, while only having eight videos, is well worth a watch. Some worthwhile artists I was unfamiliar with.
Thanks for sharing.
November 2, 2018 @ 3:15 pm
talk about a honky tonk-less town. Lived there 20 years and bailed to ATX in the late 90’s (I like my women with less hair & make-up, sorry).
November 3, 2018 @ 4:45 am
Good stuff..
.i also had a punk Youth that i talk about in my song: “from straight edge to George Strait”
November 4, 2018 @ 1:10 am
He has potential. The subject matter of the song is interesting, but is kinda the Americana/roots country equivalent of buzz word songs in the pop world. The country accent in his voice in inauthentic and forced, he is part of a California country hipster scene. If I had to listen to a poser hipster country band, I would probably choose Midland over this guy. One thing, he probably didnt just google SR 22, he probably has had his license suspended before. I have had to maintain one since I was like 19, but sr-22 is nothing; it costs no money, it’s just something your insurance company maintains for you, now the surcharges in Texas, f*** , those are never ending.
November 4, 2018 @ 1:05 pm
Hell yeah!
We need more!
November 4, 2018 @ 5:44 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISD94RDC4kI