Arkansas native Jesse Welles is not only a songwriter’s songwriter, he’s also a musician’s musician. Singing songs and shredding with his killer band on his 2026 Under The Powerlines Tour, Welles played a sold out show last night, Thursday, March 26, at the iconic Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, TX.
A diverse crowd of university students, Red River punks, suburban families, and old-school Bob Dylan-ites gathered early to see opener S.G. Goodman, a Kentucky singer-songwriter who played a 40-minute set of slow but steady Americana tunes with her band, including a rockin’ cover of “Lungs” by the proto-Outlaw and late Austinite Townes Van Zandt.
By the time Welles walked onstage, the crowd was ready. After playing 6 songs solo on acoustic – opening with “Sometimes You Bomb Iran” and fan-favorite “Join ICE” – his 4-piece band joined him onstage for “Domestic Error,” and continued to set the stage alight for the next hour and a half.
A prolific protest singer-songwriter and all-around rockstar, Welles released a remarkable FIVE full-length albums in 2025: Middle; Under The Powerlines (April 24-September 24); Pilgrim; Devil’s Den; With The Devil; and Under The Powerlines II (October 24-December 24).
It’s no secret Welles’ biggest influence is Bob Dylan, even sounding much like him in many of his gritty vocal inflections and rhythms. But Welles has a blues-ier lived-in voice all his own, in his musical songwriting, lyrical gospel, and Outlaw stage presence.
Covering songs ranging from Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” to Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” it’s clear to see how the Grammy-nominated Welles has achieved a large cult following. Most recently, he’s collaborated with the likes of icon Joan Baez on his latest single “No Kings,” as well as Margo Price and Mt. Joy.
If you took the wide-ranging but highly-focused protest songs of Bob Dylan, the anti-Nashville establishment country-rock genre blending of Steve Earle, and the prolific, rollickin’ hook-laden grooves of John Fogerty and created a single spiritual successor – it’s Jesse Welles, baby.
After closing with his biggest song on streaming so far, “War Isn’t Murder,” I’m absolutely certain that the present and future is Welles-ian. This fantastic new prophet’s legacy can only continue to grow – let’s hope we’ll all be here long enough to see it happen.
