L.A. Beat

It can be tough to grow up in the shadow of a famous father, but it isn’t a problem for Shooter Jennings, son of country music icon Waylon Jennings.

“There was a time seven or eight years ago when I felt the pressure, but now I just don’t,” said Jennings, on the way Kermit Fest in Kermit, Texas, with his dad’s band Waymore's Outlaws.

He is enjoying  touring with Waymore's Outlaws.
“It’s been my life for the past two years. Originally it was my good friend (and manager) Jon Hensley’s idea. We were only going to do one show together in Kentucky, but something just clicked. Just looking back and seeing (drummer) Richie Albright back there and I just smile. It’s really moving. It’s really special being on stage with him and all of them (bassist Jerry “Jigger” Bridges, and pedal steel guitarist Fred Newell and lead guitarist and singer, Tommy Townsend),” he said.
 Shooter Jennings and Waymore's Outlaws come to Average Joes, Oct. 4 with Ridley Bent and Colton Wall.

“I had a really great relationship with him (his dad). He also had a really diverse and eclectic taste in music, like I do,” said Jennings, who has dabbled in traditional country, southern rock and lately electronic music. He is recording a tribute album to electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder. He is at home in the producer's seat as he is on stage. He even programmed a video game “From Here to Eternity” to accompany his CD“ Black Ribbons.”

“Right now I’m excited about producing Julie Roberts’ new album. It will be out soon, so I’ve written some songs with her,” he said.

 He is also excited about  the Giorgio Moroder project.
“He is a pioneer in electronic music. I was recording it and a tribute to George Jones at the same time. I thought the George Jones project would be a full length, but it only turned out to be an EP. The Giorgio Moroder record will be a full length,” he  said adding Waymore's Outlaws aren’t on that project.

“They could play it and Richie is on it. It’s got a very different line up. It has (country singer) Brandi Carlile and (shock rocker) Marilyn Manson on it,” he said adding he has put his own stamp on Moroder’s music on the project.

 
“I added clips of some of my own influences like Sam Kinison and Hunter S Thompson. So it's just a collage of everything I’ve been influenced by,” he said.

“Waymore's Outlaws could play it, but  I’m using my band in Los Angeles,” he said.
 Jennings has called Los Angeles home for quite a few years. He enjoys the privacy that affords.
“I love living in L.A. In Nashville, word gets around when you are recording an album and people are always stopping by to visit. In Los Angeles, they can’t even find the studio, let alone visit,” he said.
 He is also beginning work on a new solo CD.

“I’ve started a proper solo record. I’m not in a hurry to release that. I want it to be special,” he said adding he is more excited to release the other projects he has been working on.

 In 2014, he released the BCR Mixtape – a compilation of people he has worked with including Jamey Johnson, Jayke Orvis, Fenixon, Wanda Jackson, Mick Foley and Ron Jeremy. I also included a couple of Shooter Jennings songs including a cover of the Ramones’ “ She Talks to Rainbows,” for which he made an unusual animated video for.

“I fell in love with that song as soon as I heard it. I love playing it live.

 He asked a German animator Christoph Heuer to do the spooky video for the song.
“I recorded it and sent it to him and I love what he did with it. The cartoon is pretty out there,” he said.

Jennings, like his dad, doesn’t like the term outlaw country.
“My dad hated that term,” he said.

“It’s a term. When a band comes up to me and says they're an outlaw country band, I’m usually pretty disappointed when I listen to them. My dad didn’t like that term,” he said.
“I suppose it is a style of music,” he said.
 Shooter Jennings can be heard every week on

the outlaw country station on Sirius XM.
“I’ve been doing that for 10 years. It’s a great way to connect with younger listeners and play all of the different music I’m into,” he said.
 He is looking forward to playing Lethbridge for the first time.

“ We’ll be playing some of my dad’s hits, some of my songs, some covers. Maybe even some electronic music,” he said.
The concert begins at 8 p.m., Oct. 4.
 Tickets cost $45 in advance, $55 on the day of the show.