To honor the music of Waylon Jennings, Cody Jinks and one-man band Tennessee Jet didn't settle for a paint-by-numbers cover of "Waymore's Blues." Instead, they crafted a unpredictable, dangerous and sludgy cover song that better represents the Texas outlaw legend's fight for creative freedom.
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The original song first appeared on Jennings' 1975 LP Dreaming My Dreams. Despite not being a single, it became an obvious example of Jennings' music after "outlaw country" became shorthand around the world for Texas natives and Nashville artists uninterested in playing by the rules.
The hard rock meets honky tonk vibe of Jinks and Tennessee Jet's radical remake suits both artists' own pasts as musical mavericks. Jinks started out as a heavy metal singer before transitioning to the traditional country shepherd of his loyal fan base, the "blacksheep." Tennessee Jet, the stage name of Nashville's T.J. McFarland, often writes songs with a bluesy, rocking feel. The cover song is basically Jink's old music and his collaborators current vision, downed out by acid-washed guitar.
READ MORE: Hear Cody Jinks' Introspective New Song "Head Case"
Produced by Beau Bedford of the Texas Gentlemen and Jason Burt, the cover song will get a proper release as a 7-inch vinyl single this fall. Hopefully, it's flipside is either a new song or another cover that bears little resemblance to its outlaw original.
It's not the only chance to hear Tennessee Jet collaborate with Jinks. Both co-wrote the title track of Jinks' new album Lifers. They're also playing a few shows together this fall, following Tennessee Jet's string of dates across America with "Honky Tonk Hell" singer Whitey Morgan and the 78s.
Cody Jinks and Tennessee Jet's 2018 Tour Dates:
Sept. 19 - Boondocks @ Springfield, Il.
Sept. 20 - Sumtur Amphitheater @ Papillion, Ne.
Sept. 21 - 9th Street Live (The Blue Note Outdoors) @ Columbia, Mo.
Oct. 24 - City Hall Live @ Brandon, Ms.
Oct. 25-26 -The Tabernacle @ Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 27 - Alabama Theater @ Birmingham, Al.
